If the district can afford $700,000 to send teams to Bend because of the OSAA reorganization, why do they need this bond?

The district cannot afford $700,000 to send teams to Bend. That number was used to serve as a reason for the OSAA to not place Salem-Keizer in a league with Bend schools, and it was based on if the district did business as usual – that is, schedules the same number of contests and sends as many teams, bands and cheerleaders as it would in a local competition. Salem-Keizer is not only appealing the OSAA ruling, but it’s also looking at a number of cost-saving measures to minimize the financial and educational impacts should the appeal fail.

Additionally, school travel costs are paid for through the district’s general fund. The general fund is the main operating budget of the district. Bond dollars cannot go into the general fund – they can only be used for capital projects.