SANTA ANA : Schools to Seek Help on Passing Bond Issue

One of the county’s most overcrowded school districts approved a $16,500 down payment that it hopes will lead to a return worth millions of dollars.

Santa Ana Unified agreed this week to hire three consultants for advice on passing a bond measure to pay for some new schools and the renovation of some others.

A polling consultant will be paid $16,500, while legal and financial consultants will be paid on a contingency basis if voters approve the bond measure.

If a $75-million issue is passed, for example, the legal consultants would receive about $103,000, according to a school district report. Financial consultants would get about $700,000.

The district needs at least $120 million to relieve overcrowding, said Mike Vail, senior director of facilities. But Vail said the amount of the bond issue is not final pending further research.

Working with a committee of school and city officials, the consultant will poll registered voters in the city to gauge support for a bond measure.

The bond might be placed on the March, 1996, ballot, Vail said.

The district also hopes to get about $40 million from a $3-billion state bond measure, which is expected to be voted on in the Legislature today or Friday.

At Tuesday’s meeting, school district officials asked the superintendent to urge legislators to place the bond measure on the March, 1996, ballot.

District officials also criticized the Santa Ana City Council for not sending an elected official to local bond committee meetings.