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    Nine Orange County school districts have bond measures on the November ballot
    • October 4, 2024

    Nine Orange County school districts are asking voters to approve measures that would allow for the sale of bonds to finance improving classroom learning environments.

    The bonds function like loans, with the debt repaid by adding an assessment to local property tax bills.

    Districts say they need the bond measures to pass to fund projects such as new classrooms and labs, new technology, repairs and renovations and improvements to campus safety and security – big-ticket infrastructure they say everyday operating budgets can’t support.

    School districts are limited to using the funds raised for construction projects. A district could not put the money toward operating costs such as paying for teachers’ salaries and classroom textbooks. California uses an attendance-based funding formula to pay for salaries and other district administration costs.

    These school district measures must be approved by 55% of voters to pass.

    Brea Olinda Unified School District Measure H

    The ballot measure would allow the school district to issue up to $160 million in bonds to fund campus renovations and upgrades, especially for its 108-year-old junior high school.

    The district plans to use the funds to upgrade old classrooms by repairing leaky roofs and electrical wiring. It also wants to use the money to better meet accessibility and earthquake safety requirements. New classrooms, labs and career technology facilities would also be funded.

    If approved, Measure H would levy $39 per $100,000 of assessed property value to repay the debt with interest, an addition to tax bills that is expected would be collected through the 2058-59 fiscal year. It is estimated $332.7 million would be required to repay the debt if all bonds were issued.

    There was no ballot argument submitted against the measure.

    Santa Ana Unified School District Measure I

    Santa Ana Unified is looking to upgrade various facilities by replacing aging temporary classrooms with permanent structures, renovating school buildings, including upgrading heating and cooling, safety systems and learning technology, adding and supporting more learning technology, and more.

    The text of Measure I lists a variety of areas of upgrades, but not site-specific projects.

    The measure proposes to issue and sell general obligation bonds up to $355 million to fund the work, levying about $28 per $100,000 of assessed property value on future property tax bills in the district.

    The addition to tax bills would be expected to be collected through the 2054-55 fiscal year. The school district estimates with all bonds issued, including the original amount and interest, more than $676 million would be needed to repay the debt.

    Supporters of the bond say in their ballot argument that Measure I pays for needed repairs to aging classrooms and helps address the problem of schools containing hazardous materials, such as lead. They also argue that the bond measure will create equal learning opportunities for students across the district.

    “Measure I makes Santa Ana schools eligible for over $100 million in state matching funds that will otherwise go to improve schools in other communities,” the ballot argument says. It “ensures students who plan to go to college are prepared to succeed, and those who don’t plan on college receive career training for good jobs.”

    But Measure I is the fourth by the district in 25 years, opponents say in their ballot argument against, further raising property taxes, which would affect homeowners, but also be passed on to renters.

    “Santa Ana working families are already stretched to the limit with rising prices and taxes, including already paying Orange County’s highest sales tax,” they argue. “Santa Ana residents can’t afford a $676 million dollar tax hike.”

    Tustin Unified School District Measure J

    The school district is looking to update aging classrooms and repair school facilities. Voting for this measure would allow the district to sell and issue up to $261 million in bonds.

    Measure J would levy about $29.85 per $100,000 of assessed property value on future property tax bills – through fiscal year 2054-55 – to repay the debt.

    The district would pursue projects such as upgrading emergency response systems and campus safety, modernizing schools and providing “barrier-free access” for everyone in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act.

    There are no site-specific projects identified in the measure, but it says along with upgrading aging facilities, work would include constructing and expanding classrooms and adding labs, shops and other learning spaces at all grade levels.

    Approximately $539.1 million would be the total debt service if all bonds were issued and sold.

    There was no ballot argument submitted against the measure.

    Anaheim Union High School District Measure K

    The measure would authorize the school district to raise $496 million through the sale of bonds, which would be repaid with a levy of about $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value on future property tax bills through 2056-57.

    Measure K aims to upgrade older schools and remove hazardous materials such as asbestos or lead pipes. The district also plans to use the funds to provide modern classrooms and replace temporary classrooms with permanent ones. The district also wants to enhance safety with upgrades to technology and communication systems

    With the original bond and interest, the district estimates $1.05 billion will be spent to repay the debt.

    The work Measure K would fund “provides students modern science labs and career tech learning spaces to prepare for college and in-demand careers in health sciences, math, engineering, technology and skilled trades,” supporters say in their ballot argument in favor.

    Those signing onto the ballot argument – most are teachers in the school district – emphasized student safety would be served by not only upgrading the classrooms, but also improving campus safety systems.

    But residents of the district have paid multiple times already for bond measures like this, the ballot argument opposing Measure K says, adding it will increase costs for the community.

    “Renters you cannot afford more rent increases,” it says, “homeowners you cannot afford more taxes, and customers you cannot afford higher prices.”

    Fullerton Joint Union High School District Measure L

    If voters approved this measure, the school district would be authorized to issue bonds up to $284 million. Measure L would levy $21 per $100,000 of assessed property value on future property tax bills through 2054-55.

    The district plans to use the funds raised to create Career Technical Facilities for programs such as agriculture, auto shop, construction, engineering and medical careers. Upgraded campus technology, classroom upgrades and renovations, and the modernization of facility infrastructure would be funded.

    There are no site-specific projects mentioned, except the modernization of the Plummer Auditorium. Improvements to athletic facilities throughout the district are also mentioned.

    If all bonds are issued and sold, the district estimates $538 million will be spent servicing the debt.

    Opponents of Measure L argue this is the third time in 10 years there has been “an expensive bond proposed” by the district, and that is on top of requests from elementary school districts serving the area.

    “Residents can’t afford another tax increase. Now is not the time for a tax increase,” their ballot argument against the measure says.

    But no other funding is available, proponents of the measure say in their ballot argument, calling the annual cost to property owners “modest.”

    “School repairs and upgrades are urgent,” they said, adding that there are state matching funds the district could qualify for with the bond funds in hand.

    “Most local high schools were built over 70 years ago and don’t meet current building, safety, or academic standards,” they said, adding that funding will support students with their academic and extracurricular goals.

    Buena Park School District Measure M

    The school district wants to issue up to $84 million in bonds to fund improvements to campus accessibility, replacing temporary classrooms with permanent ones and constructing performing arts centers and athletic facilities, among other infrastructure projects.

    The measure would add $30 per $100,000 of assessed value to property taxes beginning next fiscal year to repay the debt, which would be collected through the 2054-55 fiscal year.

    If Measure M is approved and all bonds are issued, the district estimates more than $165.2 million would be paid over the years to cover the initial borrow and the interest.

    No ballot argument was submitted against Measure M.

    In their ballot argument, supports say multiple schools in the district were built in the 1960s and need repairs, adding that upgrading old roofing, plumbing, electrical wiring and adding more permanent classrooms will not just benefit students, but also the community.

    “It’s time to modernize and upgrade our local elementary and middle schools so they can continue to serve our community for decades to come,” supporters say in the ballot argument.

    Fullerton School District Measure N

    The district wants approval to raise up to $262 million by selling bonds and would repay the debt by levying $30 per $100,000 assessed property value on property tax bills until the 2059-60 fiscal year.

    If all bonds are issued and sold, the district estimates more than $516 million in total debt service.

    The K-8 district is looking to fund projects such as replacing worn-out portable classrooms – there are 120  of them – with permanent buildings, creating modern labs and improving campus security. The district also plans to put money toward renovations such as plumbing, electrical and air conditioning systems.

    Most campuses in the district are in need of repairs, supporters of Measure N say in their ballot argument, and the portable classrooms are falling apart. They add the measure will also provide funding for educational technologies and security and will overall help the district become “equipped to provide the best learning environment possible.”

    “If we want our kids to succeed in high school, college, and careers, they must be skilled in today’s technology,” their argument says.

    This is the second time in four years the Fullerton School District proposed a bond measure – the last one was voted down – opponents of the measure say in a ballot argument against Measure N. They argue that this will be too expensive for locals as they are already facing other rising costs and challenges.

    “Fullerton residents can’t afford another tax increase,” they argue. “Now is not the time for a tax increase.”

    La Habra City School District Measure O

    Voters will decide if the La Habra City School District may issue $73 million in bonds to pay for campus infrastructure projects.

    To repay that debt, $25 per $100,000 of assessed property value would be added to local property tax bills through the 2059-60 fiscal year.

    The funds raised by Measure O would go toward providing students with more classrooms, labs and facilities for performing arts. The district also plans to put money toward providing up-to-date technology and safe playground equipment.

    The district estimates to repay principal and interest would be approximately $149.7 million.

    Advocates of the bond measure say the improvements would meet student needs such as technology to support learning in math, science, engineering and other subjects.

    “Students and teachers perform better in safe, high-quality schools,” their ballot argument in favor of Measure O says, touting the funding that would also go toward security improvements. “Whether you have children in school or not, good schools are the backbone of a strong community and protect our property values.”

    There was no argument against the measure submitted for the ballot.

    Lowell Joint School District Measure P

    The district is asking voters to authorize $54 million in bonds to repair and update campuses in the district.

    In addition to renovations for classrooms and science labs, the measure includes funding for districtwide projects such as replacing portable classrooms with permanent ones and constructing Early Learning Centers and Career Technical Education classrooms.

    If the measure passes, the district would levy $30 per $100,000 of the assessed property value on local property tax bills through the 2054-55 fiscal year. The district estimates the total debt service will be about $105.6 million.

    Voters in favor of Measure P emphasize this is money that goes to the school district and the funds can’t be taken away from the state. Modernized campuses would also help students build “a solid background in science, math, engineering and technology,” their ballot argument in favor says, and the measure would also support the district in increasing campus security and safety to protect students and staff in case of an emergency.

    There was no argument against the measure submitted for the ballot.

    The full wording of each of these ballot measures, the required tax rate statement and impartial analysis and any submitted ballot arguments can be found at ocvote.gov/elections/2024-presidential-general-election.

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    ​ Orange County Register 

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