The Siuslaw School District in Florence announced on Apr. 15 that it will send a $139 million bond measure to voters in May 2026. The proposal would fund the construction of a new high school behind the current middle school, as well as add classrooms and security improvements at Siuslaw Elementary School.
The decision is significant for local families and taxpayers, as it addresses longstanding issues with aging facilities while asking residents to support an increase in property taxes. The district’s current high school was built in 1970 and lacks both an auditorium and cafeteria. Principal Mike Harklerode said, “The biggest thing is the comforts and the functionality of the building. The heating system, the plumbing system, electrical system are all needing to be replaced.”
Harklerode also described how students have been affected by infrastructure problems, including a closure due to heating failure in December 2024 that forced students to bring blankets on cold days. If approved by voters, Measure 20-379 would cost property owners $2.75 per $1,000 of assessed value.
The district has previously attempted similar measures without success; a $40 million bond failed in 2016 and a $108 million bond was rejected in 2018. However, if this measure passes, the state of Oregon will provide an additional $6 million grant for a total project budget of $145 million.
A website created for this bond provides information about its impact on taxpayers—including a calculator showing that the average property owner would pay about $27 more per month or $324 annually.
