A school bond is a funding method used by public school districts to finance major capital construction projects, such as building repairs or school upgrades. Bond measures appear on the ballot with specific information about the proposed projects to be completed if voters pass the measure. School districts that are not able to pass bond measures make building and facility repairs through the general fund.

Due to the retirement of a portion of existing bonds, this bond measure is not expected to increase the current district’s total bond tax rate ($3 per $1,000 assessed value). This $190 million bond is projected to have an estimated average rate of $1.06 per $1,000 assessed value annually over the bond term. The estimated average cost of this bond is approximately $424 per year on a home with a $400,000 assessed taxable value. Actual rates may vary based upon interest rates incurred and changes to assessed value.

There are annual independent financial audits of bond funds as well as a citizen oversight committee that is elected by the School Board called the Bond Oversight Committee. The Bond Oversight Committee will monitor spending if the bond passes. The district has a strong record of completing bond work on time and on budget. To review spending of previous capital bonds, community members can review the 2019 capital bond quarterly reports.

The School Board placed the proposed capital bond measure on the November ballot following the recommendation of the district’s citizen Long Range Planning Committee and following feedback from a community Bond Summit in March 2025. The proposed bond would make needed repairs to existing schools and district facilities, increase safety and security, and make updates to all 16 West Linn-Wilsonville schools. 

Interested community members can find a list of proposed projects by school as well as a list of proposed projects by theme on the 2025 Bond webpage.

No. Without voter approval, proposed projects under the 2025 Bond would not be completed. Any immediate facility repairs would need to be completed using the district’s general fund.

No, bond funds must be used for the purposes approved by voters and only for schools in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District.

The community was heavily involved in planning for the 2025 Bond. The School Board requested that the Long Range Planning Committee update the district’s Long Range Facilities Plan in October of 2023. The Board adopted the updated Long Range Facilities Plan in 2025 and hosted a community bond summit in March 2025, inviting a cross-section of community members from West Linn and Wilsonville to provide feedback. The district and School Board gathered community input through public meetings, online surveys, and through public comment. The School Board voted to place a capital bond measure on the November ballot in July 2025. 

The West Linn-Wilsonville School District is consistently ranked in the top 5 in Oregon and among the top school districts nationwide by Niche, which grades and ranks schools using dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews. All of the district’s primary, middle, and high schools rank among the best in Oregon.