Voters to Decide Today on School Bond Issue

Voters will decide today on a bond measure that would allow the Long Beach school district to spend $295 million to build schools and repair and upgrade existing facilities over 30 years.

If Measure A is approved, funds would total $495 million with the addition of $200 million in matching state funds.

Money would be spent to repair and upgrade plumbing, heating and ventilation, upgrade electrical systems for computers and build 13 schools.

No argument was filed against the measure.

Current school facilities were intended for 65,000 students but there are now more than 90,000 students in the district, said Cynthia Searle, campaign manager for Measure A. About 90% of Long Beach schools are more than 40 years old, she added.

Approval of the measure would cost property owners an average of $29.50 per $100,000 of assessed value in additional property taxes for the fiscal year starting in July.

The actual tax rates may vary depending on the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at each sale and actual increases in assessed valuations, according to the school district. The best estimate of the highest tax rate that could be assessed is $59.50 per $100,000 by the fiscal year 2008-2009, officials said. The measure requires two-thirds approval.

Voters in District 2 will also choose among 10 candidates for the currently vacant District 2 City Council seat.