As of press time it seemed like a winning day for Santa Barbara County schools. Several school districts put bond measures up to vote in order to cover some much-needed projects. Most need 55 percent to pass; with the exception of measure L2016, which needs a two-thirds vote. From adding play structures and athletic facilities, to adding more classrooms, updating technology, and repairing deteriorated buildings and infrastructures, the following school districts had voter support of their bond measures as of Nov. 9, pending provisional and mail-in vote counts:
Lompoc Unified School District L2016
This $65 million bond measure will finance school facilities projects, improve playgrounds, add classrooms, and update school grounds, technology, and campus security. The highest levied tax rate is estimated at 6 cents per $100 of the assessed valuation, with the total debt service that would be required to be repaid if all bonds are issued and sold estimated at about $162 million. Yes votes: 6,983. No votes: 5,278.
Orcutt Union School District G2016
Measure G2016 is a $60 million bond measure with annual audits and no funds spent on administrators’ salaries. The funding would update and repair deteriorated roofs, plumbing, and electrical systems in elementary and secondary schools in Orcutt and Los Alamos, among other improvements.
The highest tax rate which would be levied to fund these bonds is estimated at 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, and the total debt service is estimated at $140 million. Yes votes: 7,037. No votes: 5,578.
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District H2016
This measure, would allow the district to issue and sell bonds of up to $114 million to fund school facilities projects similar to those proposed by the Lompoc school district and include the construction and expansion of vocational classrooms, including an agricultural farm.
The funds would also help retrofit classrooms with energy-efficient air conditioning and heating systems. Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Superintendent Mark Richardson said that district officials are optimistically awaiting results.
“More than the majority of voters in the Santa Maria Valley agree that now is the time to fix our aging high schools. We are waiting for all the votes to be counted,” he said in a statement. “Our students deserve adequate, modern classrooms, and we will continue to work to make sure every student in our district has the opportunity for success in college or in the workforce. We thank our community for their support.”
The highest levied tax rate required is estimated at 3 cents per $100, and the total debt service at $193 million. Yes votes: 15,093. No votes: 12,549.
Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District K2016
K2016 is a $14.7 million bond measure that would provide funds for the renovation, modernization, and repair of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, including facility improvements similar to those specified in the other districts’ bonds. The highest levied tax rate is estimated at 1.525 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, and the total debt service at $18 million. Yes votes: 4,283. No votes: 3,374.
Guadalupe Union School District
Measures N2016 and M2016 will issue $5.65 million and $5.8 million in bonds, respectively for school improvements.
The estimated levied tax rate for N2016 is 29.7 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, with the total debt service being $12 million. For M2016, it’s 30 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, and total debt service is estimated at $12.5 million. Measure N received 759 yes votes and 230 no votes. Measure M received 771 yes votes and 213 no votes.
Information verified from sbcvote.com/elections. Get the full text of each bond and the tax statements online at sbcvote.com.
