Anaheim Union High School District Bond Proposition, Measure H (November 2014)

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An Anaheim Union High School District Bond Proposition, Measure H ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the Anaheim Union High School District in Orange County, California. It was approved.

Upon approval, Measure H authorized the district to increase its debt by $249,000,000 through issuing general obligation bonds in that amount. The district superintendent estimated the average tax rate required to repay these bonds to be $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

A 55 percent supermajority vote was required for the approval of this measure.

Election results

Orange County, Measure H
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		30,238	59.1%
No		20,939	40.9%

Election results via: Orange County Registrar of Voters

Text of measure

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was prepared for this measure:

“	Approval of the measure would authorize the Board of Trustees of the Anaheim Union High School District (“District”), to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $249,000,000. The California Constitution provides that school districts may issue general obligation bonds for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities, with the approval of 55% of the voters of the district, voting at an election for that purpose. Funds received from the sale of the bonds shall be used only for the specific purposes set forth in the measure, including repairing and upgrading classrooms and buildings, including roofs, walls, windows, doors and hardware, floors and ceilings; upgrading access for people with disabilities; upgrading infrastructure and utilities, including site and building plumbing, sewer, gas, electrical, water, storm drainage, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and energy efficiency systems; upgrading safety and security, including fire safety systems, emergency communication systems, lighting, school entry and access areas, locks, parking and transportation areas, fencing, and earthquake retrofitting; removing hazardous materials; furnishing and equipping of school facilities; repairing physical education facilities, including restrooms, locker rooms, showers, gymnasiums, multipurpose rooms, and constructing and reconditioning fields and facilities; upgrading and repairing landscape and hardscape, including irrigation systems; constructing and upgrading food service facilities; and acquiring, upgrading, and constructing classrooms, schools, and student and staff support facilities, including libraries, student union, student services, and administrative facilities. The measure provides that a citizens’ oversight committee will be established to ensure that bond proceeds are properly expended. In addition, annual performance and financial audits will be conducted. The measure further provides that bond proceeds will not be used for teacher or administrator salaries or other school operating expenses. Approval of this measure will also authorize the District to levy an ad valorem tax on the assessed value of real property within the District by an amount needed to pay the principal and interest on these bonds in each year that the bonds are outstanding. The Tax Rate Statement for the measure in this sample ballot pamphlet reflects the District’s best estimates, based upon currently available data and projections, of the property tax rates required to service the bonds. If 55% of the voters of the school district voting on the measure vote yes, the District will be authorized to issue bonds in the amount not to exceed $249,000,000. A no vote on this measure will disapprove the issuance of the bonds and the levy of the taxes for such bonded indebtedness. The measure was placed on the ballot by the Board of Trustees of the District. Approval of Measure H does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the school district that are the subject of bonds under Measure H will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure H. The school district’s proposal for the project or projects may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.	”
—Orange County Counsel

Full text

The full text of the measure is available here.

Support

Supporters

The following individuals signed the official arguments in favor of this measure:

• Chris Brown, 28-year member of Savanna School Board
• Jon Hultman, president of Oxford Academy PTSA and treasurer of the Oxford Academy Foundation
• Sean Pfeiffer, 2014 Teacher of the Year at Kennedy High School
• Paul Kott of Paul Kott Realtors Inc.

Arguments in favor

The following was submitted as the official arguments in favor of this measure:

“	For more than 110 years, AUHSD has developed the future business and civic leaders of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, La Palma, and Stanton. Our great teachers have prepared generations of students to succeed in college, careers, and life. We want that legacy to continue. Join us–parents, homeowners, business owners, educators, retirees, and community leaders–in voting YES on this measure. The bond’s first priority is improving the basic infrastructure needed for school operations. A YES vote will provide the necessary upgrades to building and technology infrastructure. AUHSD strives to enhance students’ ability to excel at 21st century skills and obtain high-paying jobs. To achieve this goal, students need a safe learning environment. A YES vote will ensure upgrades to this all-important area. Updated facilities will not only hep prepare students for their future careers, but will also help the District attract and retain the award-winning teachers who provide the great education our community needs and deserves. The hallmark of this measure is fiscal accountability. AUHSD has taken the unusual step of establishing a Citizens’ Oversight Committee now, instead of after the election, to ensure that what is being promised to voters can be delivered. The oversight committee reviewed the project list and confirmed that the projects can be completed with the anticipated funding. The project list was created through a process that embraced equity, along with safety and student achievement. In the future, the oversight committee will ensure that all funds are used only for voter-approved purposes. Bond funds will benefit every AUHSD campus, and every penny will be locally controlled. The bond also qualifies our schools for future state matching funds. Maintaining and improving school facilities is a community responsibility. Help us strengthen our community and secure our children’s educational future--vote YES on this measure.	”
—Chris Brown, Jon Hultman, Sean Pfeiffer, Paul Kott

Opposition

Opponents

The following individuals signed the official arguments in opposition to this measure:

• Dr. Alexandria Coronado, former trustee of Anaheim Union High School District and former president of the Orange County Board of Education
• Wayne Lindholm, president of the Lincoln Club of Orange County
• Ed Sachs, member of Community Common Sense

Arguments against

The following was submitted as the official arguments in opposition to this measure:

“	Measure H proposes a $249,000,000 bond. A bond is like a government credit card, where your taxes are raised to pay off that credit card. Measure H asks the voters to put $249,000,000 on a credit card. It gets worse: once interest is included, that $249,000,000 bond costs $535,000,000. Measure H is a tax hike of more than half a billion dollars! “A conservative estimate places the total interest cost at $286 million, if the entire $249 million in bonds are issued, or a 215% repayment on the original borrowed amount.” — Associated Press, 7/18/2014 In 2002, we approved a $132,000,000 bond for the Anaheim Union High School District. Measure H is almost twice the size of that bond! We’re still paying for the 2002 bond, and now they want us to approve a bigger one? Not only that, in 2002, we approved a $239,000,000 bond for the North Orange County Community College District. Now, they have a $574,000,000 bond on this same ballot. How many bonds are we supposed to pay for? Just two years ago, California voters approved Proposition 30. We were promised “billions in new funding for our schools” from Proposition 30. Proposition 30 raised the sales tax and income tax. Measure H raises your property tax. What tax will they raise next? What does a property tax increase mean for you? Homeowners will pay more taxes Renters will see higher rent as landlords pass on the costs of higher taxes Struggling mom and pop businesses will pay higher rent as landlords pass on the costs of higher taxes Customers will see higher prices as businesses pass on the costs of higher taxes Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, La Palma, and Stanton can’t afford another tax increase. Vote “No” on Measure H, the half-billion dollar tax hike!	”
—Dr. Alexandria Coronado, Wayne Lindholm and Ed Sachs

See also

• Local school bonds on the ballot
• School bond elections in California
• Orange County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• Orange County Elections Office website