Lincoln County School District proposes $73.3 million bond renewal for May ballot; district says tax rate would not rise

On March 19, 2025, Lincoln County School Board member Liz Martin and Superintendent Dr. Myles Tolan presented a proposed $73.3 million bond renewal to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners and said the district planned to place the measure on the May ballot without increasing the current tax rate (65 cents per $1,000 of assessed value).

Martin and Tolan said the 2011 bond is expiring and the district’s long-term facility study identified roughly $93 million in capital needs across 11 schools; the board and community reduced that list to about $73.3 million for the renewal proposal. Officials said 100% of bond proceeds would be spent locally and the district qualified for a $6 million state matching grant that would be added to the project list if the bond passes.

District officials told commissioners the package prioritizes safety and security upgrades (including an electronic lockdown/notification system piloted at Sam Case Elementary), repairs to aging roofs and building systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, windows and siding), accessibility improvements for special-education services, removal of remaining modular classrooms in some locations and upgrades to career and technical education lab spaces. The district also proposed three performing-arts auditoriums (Newport, Waldport and Toledo) to provide both school and community spaces and noted previous bond work retired a facility out of a tsunami zone and installed turf fields used widely for community athletics.

Tolan said the district relied on polling and demographic study and is mindful of declining enrollment; the board aimed to maintain the existing tax rate while addressing urgent building maintenance and safety needs. Commissioners asked whether the $6 million state match was recurring; Tolan replied it was a one-time match tied to this bond application and would not carry forward without reapplying. Commissioners also asked whether the district would publish a schedule of anticipated projects; Tolan said the district would provide a project timeline and that an oversight committee would monitor work and updates.

Commissioners expressed support for the district’s stewardship approach and noted deferred maintenance often raises long‑term costs. No vote or formal action on the bond measure occurred at the meeting; the presentation was informational and commissioners directed staff to share the materials and help the district distribute voter information.