NOTICE OF MEASURE ELECTION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Portland School District board has referred the following measure to voters in the Portland School District at the Nov. 4, 2014, General Election. Any registered voter dissatisfied with the ballot title may file a petition with the Multnomah County Circuit Court for review on or before 5:00 PM, 9/5/2014. Any person filing a challenge must also file a copy of the challenge with the Director of Elections, 1040 SE Morrison St., Portland, by the end of the next business day after the petition is filed with the Circuit Court.
CAPTION: Portland Public Schools levy renewal for schools and educational programs.
QUESTION: Shall district support schools; redirect funds from urban renewal; levy $1.99 per $1,000 assessed value for five years beginning 2015?
This measure renews current local option taxes.
SUMMARY: PPS’ current local option levy was approved by voters in 2011 to provide funding for schools over 5 years. In 2013, the Oregon Legislature ended the diversion of some local option levy revenues to certain urban renewal districts for levies passed after January 2013. Renewal of local option levy will direct approximately $4 million more to the approved purpose of supporting education, without increasing taxes. The renewed levy will provide $64.3 million, equivalent to 640 teaching positions.
This renewed local option levy would:
- Continue to fund teaching positions;
- Help to maintain or reduce class size;
- Support programs for a comprehensive education.
Levy cost remains $1.99 per $1,000 assessed property value, the same as the 2011 levy.
Funds will be placed in a sub-account, and independent citizen oversight will review expenditures to verify that funds are used as approved by voters. This measure would replace the 2011 levy.
The levy will produce an estimated $64.3 million in 2015-2016; $66.2 million in 2016-2017; $68.2 million in 2017-2018; $70.2 million in 2018-2019; and $72.3 million in 2019-2020.
Tim Scott, Director of Elections
Multnomah County