Measure SOS is a school bond on the ballot for voters in Palos Verdes. It would allow the Palos Verdes Peninsula School District to take on a debt of $297,800,000. The money would be used for repairs and updates to facilities. This debt would be repaid through an annual tax to all property owners in Palos Verdes over the next 20-27 years. Including interest, the total cost to local taxpayers would be close to half-a-billion dollars.
How much would this bond cost each homeowner? Although the district claims a cost of $300 per one million of assessed valuation, this is an assumption based on a lot of variables. Nothing is guaranteed. The bond resolution actually contains the following disclaimer, “Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District’s projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District.”
Apparently, the maintenance on school buildings has been deferred to the point of crisis. However, as Julie Hamill mentioned in her most recent newsletter, in 2022 while she was campaigning for a seat on the school board, the district claimed that it “had more money than it knew what to do with”.
At that time the school board spent time brainstorming about how to spend all the extra money. If facilities are at crisis level in 2024, then in 2022 the only discussion should have been: the buildings are about to fall to the ground, and every spare dollar must be put towards infrastructure. However, the buildings were not prioritized and the money was spent elsewhere.
Also, let’s remember that in 2021 the district received a windfall of about $15,000,000 which could have been used to update the HVAC systems, but was instead used to purchase other items such as Social/Emotional learning curriculum.
The LCFF (Local Control Funding Formula) is often pointed out as the source of the district’s financial problems. While it is true that under the current system Palos Verdes receives less per student than other districts, remember, this formula only went into effect in 2013. Prior to that time the district also deferred maintenance until the problems were extreme and could be used as leverage to promote a bond measure. In fact, we are still paying off debt on three bonds that were passed before 2013 (Measures R, K and S).
In 2014 the voters in Palos Verdes passed Measure M, which is a permanent parcel tax on each property in the district. It has no sunset and increases every year. It was promoted to the community as a means to eliminate the need for future bonds. Although this income can be used for maintaining facilities, it has been directed elsewhere, and two bonds for improvements to facilities have been on the ballot since the adoption of Measure M. One possible solution would be to direct the funds from Measure M towards facilities.
How will the district make the necessary repairs if Measure SOS does not pass? It is a question of fiscal responsibility. Every family and business must evaluate needs versus wants within a given budget. School facilities have not been prioritized by the district, so money has been spent in other areas.
The solution to deferred maintenance is not a massive and unpredictable debt to be shouldered by property owners. The district simply needs to prioritize school buildings and make financial decisions accordingly. They may find themselves in a tough spot right now, but that is not the problem of ordinary people who do not use the public schools, which amounts to at least 75% of the population in Palos Verdes.
The unrestricted annual income for PVPUSD is about $150,000,000 per year with additional income in restricted funds. Local control allows the unrestricted funds to be spent at the discretion of the School Board, with only 3% held in reserve. The other 97% is available.
We must insist the public schools operate within their means.
Charity Malin is a resident and property owner in Palos Verdes.