California law permits school districts to issue bonds with the approval of 55% of the voters. Such bonds may only be used for construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition of lease of real property for school facilities. These bonds are require to be paid by the levy of ad valorem taxes—a tax on the assessed value-or property within a district.
The board of Trustees (Board) of the Mt. Please elementary School Distinct (District) proposes to issue such bonds in the amount of up to $12,000,000 for the purposes of acquiring equipment and instructional technology to improve distance learning and internet access; renovation heating/cooling systems and aging restrooms; upgrading school emergency preparedness, outdated electrical wiring, disability accessibility; and acquiring, renovation, and constricting classrooms, equipment, sites and facilities.
As identified in the Measure, projects may include but are not limited to:
Increase all student access to technology and the internet by purchasing equipment and improving technology infrastructure.
Replace outdated, inefficient heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems.
Replace aging restrooms and toilets.
Repair or replace old leady roofs.
Upgrade old electrical wiring throughout the District.
Upgrade school emergency preparedness.
Improve disability accessibility
Repair or replace unsafe athletic e fields, playgrounds and playground equipment.
Build new classrooms and renovate old classrooms and facilities
Upgrade food service facilities and kitchens.
Upgrade safety and security systems.
The Project List also includes all of the projects authorized by Measure JJ, approved by the voters of the District on November 6, 2018. Projects costs include the costs of furnishing and equipping such facilities, and all costs that are incidental, but directly related to the types of projects described in the measure.
The Board has certified that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction, and information technology needs in developing its project list.
Under the California Constitution, these bond funds cannot be used for teach and administrator salaries or other school operation expenses. The District also must conduct independent annual performance and financial audits. State law requires the District to have an independent citizen’s oversight committee to help make sure bond funds are spend only for projects included in the measure.
The District’s stated best estimate of the highest tax rate to be levied to repay the opposed bonds is $30 per $100,000 of assessed. The District estimates the total debt service during the life of the bond. Including principal and interest will be approximately $13.5 million. Measure Q was placed on the ballot by the Board.
A “yes” vote is a vote to authorized the issuance of the bonds in the amount of up to $12,000,000 to be secured b the levy of ad valorem taxes on property located within the District.
A “no” vote is a vote to not authorized the issuances of the bonds.
