Caption: Riverdale Five-Year Local Option Tax For District Operations
Question: Shall Riverdale levy $1.67 per $1,000 of assessed value for general operations for five years beginning in fiscal year 2026-27? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.
Summary: Since 2000, voters have approved a local option levy to support Riverdale School District 51J operations. This measure would authorize the District to levy a property tax of $1.67 per $1,000 of assessed value each year for five years to help finance District operations. This measure represents an increase to the District’s current local option levy rate of $1.37 per $1,000 of assessed value.
The local option levy provides funding to retain teachers and support the educational programs offered at Riverdale. If approved, this measure would provide additional funding to support Riverdale’s instructional programs, staffing, and general operations. If not approved, the District would need to reduce its 2026–27 budget by more than $1,000,000, the estimated equivalent of cutting seven teachers or 21 school days.
The tax rate of $1.67 per $1,000 of assessed value equals an estimated $167 per year for every $100,000 of assessed value, which is an increase of $30 per year per $100,000 of assessed value compared to the current levy.
The local option levy is projected to raise $7,530,900 over five years:
$1,418,300 in 2026-2027
$1,461,000 in 2027-2028
$1,505,400 in 2028-2029
$1,550,000 in 2029-2030
$1,596,200 in 2030-2031
Explanatory Statement
What is the Local Option Measure?
The District’s current local option levy expires on June 30, 2026. Without voter approval, the levy will end and funding will drop to zero. This measure would establish a five-year levy of $1.67 per $1,000 of assessed value, replacing the expiring levy. All funds generated remain in Riverdale School District and are used to support the education of Riverdale students.
Why does the Riverdale School District need Local Option revenues?
State funding has not kept pace with the actual cost of educating students. While state allocations have increased in recent years, funding available for classroom instruction and student services has remained relatively flat when compared to inflation and rising operational costs. The Local Option Levy provides essential revenue to support staffing, instructional programs—including the International Baccalaureate Program—and district operations. In 2025, Niche ranked Riverdale as the #1 Public High School and #1 Public K-8 in Oregon.
In 2024–25, Riverdale received approximately $11,000 per student in state funding, while the actual cost to educate a student exceeded $19,000. The District maintains its current level of education and support largely through the Local Option Levy and Foundation support. Without levy funding, the District would need to make significant reductions to services.
What will the passage of this measure do?
The levy would continue funding that voters have approved for the past 25 years (2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020). The rate has not increased in the last ten years. Local Option funding supports teacher retention, instructional programs, and staffing. It helps maintain academic offerings, including art and music, and supports general operations. If the levy is not approved, the District would need to reduce the 2026–27 budget by more than $1,000,000, estimated to be equivalent to eliminating seven teaching positions or reducing approximately 21 school days.
How will the Local Option dollars be used?
Local Option revenues are part of the operating budget and support:
Retention and hiring of experienced teachers
Maintaining small neighborhood school experiences
Supporting academic and enrichment programs
Instructional materials and supplies
Operational needs such as security and facility maintenance
How much will the levy raise?
This Levy is projected to raise $7,530,900 over five years:
2026–27: $1,418,300
2027–28: $1,461,000
2028–29: $1,505,400
2029–30: $1,550,000
2030–31: $1,596,200
How will this levy affect my taxes?
This five-year levy would replace Riverdale’s current local option levy rate of $1.37 per $1,000 of assessed value with a new levy of $1.67 per $1,000 of assessed value, a difference of $.30 per $1,000 of assessed value.
For a home with an assessed value of $1,000,000, the estimated cost is $1,670 per year ($139 per month), approximately $300 more per year, or $25 more per month than the current rate. Actual tax amounts may vary due to assessed value, Ballot Measure 5 limitations, compression, and collection rates.
Submitted by:
Chris Russo, Superintendent
Riverdale School District 51J