General Bond FAQ

General obligation bonds are financed through taxes on the assessed value of properties. Property taxes are paid based on a dollar amount per $1,000 of assessed property value. Assessed value is typically much less than Market Value. The estimated median Hood River Market Value is $725K (Zillow, 7/28/2026). The City will launch an address look-up tool for homeowners to find an individualized tax estimate for their property.

The two proposed bond measures are identical in size but have different property tax rates because the bonds that would fund affordable housing may need to be issued on a taxable, rather than tax-exempt, basis. This is because housing projects would likely be combined with private capital and are not considered public infrastructure which qualifies for tax-exempt municipal borrowing. Portland and Metro’s Housing Bonds were similarly issued on a taxable basis. Additional information on tax-exempt bond issuances is available HERE.

The May Pool Bond and Parks Operating Levy were forwarded to voters by the Hood River Parks and Recreation District which is a Special District separate from the City of Hood River, operated by an independently elected board, and encompassing most of Hood River County. Measures 14-85 and 14-86 are limited to voters and tax payers inside the limits of the City of Hood River. Pool Bond monies cannot be redirected to Police Station and Affordable Housing projects.

The City has periodically explored options for a new police station since at least the 1980s. The current effort began in 2019 and looked at several possible sites as well as co-location with the Hood River County Sheriff. A Housing Bond traces its origin to the 2022 Affordable Housing Strategy. This policy document created a list of strategies to pursue after the City largely accomplished the recommendations from a 2015 Housing Needs Analysis.