How Much the Bond Will Cost Us

     On December 5th, Dr. Trevor Green, Yakima School District Superintendent,  came to Eisenhower to discuss a bond measure for the April 2026 election, totaling $200 million in local funds and $20 million in state funds. This bond is intended to fund the construction of new buildings for Hoover and Garfield Elementary Schools. 

     To fund this, property taxes will increase, with a maximum taxation  of $4.01 per $1,000 of property value. An average home at $311,600 is expected to see a $20.40 monthly and $246 annual tax increase. 

     As this is the Yakima School District’s first bond attempt since Eisenhower and Davis were rebuilt, locals may be skeptical of the idea. While I'm sure staff at these schools can vouch for the much-needed remodel, many of our voters haven't seen the worn-out buildings themselves. 

     As someone who attended Hoover, the school definitely needs more than a playground update. Construction of these elementary schools is expected to take approximately two years, from 2027-2029. If this bond were rejected, we would eventually have to remodel the schools, but by then, costs would have increased by at least 5-7%. If the schools are old now, in a couple of years, there will be no escaping a new building.