At least eight Oregon school districts will ask voters to fund a property tax levy, a bond or both. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening around the state – and in your community.
Levies
All three local option levies up to voters this fall are renewals of previous measures. But they fund different things.
In Portland, the levy funds over 800 teaching positions in the district. Last year, the levy produced $93.3 million and paid for 870 teachers.
“It can be for licensed positions that support classroom teachers or support students that have special needs or additional needs to be successful,” said Portland Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Claire Hertz.
If voters pass the renewal, the tax rate would stay the same for five more years – $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value. It should generate more money each year, which will go to funding more teachers.
If the levy doesn’t pass, Hertz said the loss of one-third of the district’s teachers would be a loss to students.
“That is a significant portion of our budget in terms of supporting students in the classroom,” Hertz said.
In Polk County, Falls City Schools is requesting a renewal too, $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value for five years. The levy funds music and sports, as well as an after-school program.
West Linn-Wilsonville School District’s local option levy was first approved in 2000. Last year, it funded 80 teachers district-wide. The levy tax rate — $1.50 per $1,000 in property value — would stay the same for five more years.
The levy isn’t the only thing they’re asking for.
Bonds
The school district in Clackamas County is also asking voters to pass a bond for $206.8 million.
Several building improvements are part of the West Linn-Wilsonville bond, including stronger security at all of the district’s schools. If passed, the bond would fund a new primary school, the relocation of a high school and the construction of an expanded middle school.
District spokesperson Andrew Kilstrom said the district is planning for growth.
“Our school board did contract a demographic company to conduct a 10-year enrollment projection study in 2018, that was a big part of the planning that went in the decision to place a bond on the ballot,” Kilstrom said.
The study projected enrollment to increase from 9,832 students in the 2018-2019 school year to 11,424 students in 2028-2029.
This isn’t the first time West Linn-Wilsonville has asked for a bond and levy simultaneously. Voters approved both measures in 2014.
“The timing is right from both perspectives,” Kilstrom said. “We want to preserve those teachers from a levy standpoint, and we really would like to get a head start on everything that the bond encapsulates – safety and security is a huge priority, planning for the future in terms of our enrollment growth and expanding opportunities for students.”
The bond has some community opposition.
In the Clackamas County voter pamphlet, there are seven arguments in favor of the bond but three against. The arguments against the measure question the district's growth projections and express concern that funds should be spent on instruction instead of facilities.
Other districts have matching grants from the state contingent on bond passage.
If a $3.5 million bond for Condon School District in Eastern Oregon passes, the state will provide an additional $3.5 million for the district to consolidate its grade and high schools onto one campus.
In Southern Oregon, if Grants Pass residents vote for a bond, they'll have $6.4 million in state funds to add to almost $96 million in bond dollars. The district would spend the bond funds on security improvements, expanding classroom capacity and replacing old materials.
A bond effort there failed last year.
There are four opposition and eight in-favor arguments in the Josephine County voter pamphlet. Opposition arguments point out the discrepancy in proposed projects for the district's two middle schools. One middle school is set to be completely replaced; the other to receive new windows and a restroom remodel, among its projects.
In Eastern Oregon, Hermiston and Union school districts will also receive state funding if bonds pass in those districts. Like other districts placing bonds on the ballot, Hermiston's bond would expand capacity at the elementary and high school levels. Union's bond would support a number of building improvements.
Editors note: This story previously said St. Helens School District would be placing a bond on the ballot. According to The Columbia County Spotlight, St. Helen's withdrew the measure months before the November election.