Council to Consider Exemption Proposal

A proposal to exempt senior citizens and the disabled from the costs of a $100-million school bond issue is scheduled to be considered by the Burbank City Council tonight.

The bond referendum has been scheduled by the Burbank Unified School District for April 12 as part of a $138-million plan to rebuild the public schools.

City and school officials have been working together for almost a year to make the plan work.

The city has promised $23 million in aid to help rebuild the schools, and tonight’s action is being considered as another way to help the school district win the bond vote.

Under the exemption program, property owners in Burbank who fall below certain poverty guidelines and are older than 62 or are disabled, would not have to pay the additional taxes that would be imposed if the $100-million bond passes. The city would set up a fund that would be used to reimburse the eligible residents.

To be eligible, a property owner would have to have a one-person household income of less than $16,900, or less than $19,300 for two people.

Those who qualify would pay their tax bills, then give the city the proof of payment. The city would then reimburse them within five days, said Steve Helvey, assistant city manager.

If the bond issue is approved by two-thirds of the voters, Burbank High School, which is about 70 years old, would be completely rebuilt. Burroughs High School would be renovated and expanded, and the district’s middle schools and elementary schools would also be renovated.

The bonds would cost the owner of a home worth $101,000 about $36 a year, according to the district.