State by state school bond voter accountability measures

Bond elections
2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 2010 • 2009 • 2008 All years and states
Property tax elections
2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 2010 • 2009 • 2008 All years and states
See also
State comparisons How voting works Approval rates

The following is a table comparing all states that conduct school bond and tax elections on voter accountability measures.

For a detailed explanation on how voter accountability and oversight are applied, please see State-by-state comparison of school bond and tax laws

Explaining table of metrics

• Supermajority vote-If states require school districts to have super-majority vote to pass a bond referendum.
• State government approval-If states require school districts to seek approval from the state government before approving a resolution calling for a bond/tax election.
• Constitutional protection-If states require school districts to follow a debt limit protected by the state constitution.
• Bond Issue Restrictions-Do states place restrictions on school districts if they do not spend taxpayer money correctly for future bond issues.

State-by-state comparison table

State	Supermajority	State Gov't Approval	Constitutional Protection	Bond Issue Restrictions
Alabama	a-3/5ths for special school tax.	a-Alabama Department of Education approves bond issues.	a	a-Bonds are contingent on payment of principal and interest.
Arizona	d	d	a	a-Public hearings required to report on project's progress.
Arkansas	d	d	a	d
Colorado	d	d	a	a-No new property taxes levied under TABOR
Connecticut	d	a-CT Department of Education approves private academy bonds.	d	a-Withholding of private academy funding if defaulted on bonds.
Delaware	d	a-Delaware Attorney General approves bond issues.	d	a-Cannot exceed total debt limitation.
Florida	d	d-However FL Department of Education can advise a district.	a	a-Petition for bond measure required if school board does not approve a resolution for a election. Millages cannot exceed 2 or 4 years.
Georgia	d	d	a	a-Special school taxes must expire after 5 years.
Illinois	d	d	d	d
Indiana	d	d	Pending Nov. 2010 Referendum	a-Maximum caps for bond issues.
Iowa	d	d	d	d
Kansas	d	a-State Dep't of Education Approval-Bond Issue	d	a-State Approval needed to exceed 14% bond debt limit
Kentucky	a-2/3rds vote needed for bond issues.	d	d	a-No bond issues for athletic facilities.
Louisiana	d	d	a	d
Maine	d	d	d	a-Bonds cannot exceed 10% of district's total debt and be sold below par value.
Michigan	d	a-State Treasurer Approval	d	a
Minnesota	d	a-State Dep't of Education Approval-60 days prior to election.	d	a-Required separation of school bonds from municipal bonds.
Missouri	a-57.15% for bond issues, 2/3rd vote-debt ceiling	d	a	d
Nebraska	d	d	d	d
Nevada	d	d	d	a-No district can exceed 15 percent of total debt valuation.
New Jersey	a-3/5ths super-majority for exceeding levy limitation.	a-Must get Department of Education approval to exceed levy without going to a ballot question.	d	a-School districts have mandatory interest payment of bonds that are issued by NJ Government.
New Mexico	d	d	a	a-Bonds can be only issued by school district and only used for school construction.
New York State	a-3/5ths super-majority for debt limit elections.	d	a	a-Cannot exceed percentage of debt depending on population.
North Carolina	a	d	d	a-NC has a balanced budget requirement
North Dakota	a	d	d	d
Ohio	d	a-Through OH School Facilities Commission	a	d
Oklahoma	a-3/5 vote for bond issue	d	a	d
Oregon	a-50% turnout needed for property tax cap regardless if the referendums passes or fails.	d	a	a-Bond Issues cannot exceed 13 percent of a district's debt.
Pennsylvania	d	d	d	a-In the event of a defeated referendum.
South Carolina	d	d	d	a-Bonds must be sold at normal par value.
South Dakota	a-3/5ths super-majority vote needed to approve capital outlays.	d	d	a-Mandatory 5 year spending plan if capital outlay is approved
Texas	d	a-All bonds must be approved by Attorney General of Texas.	d	a-Bonds can be used only for construction and financing of property acquisitions.
Utah	d	d	a	a-Bonds must be issued in a sinking fund mechanism.
Virginia	d	d	d	d
Washington State	a-3/5ths supermajority required to pass bond issue.	a-WA Superintendent of Public Instruction approves bond issues.	a	a-Bond issues must have full faith and credit of the State of Washington.
West Virginia	a-3/5 vote for bond issue	a-West Virginia Attorney General approves bond issues.	d	a-Cannot be used for current expenses and exceed 2.5% of total debt.
Wisconsin	d	d	d	d
Wyoming	d	d	d	a-2 public hearings required and bonds can be used only for construction purposes

See also

• Voting on school bond and tax measures
• State-by-state comparison of school bond and tax laws