What's Happening in Portland, OR…

In November, the renewal of a teacher funding levy will go before voters after recent approval of the ballot’s language by the Portland school board.

The levy in question has, during the current fiscal year, paid the salaries of about 800 teachers and come the general election voters will be asked to renew a property tax levy that passed in 2014. The additional property tax of $1.99 per $1,000 during this fiscal year comprised about 14 percent of the school district’s general fund, which equals about $96 million.

The ambitious goals of the school board, doubling reading rates for third graders and math proficiency rates for fifth graders in the following student populations: Latino, black and immigrant, were included in the bill. Although some board members felt expressing those goals on the ballot was a mistake, the bill's original language was unanimously approved.

Printing services are a necessity in any election and it is especially important that voters understand where their money will be going.

The tax levy the Portland school district is placing on this November’s ballot will likely be followed by another in 2020. This second bond, should it be placed before voters next year, will conclude funding for a set of construction projects expecting to cost $790 million, which voters approved in 2017. The final cost for completion of those projects will be close to $1 billion.