Proposed 2024 Local Option
Levy Measure

  • Portland Public Schools has referred a levy measure to the May 21, 2024 ballot.  The School District is currently funded in part by a levy that funds teaching positions across the district. If the measure passes, it would authorize continuation of property taxes at $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value for an additional five years.

    If the measure passes, the levy is estimated to collect property tax revenue in the amount of $101.5 million for Portland Public Schools in school year 2025-26.

    If the measure passes, the levy would fund teaching positions and/or classroom supports at every school in the district. The levy would fund approximately 660 teachers and classroom support staff annually over five years. 

    If the measure passes, the levy would fund teaching and other positions to:

    • Support a well-rounded education, including career and technical programs and enrichment and electives, so students graduate with the skills for career or college.
    • Provide classroom support staff, such as educational assistants and reading specialists for students struggling with academic or mental/behavioral health issues.
    • Help maintain class sizes and prevent significant increases across the district.

     

    If the levy passes, there would continue to be fiscal supervision and independent oversight:

    • The measure would maintain the existing local option levy rate of $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value and would provide tax revenue that would be directed to supporting schools.
    • If passed, this local option would require independent citizen oversight so that tax dollars would be used for purposes approved by local voters.
    • Funds would be placed in a sub-account to facilitate oversight and accurate reporting.
    • No tax revenues collected through the local option levy would be used for district administration.

     

    If passed, the levy would continue the current tax rate of $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value for an additional five years. The owner of a home assessed at $275,706—the district’s current average assessed property value—would pay $45.72 per month, or $548.65 per year.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If the measure passes, how much would it cost?

    The measure would authorize renewal of the current property tax rate of $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value for an additional five years. The owner of a home assessed at $275,706.00—the district’s current average assessed property value—would pay $45.72 per month or $548.65 per year.

     

    What would happen if the measure does not pass?

    If the measure does not pass, the teaching and support positions would not be funded as proposed and the current property tax of $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value would not continue. The current tax expires in June 2025.

     

    Why was this levy measure referred to the voters?

    The school district is funded through state, local, and federal dollars. There is an approximately $100 million gap between what the state funds for K-12 education and the school district’s proposed expenditures. If the measure passes, the proposed levy would collect property tax revenue to fill the gap in the school district's budget.

     

    If the measure passes, how would the levy be monitored to ensure dollars are spent on teaching positions and/or classroom supports?

    In serving the students of Portland, the district strives to be fiscally responsible with taxpayer resources. Through many years of volatile budgets and the pandemic, school district leaders have worked to preserve classroom education and class sizes. At the same time, PPS has advocated for a greater level of state investment by the Legislature and worked to ensure that resources are focused on the classroom.

    PPS is also subject to regular independent financial and performance audits to monitor effective use of taxpayer resources.

Election Timeline

    • April 30, 2024: Voter registration deadline
    • May 1, 2024: Ballots mailed to voters
    • May 21, 2024: Election Day
    • June 17, 2024: Final Election Results Certified

Board Materials For 2024 Levy

  • Levy Renewal Board Resolution (No. 6859)

  • Levy Renewal Staff Report

  • This information was reviewed by the Oregon Elections Division for compliance with ORS 260.432

District Staff Lead

Local Option Levy Fact Sheet

  • Click on the image to see a downloadable PDF of the fact sheet

    Preview image of the full one-page flyer. Click to see full flyer.

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