Bend‑LaPine school board approves two affordable‑housing tax exemptions, supplemental budget and policy updates

The Bend‑LaPine Administrative SD 1 school board on Oct. 14 unanimously approved two property tax exemptions intended to support affordable housing, adopted a supplemental budget to reconcile a roughly $500,000 variance, and approved a set of revised district policies, the district reported.

Steve Cook, who provided the meeting recap, said the board voted 6–0 to grant tax exemptions to two developments: Cascade Landings, near Ponderosa and Highway 97, and Verde Pines, near 15th Street and Knotts Road across from Caldera High School. The district stated both projects would have 100% of units restricted at 60% of area‑median income.

The board also approved a supplemental budget to address a material variance between the district’s June projections and current estimates; the meeting summary characterized the variance as about $500,000. The motion to approve the supplemental budget passed 6–0.

Separately, the board adopted a package of policy revisions that staff had prepared following a September work session. Cook noted the district updated more than 120 policies over the past year and called the effort “just a monumental lift, and it was good to get that done.” The consent agenda, which included notices for several administrative policies (including the district’s cell phone policy) was likewise approved 6–0.

The board did not record individual mover/second details in the meeting recap provided. There were multiple public‑comment speakers who voiced support for the tax‑exemption items, and the board took the votes during the business portion of the meeting.

The board will meet next on Nov. 18 at 5:30 a.m. at the district Education Center, with a work session planned in the coming weeks to continue updating the board’s working agreements with the superintendent.