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Officials from San Diego Unified are banking on the 2012 Capital Facilities Bond Measure to bring in an estimated $2.8 billion, which would be used to ease the strain caused by yearly budget deficits and bring new technology and provide safer classrooms for students.
According to a staff report, if approved for the November ballot, revenues from the bond measure will go toward paying off the $750 million maintenance and repair backlog, $500 million on neighborhood schools, $250 million for new technology for students, and $210 million on solar panels, recycled water for irrigation, and on other projects to make the district more energy efficient.
Next week, on June 19, trustees at San Diego Unified will discuss the bond measure at a workshop.
But before district officials have even released an agenda for the meeting, trustees are already hearing concern about placing a new tax on the November ballot.
In one letter to the board, community planner and member of San Diego Unified's Advisory Committee on Utilization of Excess School Property, Jim Varnadore, urged trustees to make the measure as attractive and transparent as possible for voters.
His ideas include creating a list of desired projects and the cost of each one, increase the tax rate but not above previous levels, and make sure the voters know that the money will be used appropriately.
"It will need everyone’s efforts. We are not beyond the recession, so you’ll have to sell the measure to the people. Steel yourselves to the fact that for the next fifty years the district will be asking voters for maintenance and repair money every five to eight years. There isn’t enough money in the regular budget, nor do I expect there ever to be enough, to effect needed repairs and keep up with maintenance."
Others, however, aren't so optimistic, warning the proposal is a waste of time and money.
"Putting another taxing item on the November ballot will just cost money, not raise any. I cannot believe you will present a kamikaze school-bond measure to voters in November 2012 when they will be voting on Molly Munger's tax initiative and Governor Brown's tax proposal as well. Strategically, it is probably a loser and will only remunerate the campaign consultant who runs the measure. Please put on your common sense caps," wrote former school board member Frances Zimmerman.
*The workshop will begin at 10am. Agenda will be posted on Friday at http://sandi.net.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/11/26013/
Officials from San Diego Unified are banking on the 2012 Capital Facilities Bond Measure to bring in an estimated $2.8 billion, which would be used to ease the strain caused by yearly budget deficits and bring new technology and provide safer classrooms for students.
According to a staff report, if approved for the November ballot, revenues from the bond measure will go toward paying off the $750 million maintenance and repair backlog, $500 million on neighborhood schools, $250 million for new technology for students, and $210 million on solar panels, recycled water for irrigation, and on other projects to make the district more energy efficient.
Next week, on June 19, trustees at San Diego Unified will discuss the bond measure at a workshop.
But before district officials have even released an agenda for the meeting, trustees are already hearing concern about placing a new tax on the November ballot.
In one letter to the board, community planner and member of San Diego Unified's Advisory Committee on Utilization of Excess School Property, Jim Varnadore, urged trustees to make the measure as attractive and transparent as possible for voters.
His ideas include creating a list of desired projects and the cost of each one, increase the tax rate but not above previous levels, and make sure the voters know that the money will be used appropriately.
"It will need everyone’s efforts. We are not beyond the recession, so you’ll have to sell the measure to the people. Steel yourselves to the fact that for the next fifty years the district will be asking voters for maintenance and repair money every five to eight years. There isn’t enough money in the regular budget, nor do I expect there ever to be enough, to effect needed repairs and keep up with maintenance."
Others, however, aren't so optimistic, warning the proposal is a waste of time and money.
"Putting another taxing item on the November ballot will just cost money, not raise any. I cannot believe you will present a kamikaze school-bond measure to voters in November 2012 when they will be voting on Molly Munger's tax initiative and Governor Brown's tax proposal as well. Strategically, it is probably a loser and will only remunerate the campaign consultant who runs the measure. Please put on your common sense caps," wrote former school board member Frances Zimmerman.
*The workshop will begin at 10am. Agenda will be posted on Friday at http://sandi.net.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/11/26013/