Tax Measure Is Needed

I am writing to clear up some confusion that exists over two matters related to the Oxnard Union High School District Measure “O” that will be on the April 14 special election ballot.

Measure “O” is solely to provide funding for the acquisition of land and construction of an additional high school to alleviate overcrowding at Camarillo, Channel Islands, Hueneme, Oxnard and Rio Mesa high schools and to provide for the increased enrollment that has already taken place in our feeder elementary districts.

This school is to be built on the south side of Gonzales Road between Oxnard Boulevard and Rose Avenue. It is totally unrelated to the issue of relocating Oxnard High School, a project that would be funded by state money, not through a local bond election.

The second point of confusion seems to come from the tax-rate statement in the voters pamphlet. This states that the tax rate for the first year that bonds are sold is estimated to be “1.46 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.” The calculation of the tax for the first year for property with an assessed valuation of $100,000 would be $14.60. This is consistent with our statement that the average cost to the property taxpayers over the life of the bonds is estimated to be $7.75 per $100,000 of assessed value, since the highest tax rates are in the first years of the bond.

The relatively modest tax increase to build an additional and sorely needed high school (our first since 1966) seems reasonable to most voters when these issues are clarified.

ROBERT A. BROWN

Business Manager,

Oxnard Union High School District