Contra Costa school bond measures face mixed results, flirting with 55% threshold
Four school funding measures for districts around Contra Costa County were showing mixed results based on initial election returns Tuesday night.
Martinez Measure OMeasure O in Martinez, which requires 55% yes votes to pass, only had 51.94 percent. The measure asked Martinez Unified School District residents to authorize $90 million in bonds "at legal interest rates and levying approximately $38.40 per $100,000 of assessed valuation (raising $5.8 million annually) while bonds are outstanding," the ballot says.
Measure O seeks to modernize and construct classrooms and school facilities. It would make health and safety improvements, construct career and technical education classrooms, and renovate facilities at Martinez junior and senior high schools and adult education facilities.
Passage of Measure O would also require a school board appointed citizens' oversight committee and annual independent audits to assure proper expenditure of funds.
Pittsburg Measure PMeasure P in the Pittsburg Unified School District, which required 55% yes votes to pass, was getting 68.79%.
The measure was described on the ballot as a repair and safety measure "to repair, upgrade and expand local schools; fix leaky roofs; improve safety/security/accessibility for students with disabilities; update classrooms/labs for math, reading, writing, and science; and prevent student overcrowding" in the school district.
Measure P would authorize $140 million "in bonds at legal rates, levying a tax averaging $60 per $100,000 assessed value ($9,200,000 annually) while bonds are outstanding," according to the ballot.
The measure would also come with independent oversight, no money for administrators, and all funds being used locally.
San Ramon Measure QMeasure Q in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, which requires a two-thirds majority, was passing with 73.32%.
Measure Q asks voters to renew expiring local school funding, which can't be taken by the state, for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.
The measure's $6.8 million annually over nine years would be used to attract and retain "highly qualified teachers; support academic programs in science, technology, engineering, arts, math, reading, writing; and prepare students to compete for college/careers."
Passing the measure would mean continuing the current $144 annual parcel tax at the same rate, with senior exemptions, independent oversight, and no funds for administrator salaries.
Byron Measure RMeasure R in the Byron Union School District, which needed 55% yes votes to pass, was receiving less than that at 51.94%.
The measure seeks to "repair/upgrade elementary and middle schools, including replace school well for safe drinking water; upgrade classrooms/ labs for science, technology, engineering, arts, math instruction; repair leaky roofs/ HVAC systems; upgrade school safety/ security systems."
Measure R would authorize $24 million in bonds at legal interest rates, levying $18 per $100,000 of assessed value, raising an average of $1.52 million annually while bonds are outstanding. The measure would come with independent oversight, audits, and all funds would be locally controlled.
