NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Portland Public School District has referred a measure to voters in the District at the May 20, 2025 Special District Election, and the Multnomah County Elections Division has received a Ballot Title for that referral.
For a full copy of the Ballot Title, visit MultnomahVotes.gov
Any registered voter dissatisfied with the Ballot Title may file a petition for review with the Multnomah County Circuit Court on or before February 27, 2025. Any person filing a petition must also notify the Director of Elections, 1040 SE Morrison St., Portland, in writing that the petition has been filed, and that notice must be given by 5:00 p.m. on the next business day after the petition has been filed with the Circuit Court. - Tim Scott, Multnomah County Director of Elections
Ballot Title:
Caption:
Bonds to Improve Health, Safety, and Learning; Modernize, Repair Schools
Question:
Shall Portland Public Schools repair, modernize schools; increase health, safety; by issuing
bonds estimated to maintain current tax rate?
If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership
that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.
Summary:
Measure authorizes up to $1.83 billion in principal amount of general obligation bonds for facilities and education investments.
If approved, this measure would finance capital costs, including:
Update, Repair Aging Elementary and Middle Schools:
- Update/replace major building systems, including roofs, siding, heating/cooling
Make Schools Safe and Secure:
- Update safety, security systems
- Seismic upgrades
Modernize, Improve Educational Materials, Technology and Schools:
- Renovate/replace schools, including Cleveland, Ida B. Wells (formerly Wilson)
- Upgrade curriculum materials, technology, including student devices
Increase Extracurricular Opportunities:
- Upgrade/expand high school athletic facilities; create district-wide athletic hubs at Jackson, Marshall
- Update high school performing arts/theater facilities
Requires community accountability/oversight; independent audits of projects and expenditures
Bonds may be issued in one or more series, each series maturing in 30 years or less.
Due to declining debt service, measure is not expected to increase PPS’s bond tax rate above $2.50/$1,000 assessed value, the rate that has been targeted since 2017 bond. Actual rates may differ based on interest rates and changes in assessed value.