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Bonsall Unified School District, California, Bond Issue, Measure DD (November 2016)

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Local ballot measure elections in 2016

Measure DD: Bonsall Unified School District Bond Issue
LocalBallotMeasures Final.png
The basics
Election date:
November 8, 2016
Status:
Defeatedd Defeated
Majority required:
55%
Topic:
Local school bonds
Amount: $58,000,000
Tax: $60 per $100,000 in value
Matures in: Legal limit
Related articles
Local school bonds on the ballot
November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California
San Diego County, California ballot measures
See also

A bond issue was on the ballot for Bonsall Unified School District voters in San Diego County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated.

A yes vote was a vote in favor of issuing $58 million in bonds for constructing a new high school.
A no vote was a vote against issuing $58 million in bonds for constructing a new high school.

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

Election results

Measure DD
ResultVotesPercentage
Defeatedd No4,09949.37%
Yes 4,204 50.63%
Election results from San Diego County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]

MEASURE DD

To construct and equip a new high school; install emergency communication systems; reduce traffic hazards for increased student safety; upgrade power/electrical systems; provide health/fitness facilities for student/community use; repair leaky pipes/deteriorating roofs; and replace temporary buildings with permanent classrooms; shall Bonsall Unified School District issue $58 million of bonds with interest rates below legal limits, independent citizen oversight, and all funds spent locally and not taken by the State and spent elsewhere? [2]

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the San Diego County Counsel:

This measure was placed on the ballot by the governing board of the Bonsall Union School District (“District”). This measure, if approved by 55% of the votes cast on the measure, will authorize the District to issue and sell $58,000,000 in general obligation bonds. The sale of these bonds by the District is for the purpose of raising money for the District, and represents a debt of the District. In exchange for the money received from the bond holders, the District promises to pay the holders an amount of interest for a certain period of time, and to repay the bonds on the expiration date.

Voter approval of this measure will also authorize an annual tax to be levied upon the taxable property within the District. The purpose of this tax is to generate sufficient revenue to pay interest on the bonds as it becomes due and to provide a fund for payment of the principal on or before maturity.

Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this measure may be used by the District 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.

The interest rate on any bond, which is established at the time of bond issuance, could not exceed 12% per annum. The final maturity date of any bond could be no later than 40 years after the date the bonds are issued as determined by the District.

The tax authorized by this measure is consistent with the requirements of the California Constitution. The California Constitution permits property taxes, above the standard one percent (1%) limitation, to be levied upon real property to pay the interest and redemption charges on any bonded indebtedness for, among other things, the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, when approved by 55% of the voters if:

(1) the proceeds from the sale of the bonds are used only for the purposes specified,

(2) the District, by evaluating safety, class size reduction, and information technology needs, has approved a list of specific projects to be funded,

(3) the District will conduct an annual, independent performance audit, and

(4) the District will conduct an annual, independent financial audit.

If a bond measure is approved, state law requires the District to establish an independent citizens’ oversight committee. The District has made this ballot measure subject to these requirements.

Approval of this measure does not guarantee that the proposed projects in the District that are the subject of these bonds will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by this measure.

A “YES” vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the District to issue and sell $58,000,000 in general obligation bonds.

A “NO” vote is a vote against authorizing the District to issue and sell $58,000,000 in general obligation bonds. [2]

—San Diego County Counsel[3]

Full text

The full text of the measure is available here.

Support

Supporters

The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[3]

  • Vaughn Cole, President, Bonsall Chamber of Commerce
  • Sylvia Tucker, Bonsall Unified School District Board Member
  • Timothy Coen, physician
  • Hector Soto, President, District English Learner Advisory Committee
  • Gregory A. Stein, Chairman, San Diego County Taxpayers Association

Arguments in favor

Official argument

The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]

Vote YES on Measure DD!

Your YES Vote on Measure DD will protect, build, and repair our community’s most valuable assets – our children’s public schools – while at the same time guaranteeing significant taxpayer protections.

Measure DD will improve our schools by:

  • Building a state-of–the-art Bonsall High School, including a Career Volunteer Center and other community use projects
  • Improving safety and security for our children, many of whose families have military ties
  • Updating emergency communication systems and fire alarms
  • Improving school parking, traffic flow, and disabled access.
  • Developing fitness facilities for joint use by schools and community

Measure DD will protect taxpayers by:

  • Making our local school projects eligible for State matching funds
  • Requiring independent citizen oversight and annual audits to ensure funds are spent as promised
  • Prohibiting funds from going to administrators' salaries, pensions or benefits
  • Imposing tough legal restrictions requiring all monies to be spent on our local schools
  • Prohibiting the state from taking local bond funds and spending it in other districts

Vote YES to improve security and safety at our school sites.

Vote YES to ensure our schools continue to offer students the outstanding education they need to compete in the modern world.

Vote YES to retain and attract high-quality educators. And Vote YES to provide the quality schools that improve property values.

Vote YES to help Bonsall Unified School District achieve their goals of academic excellence and support for all students to be highly competitive in their chosen career path and/or college.

To build better, safer schools, improve student achievement, save taxpayer dollars with historically low interest rates, and turn community use possibilities into realities, please join business leaders, teachers, parents, grandparents and neighbors in voting YES on Measure DD.[2]

Opposition

Opponents

The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]

  • M. Kevin O’Neill, President, California Taxpayers Action Network

Arguments against

Official argument

The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]

Don’t be a victim of The School Bond Scam! (www.schoolbondscam.org)

News articles and campaign finance disclosures show Wall Streeters, contractors and consultants pay money to pass school bonds for their immediate profit leaving each taxpayer with decades of additional debt. Google: “Local School Bonds: Big Donors Win Big Contracts” OR Orange County Register’s “Bankers Push School Bonds for C.A.S.H.”

The School Bond Scammers gladly pay to pass bonds anticipating school boards will reward them with inflated no bid contracts in return. Google: Sweetwater school pay to play OR Fresno Leaseback FBI Arax.

Voice of San Diego’s August 6, 2012 investigative report revealed Poway School District’s "Capital Appreciation Bonds" put their taxpayers on the hook to pay back about $1 billion for their $105 million bond. Google: “Thanks a Billion”

California Taxpayers Action Network (www.caltan.org) is not against all school bonds and has supported those (i.e. Walnut Valley Unified School District) that contain proper internal controls to prevent waste and encourage good value for taxpayers.

This bond does not include such taxpayer protections. Contracts can be handed to favored contractors and consultants without regard to price!

Worse, this bond lacks a prioritized Project List with estimated project costs for each and a commitment to build the proposed projects in the promised prioritized order. This bond allows pet projects to be built instead of necessary ones.

Why does District need another bond so soon after their last one? Did they handout over priced contracts and put in astroturf fields with the last bond instead of making needed classroom repairs?

Vote NO until they propose a better bond next election.

California Taxpayers Action Network is a San Diego based all-volunteer, statewide network of taxpayer advocates who promote sound fiscal policies, practices and business methods by government entities for the public’s benefit and protection. [2]

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Bonsall Unified School District, California.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Bonsall Unified School District Local school bonds. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. San Diego Registrar of Voters, "Local Measures for November 8, 2016," accessed September 29, 2016
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 San Diego Registrar of Voters, "Measure DD," accessed October 6, 2016