Orange County voters this election face down 10 school bonds, Measures G through P, paid for by increases in property taxes. We recommend a No vote on each. We earlier also recommended a No vote on Proposition 2, the $10 billion statewide school bond that would add $500 million a year to the state’s budget deficit.
All Californians are overtaxed and the ongoing inflation, caused by too much spending at all government levels, has burst family budgets. Average spending for California K-12 schools also has risen to $23,878 per pupil for fiscal year 2024-25, or $716,340 for a class of 30. There’s plenty of money for schools. It’s just misspent.
The property tax boosts will be passed on as higher mortgage costs or rents, worsening the ongoing housing and homeless crises. These bonds honestly ought to be called “tax-increase bonds.” Instead, they use such uplifting titles as “Classroom improvement measure” and “Safe and modern schools measure.”
Moreover, most bonds use “per $100,000 of assessed valuation” in estimating the hit to property owners, as if this were 1984. It’s 2024. So we’ll translate that into the average home value in each city named, as listed on Zillow.com. Worse, Measures I, J, K and M use “3¢ per $100 assessed value,” as if people lived in dog houses. That’s just dishonest.
Measure G, Rancho Santiago Community College District, Affordable Education, Career, Repair, Safety Measure, would spend $46 million. Using Santa Ana’s average house price of $817,115, a homeowner’s tax increase could be $208 a year. Vote No.
Measure H, Brea Olinda Unified School District Improvement Measure, would spend $160 million. Using Brea’s average home price of $1.1 million, a homeowner’s tax increase could be $429 a year. Vote No.
Measure I, Santa Ana Unified School District, Classroom Improvement Measure, would spend $355 million. Using Santa Ana’s average house price of $817,115, a homeowner’s tax increase could be $245 a year. Vote No.
Measure J, Tustin Unified School District, Classroom Repair/Safety/ Quality Education Measure, would spend $261 million. Using Tustin’s average house price of $1.1 million, a homeowner’s tax increase could be $330 a year. Vote No.
Measure K, Anaheim Union High School District, Classroom/School Repair, Quality Education, Career Readiness Measure, would spend $496 million. Using Anaheim’s average home price of $908,955, a homeowner’s tax increase could be $273 a year. Vote No.
Measure L, Fullerton Joint Union High School District, Local High School Improvement Measure, would spend $284 million. Using Fullerton’s average home price of $1 million, a homeowner’s tax increase could be $210 a year. Vote No.
Measure M, Buena Park School District, School Safety, Renovation and Construction Measure, would spend $84 million. Using Buena Park’s average home price of $901,835, a homeowner’s tax increase could be $271 a year. Vote No.
Measure N, Fullerton School District, Fullerton Elementary School District Repair, Upgrade and Safe Educational Facilities Measure, would spend $262 million. Using Fullerton’s average home price of $1 million, a homeowner’s tax increase could be $300 a year. Vote No.
Measure O, La Habra City School District, Bond Measure, would spend $73 million. Using La Habra’s average home price of $861,174, a homeowner’s tax increase could be $215 a year. Vote No.
Measure P, Lowell Joint School District, Safe and Modern Schools Measure, would spend $54 million. Using La Habra’s average home price of $861,174, a homeowner’s tax increase could be $258. Vote No.
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