Special Districts FAQ

What are special districts?

Special districts are the local districts, such as school districts, utility districts, and community college districts.

What are the special districts in Multnomah County?

Community College Districts
Community college districts map (PDF)
Association Link: Oregon Community College Association

Mt. Hood Community College
Phone: 503-491-6422
Website: http://www.mhcc.cc.or.us/

Portland Community College
Phone: 503-244-6111
Website: http://www.pcc.edu/

School Districts
School districts map (PDF)
Association Link: Oregon School Boards Association

Centennial School District
Phone: 503-760-7990
Website: http://www.centennial.k12.or.us

Corbett School District
Phone: 503-695-3612
Website: http://www.corbett.k12.or.us/

David Douglas School District
Phone: 503-252-2900
Website: http://www.ddouglas.k12.or.us/index.html

Gresham-Barlow School District
Phone: 503-618-2450
Website: http://district.gresham.k12.or.us/

Parkrose School District
Phone: 503-408-2100
Website: http://www.parkrose.k12.or.us/

Portland School District
Phone: 503 916-3741
Website: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/

Reynolds School District
Phone: 503-661-7200
Website: http://www.reynolds.k12.or.us/

Riverdale School District
Phone: 503-636-8611
Website: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/

Educational Service Districts
MESD Map (PDF)
Association Link: Oregon Association of Education Service Districts

Multnomah Educational Service District
Phone: 503-257-1515
Website: http://w3.mesd.k12.or.us/

Water Districts
Water districts map (PDF)
Association Link: Special District Association of Oregon

Alto Park Water District
Phone: 503-228-8448

Burlington Water District
Phone: 503-621-9788

Corbett Water District
Phone: 503-695-2284

Lusted Water District
Phone: 503-663-3059

Pleasant Home Water District
Phone: 503-663-1091

Valley View Water District
Phone: 503-292-8526

Fire Districts
Fire Districts map (PDF)
Association Link: Special District Association of Oregon

Rural Fire Protection District #10
Phone: 503-666-6704

Rural Fire Protection District #11JT
Phone: 503-636-0759

Rural Fire Protection District #14
Phone: 503-695-2272

Rural Fire Protection District 30JT
Phone: 503-621-1242

Soil & Water Conservation Districts
Association Link: Special District Association of Oregon

West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
Phone: 503-238-4775
Website: http://www.westmultconserv.org/index.html

East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
Phone:503-222-SOIL
Website: http://www.westmultconserv.org/eastzones.html

People's Utility Districts
Association Link: Special District Association of Oregon

Rockwood Water P.U.D.
Phone: 503-665-4179
Website: http://www.rwpud.org/

Interlachen Water P.U.D.
Phone: 503-666-6433

Why are these special districts important?

To begin with, these districts handle large amounts of tax dollars, collected locally, from the state, and from the federal government. It is the elected members of these councils and boards that decide how the money is spent, when additional money needs to be raised, and more.

Secondly, these local boards are often times where the future leaders of tomorrow come from, including future state legislators, mayors, and city council members. Often times the competition for these boards is almost non-existent, which means it's a lot easier for Republicans to get on these boards.

It's up to us to make sure progressives are elected to these boards, as it doesn't matter if democrats in the state legislature or U.S. Congress send more funds our way if it's Republicans locally who are deciding how to spend those dollars.