Portland Public Schools Sends $790 Million Bond Measure To May Ballot

The Portland Public Schools Board of Education voted Tuesday night to send a $790 million bond measure to the ballot in May. If approved, the project would fund projects throughout the district including full rebuilds of Lincoln High School and Kellogg Middle School.

The district says that the average age of the district's 90 school sites is 77-years-old. Many are more than 100 years old.

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"Aging schools need repair and upgrades to provide students with modern learning environments and to address unsafe conditions.," the district said in a statement. "Lead testing in 2016 showed most schools had cold water fixtures testing above the EPA action level. Many roofs are beyond their useful life and some leak frequently.

"Fire alarm and sprinkler systems at most schools are inadequate."

In addition to the rebuilds of Lincoln and Kellogg, the measure would fund major renovations and additions at Benson and Madison High Schools. The measure would also include money to fund the planning for the next series of school upgrades, which would include Cleveland, Jefferson, and Wilson High Schools.

The district says that around 30 percent of the projects funded by the measure would "comprehensively address health and safety issues, including lead and asbestos abatement, roof repairs, seismic upgrades, and accessibility improvements in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act."

The bond would also include $150 for a series of district-wide health and safety projects, including:

• Replacing old pipes and fixtures to reduce lead, improve water quality, and reduce the need to use bottled water;
• Removing or encapsulating exposed lead paint and asbestos;
• Upgrading fire alarm and/or sprinkler systems;
• Repairing or replacing leaking or deteriorating school roofs;
• Improving accessibility for people with disabilities;
• Improving building foundations and ventilation to decrease radon exposure; and
• Strengthening school safety and security.

If voters approve the measure, the district will also receive $8 million in state capital matching funds, and the funds would be put toward additional health and safety investments. If the proposed bonds are not approved, those funds will be awarded to another district.

The district says that, if approved - the measure will add an estimated $0.68 per $1,000 of assessed value over 30 years. The levy rate is estimated to be $1.40 per $1,000 for the first four years, declining thereafter.

For a house assessed at $200,000 the initial annual cost would be about $280. Overall average cost is $136 annually. The total principal amount of bonds authorized by this measure cannot exceed $790 million.