Voter Guide 2001: Schools seek funds to upgrade facilities Voter Guide 2001: Schools seek funds to upgrade facilities (October 24, 2001)

By Marjorie Mader
Almanac Staff Writer

Voters face an alphabet soup of school bond measures totaling $313 million on the November 6 ballot.

School districts from elementary to high school and the community college district are seeking voter support of bond measures C, G, E and J that would upgrade and modernize schools. Las Lomitas School District also has Measure D to double the annual parcel tax to $196 for six years.

The major change this year is that for the first time the bonds will require only a 55 percent majority vote for passage instead of the 66.67 percent vote required previously. Passage of Proposition 39 in November 2000 offered districts this option for school district bond measures. The proposition also requires that funds may be used only for the specific projects listed in the ballot measure.

Under Prop 39 rules, a fiscal oversight committee must oversee bond expenditures and make periodic reports to the community. In a switch from the philosophy that bond measures are only for "bricks and mortar," these measures may pay for furnishings and equipment, including computers.

The largest bond measure is the San Mateo County Community College District's $207 million Measure C. It would provide funds to renovate aging facilities and build new ones. The last bond measure approved by district voters was in 1964 for $12.6 million.

Measure G, an $88 million bond measure for the Sequoia Union High School District, is basically the same measure that was defeated in June by a narrow margin under the 66.67 percent requirement for passage. Funds would be earmarked to complete the renovation and modernization of district schools, including Menlo-Atherton and Woodside, upgrade the infrastructure, and build new facilities such as performing arts centers at M-A and Woodside.

The Las Lomitas district's bond Measure E would provide $12 million to finish classroom and facility renovations at Las Lomitas and La Entrada schools. Although voters approved a $12 million bond measure in 1999, escalating construction costs have left the district short of the amount required to complete the projects envisioned. In addition, projects have been expanded to include building a gym at La Entrada and making playground and safety improvements at Las Lomitas.

Portola Valley's $6 million bond Measure J would provide funds to put back the pieces that were put on hold 15 months ago when skyrocketing construction costs forced the school district to scale back its plans to modernize and upgrade Corte Madera and Ormondale schools. The new bond measure will enable the district to finish upgrading its schools as envisioned as part of the $17 million bond measure approved by voters in 1998.

The cost to taxpayers is based on the property's assessed valuation, not the property's market value. Property owners would pay per $100,000 assessed valuation an estimated amount of: $7.14 per year for the community college bonds; $7.68 annually for the Sequoia bonds; $23.40 annually for the Las Lomitas bonds; and $7.74 per year for the Portola Valley school bonds.