Depoe Bay council backs Lincoln County School District bond renewal ahead of May ballot

The Depoe Bay City Council on March 18 adopted a resolution expressing the city’s support for a Lincoln County School District renewal bond to appear on the May 2025 ballot.

The resolution, moved and seconded during the meeting, endorses a $73.3 million renewal bond the district says will not increase the current county tax rate and notes an automatic $6 million state match if voters approve the measure.

District representatives told the council the bond is framed as a renewal of a 2011 measure set to expire and was approved by the school board in February 2025 after a year of community information-gathering. Presenters said priorities include safety and security upgrades (including expanding a pilot lockdown system), roof and infrastructure repairs tied to coastal wear, classroom and technology improvements, expanded career and technical education space and additional performance spaces in Newport, Toledo and other towns that currently lack theaters. The district said 100% of bond proceeds would stay in Lincoln County and that a committee would monitor spending.

The district presentation also noted that the average age of district buildings is about 51 years, that 11 roofs require work and that some projects identified in a long-range facilities study were reduced to keep the bond from increasing the tax rate. The district said Taft Elementary requires a new dedicated music room and that Taft Middle/Junior High (referred to in the presentation as TAFT 7-12) hosts a robust forestry lab and would be a focus for expanded career-technical space.

Councilors read a city resolution into the record supporting the district’s ballot measure and encouraging Depoe Bay residents to vote yes. The council then voted to adopt the resolution; the motion carried on a voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Speakers thanked district staff for attending and asked for public access to supporting documents; district staff said board minutes and the facility report are available on the district website and offered to email links to councilors.

Context and next steps: the district told the council the school board’s prior bond from February 2011 passed with about 59% approval. If the renewal bond passes in May 2025 the district will receive the state match and proceed with projects overseen by a spending oversight committee, officials said.

The council’s resolution endorsing the district bond was entered into the record and approved; no further formal city action was announced at the meeting.