On February 5, California voters will decide the fate of 37 local school bond measures that would authorize $4.02 billion in new bonds and would result in significant property tax increases for residents of bond-issuing school districts.
(Cal-Tax: Bonds would increase property taxes roughly 6 percent. Currently, property owners pay $1,000 plus bonds for every $100,000 of assessed valuation. Adding $60 per $100,000 in value – the limit for a unified school district bond approved by 55 percent of the voters – equates to a 6 percent increase.)
Voters also will have the final say on 13 proposed parcel taxes, four proposed sales tax hikes, and six communications users' taxes, four of which would make small reductions in the current tax rate while expanding the base to cover Voice over Internet Protocol and other services not currently taxed.
Local measures include:
A Pot of Money for S.F. Parks. In San Francisco, voters will decide whether to approve a $185 million general obligation bond to cover new spending on parks and recreation. (Cal-Tax: Last year, the city's parks officials made headlines by spending $100,000 per toilet to remodel an existing restroom in Golden Gate Park.)
Bond for a Second Performing Arts Theater in Napa. As part of its $178 million bond issue, Napa Valley College is planning to use $28 million to build a second performing arts theater on campus. This has drawn the ire of taxpayer groups. Michael Haley, president of the Napa Valley Taxpayers Alliance, said: "Property taxes are skyrocketing, basic needs are not being met, and then we have the school building a second theater. That's just bad prioritizing for taxpayers in general."
The proposed performing arts center, scheduled to open in the summer of 2009, will feature a main auditorium, black box theater, rehearsal spaces for vocal and orchestra classes, and small faculty offices.
Campus President Chris McCarthy said, "The current performing arts facilities are the worst performing arts facilities I have seen on any campus." (Source: Napa Valley Register, January 20.)
For a complete list of tax measures facing local voters on the February 5 ballot, click here. School bonds proposed by districts that cover more than one county are listed in both counties that will be voting on them. For such a bond to be approved, the counties' combined "yes" vote must be 55 percent or higher.
Cal-TaxReports January 28, 2008
© 2008 California Taxpayers' Association. All Rights Reserved.