By a Modern Anti-Federalist
Inspired by Patrick Henry and George Mason
It’s the start of 2026. We look out at the beautiful hills around Republic, Washington, and see the same old problem again: government reaching too far into our pockets.
The Republic School District wants a new “replacement” levy on the February ballot. They call it a simple swap for the old one. But it’s not. They plan to collect $850,000 every year from 2027 to 2030. That’s a 72% jump from the current levy of $495,000 per year. As someone who believes in the ideas of our Founding Fathers, I say this is another attack on our freedom.
The anti-federalists warned us about this kind of thing—too much power in government hands, taxes without real say-so, and loss of local control. Patrick Henry once said: “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people. It is an instrument for the people to restrain the government—lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” George Mason and others feared big government and taxes without true representation. They believed governments exist to protect life, liberty, and property—not to take more and more of it through never-ending taxes.
John Locke’s ideas shaped our Declaration of Independence: governments are here to guard our rights, not steal from us with constant new levies. Yet in Republic, that’s exactly what’s happening. A local government, loaded with state rules and poor money choices, is digging deeper into the pockets of hardworking families already struggling under rising costs.
Let’s look at the real numbers, not the pretty spin. The district says this levy just “replaces” the old one to pay for music, sports, early learning, supplies, building upkeep, buses, substitute teachers, and support staff—things the state doesn’t fully cover. But the facts show the truth: they’re jumping from $495,000 a year to $850,000. That’s an extra $355,000 every year. Over four years, it goes from $1.98 million to $3.4 million. For the typical Republic homeowner (house worth about $265,000), this means roughly $490 more in taxes each year (at an estimated rate of $1.85 per $1,000 of value). That hurts in a town where the average family income is around $50,000, and almost half the students come from low-income homes. And this comes right after the state’s biggest tax hike ever in 2025. Lawmakers passed new taxes worth $12 billion over four years to fix a $12–16 billion budget hole. Gas tax went up 6 cents (now 55.4 cents a gallon, adding $25–30 a year for most drivers). They added sales tax to services like cleaning and ads (which raises prices 0.5–2%). Big businesses pay more in other taxes, and guess who ends up paying? We do. That’s not all. Inflation sits at 2.7%. Our cost of living is 14–17% higher than the national average. Groceries are up 2.3–7% ($400–$1,200 more a year for a family of four). Gas and driving costs rise 5–10% ($200–$400 extra). Utilities climb 5–9% ($350–$600 more). Add it up: most families face $2,750–$6,000 extra each year, eating 40–60% of income in small towns like ours. The anti-federalists would call this the slow death of freedom.
George Mason warned that government would “absorb all power,” leaving us as servants. Natural law says taxes should only cover real needs, with our full agreement and open transparent books. Look at what Republicans and Democrats teamed up to pass since 2022 to “help” schools: more special ed funding (SHB 1436 & SHB 2180), extra money for supplies (ESHB 2494 & SB 5192), better staffing (2SSB 5882, adding ~$33,000 a year here), and promises of full special ed later (SB 5263). Even the 2022 HB 1590 bill used old enrollment numbers to keep money flowing after COVID. All together, that adds $50,000–$100,000 more in state help for our 433 students.
Yet the district still wants this big levy increase.
Why? More money hasn’t fixed the problems. In fact, scores have dropped, and our national ranking has fallen. Washington ranks 27th in education nationwide, with just 32% of 4th graders reading at proficient level and 30% of 8th graders in math—according to the tough 2024 NAEP national test. That’s less than one in three kids!
Here’s the trick: Washington doesn’t use the same tough standards as national tests. They report their own state averages using the Smarter Balanced test (grades 3–8 and 10), which follows Washington’s own rules. Those numbers look better because “proficient” here is easier than the national standard (NAEP). The state compares kids only to other Washington kids—not to the whole country. That makes results look stronger than they really are.
What does it mean? The state makes the numbers look better to hide the real problems. But NAEP shows the truth. Since COVID, parents have seen the facts: our kids aren’t getting the education they deserve. See the table below. When the state uses its own easier test, scores look okay. But the real national rank and outcomes keep getting worse.
Washington State Overview Table
| Year | Per-Pupil Spending | ELA % Proficient | Math % Proficient | National Rank (KIDS COUNT) |
| 2014–15 | $10,747 | N/A (old test) | N/A | ~20th |
| 2015–16 | $11,450 | Baseline (lower) | Baseline (lower) | ~20th |
| 2016–17 | $11,898 | Lower (transition) | Lower | ~20th |
| 2017–18 | $12,835 | ~57.8 | ~50.9 | Mid-20s |
| 2018–19 | $14,239 | ~57.8 | ~50.9 | Mid-20s |
| 2019–20 | $14,660 | N/A (COVID) | N/A | Mid-20s |
| 2020–21 | $15,719 | ~46.9 (disrupted) | ~32.7 | Mid-20s |
| 2021–22 | $17,214 | ~48.6 | ~39.0 | ~28th–30th |
| 2022–23 | $18,313 | ~48.8 | ~40.8 | 26th–28th |
| 2023–24 | $18,681 | ~50.3 | ~39.7–43.1 | 26th |
| 2024–25 (est.) | ~$19,000–$20,000+ | ~51.2 (prelim) | ~44 (prelim) | 27th |
Sources: OSPI Report Card, NCES, NAEP, KIDS COUNT Data Book 2025
In Republic, the district gets a C grade overall. Elementary and middle school: 37% reading, 54% math. High school: 63% reading, but only 25% math. Yet 85% of seniors graduate. How? That raises big questions about grading, credit recovery, or lower standards. Parents should ask the school board directly.
Republic School District Table (Limited data; small rural district costs more per student)
| Year | Per-Pupil Spending | ELA/Reading % | Math % |
| ~2014–15 | ~$12,000–$14,000 | Higher (~52–65%, old test) | Higher |
| ~2015–16 | ~$13,000–$15,000 | ~37–49 | ~37–49 |
| ~2016–17 | ~$14,000–$15,000 | ~32–51 | ~37–51 |
| ~2017–18 | ~$14,500–$16,000 | ~37–51 | ~37–51 |
| ~2018–19 | ~$15,000–$17,000 | ~37–51 | ~37–51 |
| 2019–20 | N/A (COVID) | N/A | N/A |
| 2020–21 | ~$16,000–$18,000 | Lower | Lower |
| 2021–22 | $17,977 current / ~$19,831 total | ~41 average | ~23–30 |
| 2022–23 | ~$18,500–$20,000 | ~40 | ~22–30 |
| 2023–24 (est.) | ~$18,500–$21,500 | ~37–63 (***varies by level) | ~25–54 (***varies) |
Sources: OSPI Report Card, NCES, NAEP, KIDS COUNT Data Book 2025
*** “Variable by level” means scores change a lot depending on elementary, middle, or high school. Earlier years used one overall average. It looks like they switched how they report to make things look better and ask for more money.
Total spending is $18,000–$20,000 per student. Local property taxes pay only ~$1,800 of that—yet they want more without showing real improvement. Remember the C grade?
This is the anti-federalist nightmare: state overreach creates local overreach, taking our property under the excuse of “helping kids.” Patrick Henry shouted, “Give me liberty or give me death!”—not “Give me endless levies. Natural law says too much tax steals the rewards of our hard work and creates dependence on government.
In Republic (85% white, 49% low-income students, 18:1 teacher ratio), this hits families hard with rural challenges and long drives.
Friends, fight back! Vote NO on the levy. Demand real answers and open books. Take back the simple, local government our Founders wanted. Don’t trade your God-given rights for empty promises. George Mason said, “The purse and the sword ought never to get into the same hands.”
In 2026, let Republic stand for restraint, not surrender.
How to Fight These Taxes—A Simple Call to Action, words alone won’t stop this. The anti-federalists didn’t just complain—they acted. Patrick Henry gathered people with petitions. George Mason wrote protections into law. Here’s how we can do the same—peacefully, smartly, and strong.
- Vote and show up. Vote NO in February 2026—only a simple majority passes it. Go to school board meetings (monthly in Republic). Speak up: “Why a 72% hike when state money increased?” Ask for audits using open-meetings law (RCW 42.30).
- Build watch groups. Start or join local ones like our Highlands Town Hall. Spread the word like the old anti-federalists did.
- Use the law. Support moral, freedom-focused candidates and initiatives. Push for property tax limits (RCW 29A.72). Challenge high home values with the Ferry County Assessor. Join groups like Washington Policy Center or Americans for Prosperity. If it passes, consider lawsuits under RCW 84.55 about “replacement” rules.
- Fight with your wallet. Skip taxed services when you can. Support businesses that don’t pass on costs. Barter or trade locally (like through Private Member Associations or L&L Homestead). Vote for tax-cutting leaders. Push the state to fund schools fully so no more local levies.
- Spread the word. Write letters to editors. Post on social media. Host town halls. Demand a “Taxpayer Bill of Rights” to cap increases without our vote.
- Protect our kids—the biggest step. Pull your children from public schools. Homeschool them. Our Founders saw education as a parent’s job, not the government’s. Patrick Henry taught his kids at home.
Today, with Republic’s average results and the state’s poor national rank, homeschooling gives you control. You teach truth, morals, and real skills. Benefits include:
- Custom learning—fit your child’s speed and interests (maybe farming or shop skills for our area). Homeschooled kids often score 15–30 points higher on tests and get into college more often. No Common Core or trendy ideas—just real history of liberty winning.
- Strong character—Parents shape values, not the state. Teach biblical or classic principles. Protect from bullying, peer pressure, and forced beliefs.
- Save money and time—Homeschool costs $500–$1,000 a year vs. $18,000 annually per public student. No buses, no rigid days—more family time, apprenticeships, or early jobs.
- Guard freedom—Public schools push conformity. Homeschooling upholds your parental rights (Ninth Amendment). Even a few families leaving sends a message.
Start today: File a Declaration of Intent (RCW 28A.200). Join Conservative Ladies of America, Independent American Patriots, or Highlands Town Hall for help. Use classic books like McGuffey Readers—the same ones the Founders loved.
We honor natural law and raise free kids, not government-dependent ones. Patriots, the battle is ours. Homeschool. Resist the taxes. Revive our republic!
Sources from public records, OSPI, and legislative summaries. These are my opinions as an anti-federalist at heart.
Leslie Williams
Owner, THE PAMPHLET
Advocacy & Outreach Director, Conservative Ladies of America Independent American Patriots National Secretary