Portland voters are on track to approve the largest school construction bond in Oregon history, as initial results from the May 20 special election show Portland Public Schools’ (PPS) $1.83 billion bond measure passing by a margin of 54% to 46%.

If finalized, the bond will continue a property tax rate of about $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, first approved by voters in 2017. It marks one of the largest property tax investments ever made by Multnomah County voters.

The funds will allow Oregon’s largest school district to move forward with a wide range of upgrades, including full rebuilds of three high schools, safety improvements, modernization of older facilities, and updates to science labs, electrical systems, and HVAC infrastructure. Technology advancements across district schools are also part of the plan.

Julia Brim-Edwards, a PPS board member and chair of the political action committee supporting the bond, celebrated early results and highlighted the pressing needs the funding will address.

“This is a generational investment for our schools, for our kids and for our community,” Brim-Edwards said. “Whether it’s elementary schools with the falling ceiling tiles, leaky roofs at the middle schools or outdated science labs in our high schools, I know that this bond will make a huge difference for schools across Portland.”

PPS officials have said the bond is critical to continuing the district’s decade-long effort to modernize and repair aging buildings. Without it, major projects could stall, and essential maintenance might go unfunded.

Statewide, Voter Support for School Measures Was Uneven

While Portland voters appeared to support investment in school infrastructure, results elsewhere in Oregon showed a more divided electorate.

One of the more prominent failures came from Mount Hood Community College, where voters in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Hood River counties rejected a $136 million construction bond. It marked the seventh failed attempt to secure voter support for campus repairs and updates. The proposed bond would have cost the average homeowner roughly $60 annually.

The college hasn’t passed a construction bond in over 50 years, and officials warned that without the funding, safety concerns and aging buildings would continue to burden students and faculty.

In the Tigard-Tualatin School District, a $421 million bond also faced defeat. The district had hoped to use the money to rebuild four elementary schools and address widespread infrastructure needs, including plumbing, security, and air filtration upgrades. It follows a successful $291 million bond passed by voters in 2016, which led to the construction of a new elementary school and major renovations elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Chemeketa Community College saw its $140 million bond measure teetering on the edge. Early results showed it passing by just 35 votes out of more than 45,000 counted. If approved, the funding would support campus facility improvements and bolster career technical education (CTE) programs that serve students in the mid-Willamette Valley.

Coastal Communities More Supportive of School Funding

School funding measures fared better along Oregon’s coast.

In Lincoln County, voters overwhelmingly approved a $73 million bond to repair buildings, upgrade security systems, expand classroom space, and create performing arts facilities at three high schools. The bond also unlocks $6 million in matching state funds, boosting its impact.

Tillamook County voters also backed two separate education measures. The first, an $11 million levy for the Neah-Kah-Nie School District, will help the district address an operational shortfall. The second measure, a $23 million bond for the Tillamook School District, will fund critical safety and facility improvements.

Education Measures Share the Ballot With Public Safety Funding

In addition to school-related proposals, several counties and municipalities placed public safety measures on Tuesday’s ballot.

Voters in Columbia County approved a four-year levy to support jail operations, while residents of Jackson County passed a five-year fire safety funding measure. In the city of Sweet Home, a five-year levy to support police services was also renewed.

But not all such measures succeeded. Voters in Curry County rejected a proposal to fund law enforcement, and residents in eastern Klamath County declined to form a new public safety district. A bond measure to build new police facilities in the city of Dallas also failed.

Voter Turnout Below Average

Statewide voter turnout was just 14.4%, lower than the typical 20-30% participation rate for special elections, according to Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read. With no statewide measures on the ballot, voter engagement was driven largely by local concerns such as school infrastructure and public safety.

Still, the passage of PPS’s massive bond shows that, at least in Portland, voters remain willing to invest heavily in education — even amid economic uncertainty.

Originally reported by Sara Roth and Tiffany Camhi in OPB.