Jefferson Co. voters approve $24M school bond measure

Jefferson County School District voters have approved the district's $24 million bond measure.

It has been nine years since the passage of the last bond measure in the Jefferson County School District.

By Wednesday morning, the bond was passing 58% to 42%.

The approved bond measure is not estimated to increase the current tax rate due to savings from refinancing previously issued bonds and old bonds retiring.

In addition, the district has qualified for a $4 million matching grant from the State of Oregon's OSCIM program.

"Thank you, voters, of the Jefferson County School District," said Jefferson County School District Superintendent Dr. Jay Mathisen, "This proposed bond measure will allow the district to make critical health and safety improvements and upgrades to all of our schools. It will truly allow our students to flourish in 509J and get better every day."

The $24 million bond measure will allow the school district to protect the community's assets by improving the health, safety, and security in all of the district's buildings, repairing and updating aging facilities and expanding vocational and early learning opportunities.

The bond will also allow the district to make much-needed improvements at the Madras High School Soccer Fields.

The district will be releasing information about the Citizen Oversight Committee in the coming weeks.

This committee is an independent, volunteer, citizen-led committee established to oversee the use of bond funds.

Jefferson County School District will plan to issue bonds in early 2022 with bond projects estimated to begin in the summer of 2022.

"This is a critical moment for the future of our district and for our students," shared Laurie Danzuka, Jefferson County School District Board Chair. "The district will now be able to improve the health, safety and security for all students. We are beyond grateful for our community for believing in this bond measure and supporting our current and future students."

For questions or more information about the Jefferson County School District Bond Measure 16-98, please visit https://509jschoolbond.org