Low Turnout Expected for 2 School Bond Plans

With no contentious measures sharing the ballot, two bond measures in Thousand Oaks and Moorpark on Tuesday are expected to draw low voter turnouts.

School districts in both cities are asking voters to approve multimillion-dollar bond initiatives to renovate and modernize campuses. Measure W in Moorpark would authorize $16 million in new debt; Measure V in Thousand Oaks would raise $97 million, the largest bond measure in county history.

County elections chief Bruce Bradley said about 14% of Thousand Oaks voters and 11% of those in Moorpark have already cast ballots by mail. He estimated that the final turnout will be less than 33%.

One factor is the lack of other issues on the ballot. Similar bond measures in each city failed in November, an election that also asked voters to consider other controversial matters. In Thousand Oaks, it was the proposed recall of Councilwoman Elois Zeanah; in Moorpark, it was a park assessment measure.

While both of the latest measures have drawn criticism from tax activists, none have organized opposition campaigns.

Supporters of the bond measures in each city have spent the final days of the campaign reminding voters to remember to make it to the polls.

“We have an excellent chance of winning as long as people don’t get apathetic and think it’s a slam-dunk,” said Ethel Larisey, treasurer for Thousand Oaks’ campaign. “People have to get out and vote.”

The group plans to continue distributing fliers urging residents to vote for the measure, and backers plan to campaign by phone until the polling booths close Tuesday.

After being criticized during the last election for not saying more about spending priorities for the bond measure, the Thousand Oaks bond committee this time held six public meetings to discuss the measure.

In Moorpark, rather than focusing its energies on putting up lawn signs and spreading the word by mouth, the campaign committee is making a more concerted effort to get its message across personally, members said.

“We decided to make it more personal,” said Carrie Pentis, the group’s treasurer. “We really want to touch people door-to-door.”

The group is planning a precinct walk Saturday morning with an estimated 90 volunteers. The plan is to target those who have a good history of voting, said Mindy Yaras, member of the Moorpark committee.

Yaras has heard a number of parents say they didn’t vote the last time because they forgot or didn’t think their vote mattered. But she said many now hold different opinions.

“On a local level, every vote is extremely important, so I think people have realized their vote counts,” she said.

The group hired a consultant for this campaign. Gerry Rubey, who helped pass a bond measure for the Pleasant Valley School District after four failures, was hired with money raised by the committee.

“We were really a grass-roots campaign last time,” Pentis said. “And we had a lot of wonderful volunteers, but the volunteers have lives and we needed someone that would give us better direction. She’s just really focused on what we need to do.”

Moorpark’s bond committee has $3,238 left and plans to spend it on mailers. The group had about $6,000 from this election period and $5,000 carried over from the last election. More than half, $6,000, is going toward Rubey’s services.

The bulk of Moorpark’s bond proceeds would go toward accommodating increased growth at the high school level. The school plans about $9 million in projects to build new classrooms, science labs and a gymnasium. At the relatively young school district, much of the money would also go toward improving technology. Flory Elementary School and Chaparral Middle School, the two oldest campuses, would receive some renovation.

The Conejo Valley Unified School District would use about $63 million for renovation projects such as adding air-conditioning, repairing roofs and fixing pipes. The other $34 million would go toward construction of such facilities as a pool, gymnasium and classrooms.

If passed, the bonds would be repaid by taxpayers over 30 years. Moorpark residents would pay $29 annually per $100,000 in assessed property value. Thousand Oaks residents would pay nearly $25 a year per $100,000 in assessed value.

FYI

The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Tuesday. For information about polling locations, call the county registrar of voters at 654-2781.