Historic $6.7 Billion in School Bonds Up for Vote in San Diego County

Bonds enable school districts to borrow money and seek an increase in property taxes from taxpayers to repay them.

Out of the 22 bonds, 14 are expected to succeed, amounting to $6.1 billion in funding.

“It is surprising to see such a large number of governments seeking more tax dollars,” stated Haney Hong, president and CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDTA).

“I have never witnessed so many tax proposals, which is shocking, but not unexpected. This reflects the ongoing issue in California. This cycle will persist until substantial changes are made,” Hong shared with The Epoch Times.

One significant problem, according to him, is the governance structure. He highlighted the excessive number of local governments, including school districts, and emphasized the substantial amount spent on management.

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Another issue highlighted is the escalating labor costs, particularly the rising trend of teacher compensation, which is the primary factor behind the escalating costs for local governments, to the extent that schools struggle to afford routine maintenance.

“A lot of times, they neglect the maintenance they should be doing. When things break, they turn to bonds to gather funds for repairs. This explains the increase in bond measures,” he noted.

In California, school districts utilize the general funds received from the state for basic school operations, which include salaries. However, for major repairs, renovations, and new constructions, school districts turn to bonds.

San Diego Community College District’s Bond Measure HH stands at $3.5 billion, while Southwestern Community College District’s Measure SW amounts to $800 million.

SDTA lent support to both measures, and both are on track for success.

Measure HH’s ballot description indicates that the funds will be allocated for classroom repairs, maintaining college affordability, preparing students for careers such as nursing, firefighting, science, engineering, and enhancing resources for veteran/homeless students, among other uses.

“This is our first bond in 18 years,” noted San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees President Bernie Rhinerson to The Epoch Times. The funds are expected to be utilized over the next two decades to support four colleges with seven campuses in the City of San Diego.

Rhinerson stressed the necessity of the bond to cover certain major expenses that the state does not fund.

Measure W by Cajon Valley Union School District in East County San Diego, which sought authorization for a $280 million bond, also received support from SDTA.

District superintendent David Miyashiro stated that the bond is essential to address aging facilities and equip campuses with modern security systems.

He highlighted that some schools in the district are over 150 years old and the costs involved in modernizing plumbing, infrastructure, and electrical systems are substantial.

The district also aims to enhance security with keyless entries and operational cameras for campus monitoring, measures that require tens of millions of dollars to implement across the district’s 28 schools. Miyashiro emphasized that such upgrades are only feasible through bonds.

The latest unofficial election results as of Nov. 15 revealed that Measure W secured a “Yes” vote of 51.6 percent, slightly below the required 55 percent threshold for passage.

If the bond measure fails, the district might miss the chance to access the $10 billion state bond introduced to voters in the same November election as Proposition 2, which is anticipated to pass. Prop. 2, also known as the Public School and Community College Facility Fund, would provide matching funds for local bonds.

“It’s disappointing,” Miyashiro remarked, adding that the district will likely reintroduce the bond measure in 2026.

Voters under Pressure

With the projected success of San Diego Community College District’s $3.5 billion bond, Rhinerson expressed gratitude to voters.

“It illustrates voters’ confidence in the district. The voters understand the significance of our community colleges in promoting the local economy, preparing students for employment, and enhancing their lives through education,” he stated.

Besides the measure from the Cajon Valley District, many of the bonds likely to fail hail from the rural regions of San Diego County. Haney suggested that residents in those areas feel financially strained and are reluctant to bear additional tax burdens.

The estimated average property tax rates for the 14 anticipated successful bonds range from $19 to $40 per $100,000 of assessed property value. For instance, with a $25 levy rate and a property assessed at $500,000, the owner can expect an additional $125 in annual property taxes to cover the bond.

If the property falls within both a school district and a community college district with passing bonds, the owner will have to pay additional taxes for both bonds.

Hong argued that if the state and local districts appropriately budgeted for school facility needs, there would be fewer bond requests from voters.

“Unfortunately, very few people are aware of the systemic issues. When facilities deteriorate, individuals seek better conditions for children, leading to the passage of bond measures,” he explained.

“If bonds continue to pass consistently, what incentive does the state have to budget appropriately?” he questioned.