Colton School District Seeks Approval For $8 Million Bond And $4 Million Matching Grant

Colton, Ore. — The Colton School District’s Board has placed Measure 3-593, an $8 million bond, on the May 16th ballot. The district has also applied for and was granted a $4 million Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Program matching grant, which can only be accessed if voters approve Measure 3-593.

If approved, the bond and matching grant will provide the Colton School District with $12 million to fund school facility capital projects. These projects will include repairing and replacing boilers, HVAC, siding, lighting, windows, flooring, and other needed improvements. Upgrades would improve learning spaces, address deferred maintenance and save money through energy efficiency.

Additionally, the district aims to expand career and technical education by renovating and remodeling the current wood and metal shop building and building a new facility for classes in the industrial trades. Safety and security upgrades are also on the agenda, including updating and upgrading safety and security systems that were not part of the 2014 bond. This includes secure entryways at each school, access control, ADA accessibility upgrades, and exterior lighting.

Moreover, the Colton High School Library will be remodeled to create a space for the community to gather and meet during non-school hours. Renovations and expansions of some of the athletic facilities and fields, including resurfacing the track and upgrades to the concession stands, are also in the works.

The new bond rate would be an estimated $0.79 more than the current $0.40 per thousand dollars of a home’s assessed value the community paid last year. For example, owners of a home with an assessed value of $294,000 could expect to pay just over $232 more per year or $20 a month.

The median assessed value for all properties in the Colton School District is $166,147, and the median assessed value is $293,875 for all residential properties in the district according to the Clackamas County Office of Taxation & Assessment. It’s important to note that the assessed value is not the same as the real market value – Real Market Value (RMV) is the value the assessor has estimated a property would sell for on the open market as of the assessment date.

If voters do not approve Measure 3-593, the $4 million grant funds will be distributed to another district. The school district urges residents to vote on May 16th and have their voices heard.