MOUNT VERNON, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Voters in Mount Vernon will soon decide on a tax hike to upgrade their schools’ athletic facilities.

The Mount Vernon School District Board of Directors voted on Oct. 21 to send a capital levy to the February 2027 special election ballot.

The levy would generate about $14.5 million over six years to install covered bleachers, add ADA-accessible seating, upgrade to a multi-purpose turf field, improve stadium lighting and more.

If approved, it would raise property taxes by 28 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or about $12 more per month for the owner of a $540,000 home.

Mount Vernon is currently one of the largest high schools in the region without covered stadium seating. The 25-year-old stadium is also unable to host graduation and regional tournaments due to its current shortcomings, which the district says can hurt the local economy.

A district committee had previously considered a slightly more expensive levy to include funding for a six-lane middle school track, though that is no longer part of their plans.