Hillsboro: What the $430 Million School Bond Would Cost on Your Tax Bill

Hillsboro School District voters are deciding a $430 million bond, Measure 34-355, on ballots Washington County began mailing Oct. 14. The district’s official estimate is a bond tax rate of $1.84 per $1,000 of assessed value, which works out to $184 a year for every $100,000 of assessed value.

That estimate is higher than the 2026-27 rate of $1.4989 on tax statements going out this month. It is lower than the rates the district charged from 2021-22 through 2024-25, according to county tax tables. Those figures, and what they mean for a typical home, are laid out below.

What would it cost on my tax bill?

Bond taxes are charged on assessed value, the taxable value on your bill. In Oregon it is usually far below market value. Washington County’s typical residential properties list shows a sample Downtown Hillsboro home with a 2026 market value of $493,000 but an assessed value of $234,550.

At $1.84, that home would pay about $432 a year toward school bonds. At this year’s rate it pays about $352, so the difference is about $80 on the same assessed value (our calculation: assessed value ÷ 1,000 × rate). Assessed values usually rise up to 3% a year, so real bills would differ somewhat.

To run your own numbers, take the assessed value from the 2026-27 tax statement the county is mailing Oct. 16 to 20, divide by 1,000 and multiply by the rate.

The measure filing gives the $1.84 estimate without separating new debt from old. It adds that “actual levy rates may differ” with interest rates and property values.

The district’s bond FAQ shows how it fits with existing debt. Its example uses $1.84 as the district’s full bond rate on fall 2027 bills if the measure passes. If it fails, the FAQ estimates $0.91 for the remaining 2007 and 2017 bonds alone. Per $100,000 of assessed value, that is $184 versus $91 (our calculation).

Higher than this fall, lower than 2021 to 2025

Set against recent tax bills, the proposed rate falls between this year’s rate and the 2021-25 rates. The table uses the district’s bond rate as it appeared on county tax-rate tables each year.

Sources: Washington County SAL Table 6a for 2021-22 to 2025-26 (2025-26 table); Multnomah County 2026-27 Summary of Assessments and Taxes for the district-wide 2026-27 rate, because Washington County’s 2026-27 table was not posted at its usual address on Oct. 18. The 2021-22 figure adds the two district bond lines on that year’s table, 1.3428 and 0.7893 (our calculation).

The drop in 2025-26 came as nearly $7 billion in previously tax-abated Intel property came onto the rolls, according to the FAQ. The FAQ had projected $1.58 for this fall; the Multnomah County summary shows $1.4989.

The ballot summary says $1.84 is “lower than the average rate paid since last bond approval.” The FAQ puts that average at $2.02 since the 2017 bond. The county tables Focus Hillsboro could find online start with 2021-22, a shorter period than the district’s, and those six years average about $1.84 (our calculation).

What the $430 million would pay for

According to the measure, the money would replace roofs, siding, heating and cooling, plumbing, flooring and lighting. It would also replace systems the measure says cause leaks, mold and closed classrooms. The list adds new doors, locks, fencing, cameras and phone systems, cybersecurity, computing labs, a fire science classroom, STEM and vocational space, fields, tracks, buses and kitchen equipment.

The measure requires a community oversight committee and regular audits. Bonds could be sold in several series, each paid off within 21 years. Passage would also make the district eligible for $6.1 million in state matching money.

At a Sept. 15 City Council meeting, the district’s chief communications officer, Beth Graser, said assessments found $617 million in needs and the district settled on $430 million after reviewing tax impacts, according to minutes included for approval in the Oct. 20 council packet. When councilors relayed residents’ concerns about $10 million budgeted for cameras, she said the district will not use AI-powered cameras or automated license plate readers.

The school board voted unanimously May 26 to send the bond to voters, the district said. A March breakdown the district labels illustrative puts about $88 million to $101 million into each of the Century, Glencoe, Hillsboro and Liberty high school areas.

Who filed arguments for and against

The county voters’ pamphlet carries 10 arguments in favor on pages WC-60 to WC-64, one in Spanish. School board members furnished eight, and Briana Ellenberger of Orenco Boosters and Kim Strelchun furnished the others. Listed backers include the Hillsboro Education Association, Hillsboro Professional Firefighters, the Hillsboro Police Officers’ Association, state legislators, Hillsboro city councilors and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

Supporters argue the bond would repair aging buildings and tighten security while keeping the rate “at or below” the average since the last bond. They also cite the $6.1 million state match and the oversight committee.

Two arguments against, on page WC-65, run under the heading “Taxpayers Association of Oregon.” Jason Williams furnished both. One argues Oregon schools have received billions in new state and federal money and should do better with it. The other says enrollment has fallen, so the district should ask for less, and that seniors on limited incomes cannot afford more property taxes.

The district’s FAQ says the bond includes no new schools because enrollment has declined since the previous bond. The pamphlet notes that the county does not vouch for the accuracy of any argument.

Ballots are due by 8 p.m. Nov. 3

Drop boxes are open 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. on Election Day, and no postage is needed. Hillsboro sites include Brookwood Library, Shute Park Library, the Public Services Building lot at 155 N. First Ave., Westside Commons and the county Elections Office at 2925 NE Aloclek Drive.

The county’s drop site page says a mailed ballot must be “postmarked on or before Election Day.” Voters can track their ballot at washcovotes.ballottrax.net/voter or by calling Washington County Elections at 503-846-5800.