Voters in the Windsor Unified School District decide Measure J on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, a $96 million general obligation bond to repair and modernize the district's six campuses. The ballot question puts the tax at about $46 per $100,000 of assessed value, roughly $6 million a year. It needs 55% to pass.

Why it matters: The district's 2016 bond is running out, and its 2024 attempt, a $122.5 million bond, got only 50% of the vote, The Press Democrat reported. District leaders pitch Measure J as keeping an existing tax on the bill rather than adding a new one.

What it pays for

Bond money can only go to projects on the measure's list, including replacing leaky roofs, health, safety and security upgrades, renovating outdated classrooms and restrooms, and technology and energy-efficiency work, according to the Sonoma County Counsel's impartial analysis. It can't pay teacher or administrator salaries. Being on the list doesn't guarantee a project gets funded; the board sets priorities.

The district says most classrooms and labs are more than 30 years old, its 52 portable classrooms include many with structural damage, water leaks and mold, and campuses had more than 70 roof leaks last year.

What it would cost

  • Average rate: about $46 per $100,000 of assessed value; the highest estimated rate is $60.
  • Schedule: about $27 per $100,000 at first, $40 in 2034 and $60 from 2043 until payoff, per The Press Democrat.
  • Length: collected through fiscal year 2060-61.
  • Total repayment: about $216.3 million in principal and interest if all bonds are sold.

The Press Democrat estimated more than $360 a year for a home assessed near Windsor's median sale price of about $800,000. These are projections and could change with bond timing and property values.

For and against

The argument in favor, signed by Oak Tree Winery owner Michael LeCompt, former Mayor Warin Parker and others, says Measure J repairs schools "by simply extending existing bond tax rates without an increase" and helps the district qualify for state matching funds. No official argument against was filed. Some residents have voiced opposition online, The Press Democrat reported, citing distrust over a proposed employee housing project at the closed Windsor Creek Elementary site; Superintendent Jeremy Decker said no bond money would go to that project.

Also on Windsor ballots

Windsor voters also decide Measure I, a 1-cent town sales tax, and the $830 million SRJC Measure AB bond. See our Election 2026 guide.