The $27.5 million bond measure is not estimated to increase the current tax rate due to savings from refinancing previously issued bonds and projected growth in total taxable assessed values district-wide. In addition to this unique circumstance, the district has qualified for a $7.6 million matching grant from the State of Oregon’s OSCIM program. The district will only receive this grant if the measure passes.
“The board and the district respect the financial concerns of our community,” shared Tim Carpenter, Redmond School District Board Chair. “With thoughtful planning and actions this measure will not add taxes to our community. We believe this bond will protect our students and staff and preserve the life of our facilities while being good stewards of community resources.”
The board’s decision comes two years after the district’s narrow loss of a $70 million bond measure in 2018. After months of discussion and continued work from the district’s Community Bond Task Force, the district pursued polling the community in July which revealed 56% of the community are in favor of a bond.
The smaller $27.5 million package will address critical health, safety and security upgrades in all of the district’s schools. In addition, the package aims to make energy efficiency updates, modernize existing buildings with technology and infrastructure improvements. The bond would also increase student capacity at Vern Patrick Elementary and Tom McCall Elementary with the addition of six new classrooms at each school.
In 2024, the district will pay off remaining outstanding debt from general obligation bonds issued in 2004. The resulting reduction in the tax rate will allow Redmond School District to pursue their vision for the replacement of M.A. Lynch Elementary by asking voters in November 2024 to approve a second bond measure which would not increase the tax rate.
"By refinancing our bond debt and careful planning, we are able to provide much needed repairs to our schools for years to come without increasing the burden on taxpayers,” shared Pat Tellinghusen, a member of the district’s community bond task force. “This is a boost our students and teachers need when the pandemic makes education so difficult."
