Measure N: Saugus Union School District facilities bond

The Saugus Union School District is asking voters to approve a property tax increase to fund $187 million in renovation and repair projects.

At least 55% of voters need to approve Measure N for it to pass.

Official title on the ballot: Saugus Union School District Earthquake Preparedness, Student Safety Measure

Understanding Measure N

The Saugus Union School District serves about 9,000 students across 15 schools. The district’s bond stands out among the many others in L.A. County for its focus on the climate crisis, asking for money to retrofit classrooms and schools to improve preparedness for earthquakes, wildfires, and other natural disasters.

The state keeps track of buildings and schools that are in need of earthquake retrofitting. It’s known as the AB 300 list, and Saugus Union has five schools listed on it, according to the district.

The district also wants money to upgrade entryway security and to expand early childhood education classrooms; among other things.

School districts rely on voters to approve statewide and local bonds to pay for repairs, renovations, and new construction. This year, Saugus Union School District voters will decide whether to support one of each: the district’s Measure N and the statewide Proposition 2. (We’ve got a voter guide for that one, too.)

A bond is basically a loan that a school district takes out, and which property owners in that school district pay back through property taxes.

If at least 55% of voters approve Measure N, the Saugus Union School District can issue up to $187 million million in bonds to finance specific school facilities projects.

LAist asked the district to name its top priorities for bond funding, but representatives have yet to respond.

The money borrowed through the measure would be paid back through a property tax. The district estimates the bond would cost property-owners that live within the school district’s boundaries an average of $30 per $100,000 of assessed value. There’s also a possibility that Saugus Union School District could get additional state funding if Prop. 2 passes.

Districts cannot spend bond money on employee salaries and are required to commission independent audits of bond spending.

What supporters of school bonds say

Research links higher student achievement to better quality schools — it’s easier to learn in clean, climate-controlled, well-lit classrooms.

In California, there’s no dedicated stream of funding to support the upkeep of the 10,000 public K-12 schools attended by 5.9 million students. The majority of the money schools receive from the state every year supports students, staff salaries and other day-to-day expenses.

Throughout the state, 38% of K-12 students go to schools that do not meet the minimum standard to be considered clean, safe, and functional.

If the state and local measures fail, the need for funding will remain.

“Those buildings are not going to magically renovate themselves while we’re waiting for a better bond,” said Sara Hinkley, the California program manager at the Center for Cities + Schools at UC Berkeley.

Saugus Union Board President Matthew Watson and Saugus Teachers Association President Linda Valdes are among those who submitted an argument in favor of the bond to the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder.

Read more: The district’s case for Measure N

What critics of school bonds say

In general, critics of bonds often say the cost to property owners is too high and question why school districts with declining enrollment need money for construction when they’re serving fewer students.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is a frequent opponent of state and local school bonds. The nonprofit is dedicated to upholding Prop. 13, the 1978 constitutional amendment that limited changes to California property taxes.

“We think bond financing has its place, but it should be judicious because it raises property taxes at the local level,” said Susan Shelley, HJTA’s vice president of communications.

The Association has not taken a position on specific local bonds other than LAUSD’s $9 billion Measure US (no) and on Prop. 2 (also no).

Shelley said voters weighing school bonds should carefully consider how the school spent previous bond funding and the plans for future projects.

“You should have confidence that the priorities are right,” Shelley said. “And if they’re not, say no and make [the district] come back to you with a better plan.”

A retired teacher is one of two people who submitted an argument against the bond to the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder. The argument raises questions about the spending of prior bonds authorized in 2014 and the use of classrooms for dual language- instruction and transitional kindergarten.

Who is in charge of all this money?

State law lays out several accountability measures for local school district bonds, including:

• The creation of an independent bond oversight committee that includes:
  • At least seven members
  • Representatives of the business community, taxpayers, and parents. School district employees, vendors, contractors, and consultants cannot be appointed. 
• Independent, annual performance audits of bond-funded projects and spending 

How long would construction take?

While districts identify projects that could benefit from improvements, that list is not a guarantee of which projects will be funded.

There are often years of community meetings, design, and permitting between the passage of a bond and the start of construction, though minor renovation projects could be completed sooner.

Potential financial impact

A bond is basically a loan. The bond authorized by Measure N would be paid back — with interest — through local property taxes.

Further reading

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