Salem-Keizer School District Discussing Largest Bond Measure In Oregon History

ELECTIONS 

By Rob Manning

Portland, OR  April 8, 2008 2:44 p.m.

The Salem-Keizer schools will hear testimony Tuesday on what could be the largest bond measure in Oregon history. Rob Manning reports.

Portland could decide on an even larger school bond, but until then, Salem Keizer's $242 million bond will hold the record. That’s $13 million larger than one passed by North Clackamas voters in 2006. But Salem-Keizer school board chair, Rick Kimball, says the $242 million bond is structured to replace old levies, so that property tax bills won’t go up.

Kimball: "We are scheduled to be paying off some current debts. You could argue that the tax bills in our Salem-Keizer school district will go down. And with this new bond, we would keep that tax bill flat."

Kimball says the bond is meant to catch up on more than $100 million in deferred maintenance, and build four schools to deal with projected growth over the next three years. But the bond is not meant to replace any of the more than 100 portable classrooms the district uses.

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