Where is the Money Going?

The highest percentage of school construction costs is typically related to remodeling and new construction. Qualified bond proceeds can also be used to fund site work, furniture and equipment, technology, and site acquisition costs. Related design, construction manager, and construction contingency fees may also be charged to the bond. Exhibit 4 shows the average budget costs for each school district that approved a bond election in 2025.

Average Budget Costs per District for Passed Proposals in 2025

The average budget cost distribution per district for passed proposals in 2025. Remodeling represented the largest share of project costs at 35.91%, followed by new construction at 18.73%. Site work accounted for 11.95% of total costs. Construction management fees and costs made up 8.67% of project budgets. Construction contingencies represented 7.45%, while architectural engineering fees and costs accounted for 7.37%. Furnishings and equipment represented 5.39% of costs, technology accounted for 3.86%, and busing represented 0.66%. No costs were allocated to site acquisition (0.00%).

Overall, remodeling and new construction combined accounted for more than half of the average project budget, representing approximately 54.6% of total costs. This data shows the average budget cost distribution for passed district proposals in 2025. Remodeling represents the largest share (35.91%), followed by new construction (18.73%) and sitework (11.95%), with smaller percentages allocated to contingencies, fees, furnishings, technology, and transportation.