The bond measure, which needs approval of 55 percent of district residents, would bring $268 million to the local school district.
By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor
Several anti-tax opponents who have campaigned against school tax measures of the past have come together to oppose the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s $268 million bond measure that will go before voters in November. The group, which includes Malibu residents Doug O’Brien and Tom Fakehany, signed their names to the argument in opposition to Measure BB. Meanwhile, several well-known education, youth and business leaders signed their names in favor of the measure.
Measure BB, which needs approval by 55 percent of district residents for passage, would generate $268 million over approximately 11 years to pay for facility improvements. The bond would cost homeowners an annual sum of $30 per $100,000 of assessed value of the property.
The money could not be used for teacher and administrative salaries or other non-facility improvement purposes.
Those signing the argument in favor of the measure were teachers union President Harry Keiley, former Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Chair Michael Gruning, Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs President Laura L. Rosenbaum, Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica President Allan Young and Malibu Foundation for Youth and Families President Laure Stern. Stern was the only Malibu resident to sign the argument, which can be signed by no more than five people.
“BB will reduce overcrowding in our neighborhood schools, remove asbestos and mold and repair leaky roofs,” the pro-BB argument stated. “It also makes our schools safer by installing and repairing fire safety equipment and making all of our classrooms seismically safe.”
But those signing the argument in opposition to the measure said the money to update the district’s facilities could come through other sources.
“There’s no need for this huge bond measure,” the opposition wrote. “Grant money is available for some of the school’s proposed projects. But the bureaucrats are not pursuing other financial options.”
In addition to O’Brien and Fakehany, those signing the opposition argument were Santa Monica residents Mathew Millen, Polly Benson-Brown and Donna D. Alvarez.
The opposition further wrote, “The district has determined some public schools need to be upgraded, repaired, improved and better equipped. But in 1998, we approved a school bond for exactly the projects they’re proposing. We haven’t paid that bond off yet, and again they want more money.”
If approved, the bond measure would pay for projects that will be included in the district’s Facilities Master Plan, a plan that is expected to be finalized by the district later this year and will be a guide for facility improvements over the next 20 years. The district has sought feedback from the community during the past year on what items should be included in the plan. Some of those items were mentioned in the pro-BB argument.
“BB will allow our schools to build and equip more science labs, upgrade computer technology and repair outdated bathrooms and plumbing,” the proponents wrote.
Rebuttal arguments that will appear on the ballot must be turned into the Los Angeles County Registrar’s Office at the end of the week.