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Salem-Keizer School District officials are about to spend almost $67 million on repair and maintenance projects.

The money is leftover from a $242 million bond voters approved in 2008 to build two new elementary schools and a new middle school. Because the money came from a construction bond, district officials are legally obligated to return it to taxpayers in the form of lower taxes or use it for construction or capital improvement projects.

School board members unanimously voted Oct. 9 to spend the money on repair and maintenance projects neglected because of the sour economy. Some of the district’s 60 buildings date back to the turn of the last century. According to school district documents, 13 of them need new roofs and another 13 need new electrical systems, while another 29 need new floors, 35 need new plumbing and 41 need new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.

This doesn’t count a long list of ceiling, wall and window repairs as well as parking lot and seismic upgrades.

Board members voted to spends $42 million on maintenance projects while reserving $10 million to cover the unanticipated expenses of finishing construction on Robert Straub Middle School. They also voted to hold $15 in reserve for maintenance costs over the next six years.

Board member Ron Jones said he would have rather voted to spend the money to help pay off district debts. However, he said he changed his mind after an overwhelming number of parents and other constituents said they wanted the money spent on maintenance.

Repair and maintenance projects were also recommended by members of the district’s Citizen Bond Oversight Committee and district teachers and staff.