Portland School Bond Passes, Adding to Portland Property Tax Bill

The $790 million Portland Public School (PPS) bond passed with 66% of the vote in Tuesday's special election. The bond will cost property owners $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value for the first 4 years, and then will cost $0.68 per $1,000 of assessed value annually for 30 years. Portland homeowners are still paying for the 2012 PPS bond, which cost $1.10 per $1,000 for the first 8 years, and $0.30 per $1,000 annually for the next 12 years. In PPS bonds alone, Portland property owners will be paying $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for the next few years.

Supporters of the new PPS bond point out that Portland school buildings are 77 years old on average, and many have health and safety issues including high lead levels. The bond will provide the funding needed for projects such as improving water quality, removing asbestos and lead-based paint, improving fire alarm and sprinkler systems, and ADA/accessibility improvements. In addition, Benson, Madison, and Lincoln high schools and Kellogg middle school will be rebuilt and renovated. Read more.