Local option levy funds ≈ 161 teachers or 27 school days each year • Community forum March 6
Eugene School District 4J voters will be asked this spring whether to renew a local school funding measure that pays for the equivalent of about 161 teachers or 27 school days each year. Renewal would maintain funding for school operations and would not raise the tax rate.
Come to a community forum on March 6 to ask questions, provide input and discuss the levy with board members, the superintendent and other 4J staff.
Local Option Levy Community Forum
Wednesday, March 6, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
4J Education Center, 200 N. Monroe St., Eugene
The Eugene School District local option levy is a property tax that provides money for 4J school operations, such as teachers, programs, utilities and other daily operating costs. The levy currently provides about $17 million per year, equivalent to about 161 teaching positions or 27 school days. All levy proceeds stay in the Eugene School District and fund 4J public school operations.
The 4J local option levy has been approved by voters four times, beginning in 2000. The current levy will expire in 2020 if it is not renewed by voters. The Eugene School Board has voted to refer a five-year renewal of the local option levy to the May 2019 election ballot.
If voters approve the levy renewal on May 21, it would continue the local option levy at the same tax rate for another five years, through June 2025. Renewal of the levy would provide funds to maintain school days, school programs, class sizes and other school service levels.
Without this levy, the school district would need to reduce general fund operating costs and services by about 9 percent beginning with the 2020–21 school year.
Under Oregon law, a local option levy is the only way voters in a school district can provide local property tax funding for teachers, class sizes, school programs and other school operation costs. By contrast, capital bond funds, such as the bond measure approved by 4J voters in 2018, can only be spent on buildings, buses, books and other capital investments.
Voters who live in Eugene School District 4J and are registered to vote by April 30 will be eligible to vote on the levy renewal measure.
