Saratoga News

Voters approve $79 million bond for repairs, upgrades

By John Pancharian

Measure B passed, garnering substantial numbers at polls.

The $79 million bond issue to repair and upgrade facilities at Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools received 10,958 yes votes, representing 80.6 percent of the electorate, and 2,644 no votes, or 19.4 percent of voters.

The measure needed a 2/3 super-majority to pass.

"I'm relieved and grateful," Cindy Ranii, superintendent of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, said. "I'm grateful to the volunteers who made this happen. It has been a terrific effort. I'm relieved to have it done."

Students and staff at both high schools can look forward to improvements in aged heating, plumbing and electrical systems, as well as new roofing and numerous other upgrades. Officials at both schools said they plan to expand science facilities, updating labs and classrooms to the information age and expanding classroom capacity, which has lagged behind increasing science enrollment.

The bond will cost residents about $35 per $100,000 assessed value of their homes over its 25-year life and will be issued incrementally between 1999 and 2009.

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