The Local Option Levy
Five years of stable, local funding — controlled by Springfield voters, not Salem.
What Is a Local Option Levy?
ORS 280.060 — Voter-approved temporary property tax authority
A Local Option Levy is a temporary property tax authorized by Oregon voters, separate from a district's permanent rate. Under Oregon law (ORS 280.060), operational levies run for a maximum of five years and proceeds can be used for day-to-day operations — staffing, programs, and instructional materials. This is not a bond measure. No construction, no debt.
Critically, the November 4, 2026 General Election is an even-year statewide election. Oregon's "double majority" turnout rule does not apply — a simple majority of votes cast is all that's needed to pass.
✅ Can Fund
- Teacher & classified staff salaries
- Educational assistants & paraeducators
- Counselors & mental health support
- Speech-language pathologists
- Supplies, field trips, enrichment
- Technology & instructional materials
❌ Cannot Fund
- Capital construction (requires a bond)
- Debt service on existing bonds
- Supplemental capital projects
The Numbers
Five-year revenue projection at proposed rates
| Levy Rate | Est. Gross / Year | After Compression | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.25 / $1,000 AV | ~$6.9M | ~$6.2–6.5M | ~$31–33M |
| $1.50 / $1,000 AV | ~$8.25M | ~$7.4–7.8M | ~$37–39M |
| $1.75 / $1,000 AV ★ | ~$9.6M | ~$8.5–9.0M | ~$43–45M |
| $2.00 / $1,000 AV | ~$11.0M | ~$9.8–10.2M | ~$49–51M |
★ Recommended rate. Based on estimated SD 19 Total Assessed Value of ~$5.5B (conservative). To be confirmed with Lane County Assessor. Tax compression (Measure 5) reduces gross collections by an estimated 8–15%.
What Is Tax Compression?
Oregon's Measure 5 (1990) caps total school district taxes at $5.00 per $1,000 of Real Market Value. When a property's total school taxes would exceed this cap, rates are reduced proportionally. Springfield's long-term homeowners — whose Assessed Value is well below Real Market Value — have plenty of headroom before hitting this cap. Recent buyers closer to market value may see partial compression. The net effect: our levy projections already account for this, and the numbers still work.
What Will It Cost My Household?
Enter your assessed value to see your estimated annual levy cost.
Find your AV on your Lane County property tax statement, or search at lanecounty.org. AV is typically lower than market value.
Estimate only. Does not account for tax compression, which may reduce your actual cost if your AV is close to Real Market Value. Consult Lane County Tax & Assessment for exact figures.
How the Money Gets Spent
A proposed five-year spending framework — subject to Board adoption and Budget Committee review.
Restore Staffing
Priority use: restore the 60.7 FTE cut over two years. Teachers, counselors, EAs, and classified staff first.
Programs & Materials
Restore electives, CTE, arts, and instructional materials that were cut or deferred during the budget crisis.
Build a Reserve
Year-over-year reserve strategy so the district survives levy expiration. Target: $15M+ cushion by Year 5.
Accountability
Annual public reporting on how every levy dollar is spent. The community voted yes — they deserve to see results.
The final spending plan will be developed by the Springfield SD 19 Budget Committee and adopted by the Board of Directors prior to the November 2026 ballot. The percentages above are a community proposal, not a district commitment.
Path to the Ballot
Hard deadlines. No room to slip.
Board meeting. Levy proposal presented. Budget Committee formally tasked.
Budget Committee organizational meeting. Work begins.
Budget Committee delivers final recommendation to Board.
Board adopts ballot referral resolution.
⚠️ Hard legal deadline — filed with Lane County Elections.
🗳️ ELECTION DAY
Frequently Asked Questions
Isn't this just a tax increase?
Yes — it is a temporary property tax above the permanent rate. But context matters. Springfield homeowners are already paying less in school taxes than neighboring districts because our enrollment-based state funding has collapsed. Without new local revenue, we face another round of cuts every year until the schools are hollowed out. The levy is the only tool Oregon law gives local communities to solve a local problem.
What happens after five years?
The levy expires unless voters renew it. That's why the spending plan dedicates ~15% annually to building a reserve fund — so the district isn't back at square one when the levy ends. The goal is $15M+ in reserves by Year 5, buying time for state funding reform to catch up.
What if the assessed value numbers change?
The revenue projections are based on an estimated SD 19 Total Assessed Value of ~$5.5 billion, which we expect to confirm with the Lane County Assessor's Office. AV grows at a capped rate each year, so revenues will modestly increase over the five-year term. Even at the conservative estimate, the levy fully closes the structural deficit.
What is tax compression, and does it affect me?
Measure 5 (1990) caps total school district taxes at $5.00 per $1,000 of Real Market Value. Long-term homeowners whose AV is well below RMV have significant headroom — the levy costs them less than the rate suggests. Recent buyers closer to RMV may see some compression. Either way, our projections already account for an 8–15% compression loss.
Doesn't this just reward the district for bad financial management?
The structural deficit is driven by Oregon's enrollment-based funding formula — not by district spending decisions. When enrollment falls, state revenue falls. Springfield has cut $10M+ in spending already. There is no more fat to cut. The levy is about survival, not reward.
Can the Board spend the levy money however they want?
The Board has discretion within ORS 280.060, but the levy must be approved with a stated purpose. We are advocating for a public spending plan adopted by the Board as part of the ballot referral resolution, with annual public reporting. Voters will know exactly what they're voting for.
Get Involved
The levy won't pass itself. We need volunteers, voices, and visibility.
Spread the Word
Share this site with neighbors, coworkers, and parents. Every person who understands the levy is a potential yes vote.
Take the Survey
If you're a Springfield SD 19 staff member, your data is critical. Take the anonymous survey and share it with colleagues.
Volunteer Skills
We need: tax policy expertise, graphic design, social media, canvassing, data analysis, and legal volunteers.
Contact the Board
Email the Board of Directors and let them know you support the levy: schoolboard@springfield.k12.or.us