Burbank School Bond Measure Passes Easily

Burbank school board challenger Patricia Burnett and appointed member Connie Lackey were elected to the board and a $112.5-million school repair bond measure was approved overwhelmingly by voters in Tuesday’s general election.

City officials said the school bond, the first to be approved in Burbank since 1953, was sorely needed to rebuild Burbank and Burroughs high schools and replace electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning systems at all 19 of the district’s campuses.

With all of the ballots counted, voters approved the measure by easily giving it the two-thirds majority required for passage. The bond will cost homeowners an average of $44 per $100,000 of the assessed value of their properties for 25 years, city officials said.

In 1994, a $100-million school bond measure failed when it received yes votes from 53% of the electorate but fell short of the two-thirds majority required.

In the school board race, in which four candidates competed for two seats, Burnett and Lackey won four-year terms by receiving the most votes.

Incumbent Denise Wilcox, who was trying for a second term, was happy about the bond but disappointed by her defeat.

Challenger Anthony De Felicis was also unable to garner enough support to capture a board seat.

Also Tuesday, residents voted in favor of retaining a 10% transient parking tax at short-term facilities such as Burbank Airport. The tax, adopted by the Burbank City Council in December 1995, does not apply to parking at hospitals, medical facilities and monthly employee or residential parking.

The February primary settled the City Council race, with Mayor Bill Wiggins, Councilman Dave Golonski and newcomer Stacey Murphy receiving enough votes to eliminate the need for a runoff.