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Survey of local voters predicts that a new school bond will likely pass
By Rebecca Ray
A recent public opinion poll shows that local voters would likely pass a bond measure to cover construction cost overruns incurred by the Saratoga Union School District.
District voters passed the $40 million Measure D bond in June 1997 to finance construction projects at the four district schools. But because construction costs came in much higher than expected, the district experienced a $6.4 million shortfall, and district officials had to seek other financing options.
Although district officials borrowed $8 million from investors in July 2001 to cover construction costs, they are considering putting a bond measure on the March 2002 election ballot because they may need more money to build more classrooms. At the Aug. 28 board meeting, the board of trustees gave Superintendent Mary Gardner permission to hire a firm to do a demographic study. If the study shows the district needs more classrooms to accommodate anticipated future growth, district officials will consider using a new bond measure to raise money.
While the district is spending $6.4 million of the $8 million in borrowed money on completing construction projects, it has put $800,000 into a reserve fund; is spending $314,731 on issuance, which encompasses rating, legal, trustee, title and printing fees; and will use the other $454,444 for its first payment, due Dec. 2003.
In August, the district hired Evans/McDonough Company Incorporated, an opinion research firm in Berkeley, to call 400 randomly selected voters and ask how well they thought the district was doing its job and their opinions on various issues.
When the firm asked voters if they would support a $15 million bond measure--$15 million was an arbitrary figure--to repair classrooms and buildings, construct parking lots and upgrade systems, 62 percent of those polled said yes. A $15 million bond would cost homeowners about $5 per $100,000 of the assessed value of their property each year, said Superintendent Gardner. For example, a resident who owns a home valued at $700,000 would pay an extra $35 annually in property tax.
When considering the 5 percent margin of error in the survey, between 57 and 67 percent of district voters would likely support a measure. Under Proposition 39, which state voters passed in November 2000, a measure needs only to garner 55 percent of the vote. Previously, a two-thirds "yes" vote was required.
Twenty-five percent of those surveyed said they would vote no on the measure, while the other 13 percent were undecided.
A $34 million bond measure to improve facilities would most likely not pass--only 52 percent of those surveyed said they'd support one. Evans/McDonough asked about a more expensive bond measure because voters in the neighboring Cupertino Union and Los Gatos Union School Districts passed $80 and $91 million bond measures, respectively, in June 2001.
Although 70 percent or more of those surveyed rated the quality of education and teaching in the district as positive, a significant number expressed concern over the district's communication with the community and the way the district managed its Measure D money.
Seventy-three percent were upset about traffic around schools. Interestingly, 42 percent said that busing, which the district views as a solution to the traffic problem, was not important.
Results from a busing survey the district conducted this summer confirm the survey's findings. District officials were considering a six-or-eight bus system that would cost each rider between roughly $820 and $1,100 a year. Although 400 parents said they wanted busing, three things prevented them from signing up for the district's program: their children doing extra-curricular activities before and after school; there being only eight pick-up spots; and, most importantly, the cost. While 22 Redwood Middle School parents said they'd participate in the program, fewer than 10 parents from the three elementary schools in the district said they would. District officials decided to have one bus make trips to and from Redwood, and for riders to pay $948 a year. Although the bus can accommodate 70-something students, only 10 to 14 are riding it.
Ninety-one percent of those who took the public opinion survey said teacher salaries should be raised. Interestingly, although more voters were critical of the district's facilities, they were less willing to spend money on them than they were on teacher salary increases, said Ruth Bernstein of Evans/McDonough, who presented the survey results at the Aug. 28 board meeting.
When Evans/McDonough presented arguments for and against a bond measure, voters' minds about whether they would support it did not change. This shows it will always be difficult to pass bond measures in the district, Bernstein said, because one-quarter to one-third of the voters oppose tax increases in general.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
