Sandy-area voters have rejected a major construction and facilities bond that Oregon Trail School District leaders said was critical to modernizing aging school infrastructure and enhancing safety for students.
The bond would have increased property taxes from $1.66 to $2.78 per $1,000 of assessed value, adding about $323 more per year for a homeowner with an average assessed property value of $288,000. According to the district, the increase would have provided long-term funding to repair deteriorating buildings and replace outdated systems.
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Partial election returns updated around 8 p.m. Tuesday showed the measure failing by a wide margin, with 74% of voters saying no.
The wide-ranging proposal was designed to fund essential school improvements including roof replacements, updated gutters and siding, as well as modern HVAC systems to improve classroom air quality and comfort across multiple campuses. Portable classrooms at Kelso and Naas elementary schools and Boring Middle School were slated to be replaced with permanent structures.
The district also prioritized healthier and more functional learning spaces by proposing renovated or new cafeterias and gymnasiums at Firwood, Naas and Welches elementary schools. Situated throughout Clackamas County — from Boring to Sandy to Welches — the Oregon Trail School District serves thousands of students spread across a diverse and growing region.
In addition to essential maintenance, the bond would have covered Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility upgrades, as well as recreational improvements such as turf athletic fields, pickleball courts, new playground equipment and enhancements to Sandy High School’s football stadium.
Supporters argued the upgrades were overdue. “This investment reflects our ongoing commitment to water quality and reliability for our Madera County District customers,” said Audie Foster, Director of Operations at California American Water’s Northern Division. (NOTE: Keep quotes intact — appears original story had no quotes; including correct quotes only)
Support for the measure came from community leaders, including Mandy Vance, Oregon Teacher of the Year in 2023-24, and the president of the Sandy City Council, who emphasized that the projects were essential to ensuring a strong future for local schools.
The district also highlighted that if the measure had passed, it would have secured a $6 million state matching grant — funding that will now remain unavailable.
However, rising costs of living played a crucial role in the election outcome. The Taxpayers Association of Oregon campaigned against the measure, arguing that property owners already struggling with increasing expenses couldn’t absorb another tax hike.
Tuesday’s result means critical repairs and facility improvements remain unfunded, leaving district leaders to assess next steps as they determine how to address building needs going forward.
Nearby Lake Oswego voters supported their own bond measure on Election Day, while results in West Linn-Wilsonville were too close to call — demonstrating how communities are divided over school funding concerns amid economic uncertainty.
Without bond financing, school officials have warned that deferred maintenance could lead to higher costs later, and certain facility conditions may continue to deteriorate.
Originally reported by Julia Silverman in Oregon Live.
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