Pajaro Valley Unified School District would likely have enough voter support for a $315 million bond if it went on the November 2024 ballot.
That was the message to the Board of Trustees Wednesday from Dale Scott, whose eponymous consultancy company conducted a straw poll of 407 likely voters, gauging their attitude toward helping to foot the bill for millions of dollars in much-needed maintenance and construction projects districtwide.
The poll results painted a largely favorable picture of the public’s perception of PVUSD, with 78% agreeing that its schools are the community’s most valuable asset. Additionally, 84% said that good schools increase property values.
If the bond goes before voters, it would require a 55% approval from the 59,193 voters who reside in PVUSD.
“You are in excellent position for the presidential ballot,” Scott said. “People seem to know how they feel about the district and the potential for a bond going in.”
No action was taken on approving a bond—or on the specific financial details if it is approved—as that will come during future meetings.
But the example presented in the poll—adding six cents per $100 of assessed value on annual property tax bills—gave a picture of what it might look like.
That amount, if approved, would raise an estimated $18.36 million per year for the district, the poll said.
If the district decides to move forward with the bond, the board would have to approve a resolution by June or July, Scott said. That would require a 2/3 majority vote by the board.
The bond would follow in the footsteps of Measure L, a $150 million bond approved by voters in 2012.
Measure L passed with nearly 69% of the vote. That bond has funded construction, restoration and maintenance projects at all of the district’s schools and buildings, most notably the sports complex at Pajaro Valley High School.
But before it was passed, a skeptical school board pared it down from $250 million, believing the smaller number would be more palatable.
But the lower amount left thousands of projects throughout the district that still need to be done, along with those that have been added in the intervening decade.
This includes classroom renovations, leaky roofs and pipes and outdated plumbing, in addition to ventilation and air conditioning system upgrades. Security and emergency communication systems upgrades are also on the list, as is a new performing arts center at Pajaro Valley High School.
In other action, the Board of Trustees approved an interim contract for a chief business officer to fill the spot when current CBO Clint Rucker leaves later this month, and as the district seeks a permanent one.
Kim Sims, who retired from the Guadalupe Union School District in June 2017 after serving as their financial director, has been a freelance CBO for five years.
Sims’ annual salary is $209,713, although her contract stipulates that she works no more than 719 hours, or roughly one month.
Rucker said he wanted to spend more time with his family.
350 million dollars is insane. Who is going to vote for another raise in property taxes. PVUSD got 150 million in their last bond issue that they never documented to the public how the money was spent, and we’re still paying for it. Now they want to double the amount and more.
None of us can afford higher property taxes with gas, food, city services and PGE also raising their fees. I along with many of my friends will vote a big NO on any new tax increase. The PUC allowed PGE to hit all consumers with a huge increase and Watsonville City continues each year to raise our costs. The schools need to show were all the funds from the last bond issue were spent and where every cent of this 350 million bond issue they want passed is going to used that they want voters to vote yes on. They say fewer students are attending PVUSD and with that information it seems insane that the district wants to extort more money from homeowners.