What is Measure C?
Measure C appeared on the March 5, 2002 ballot. It asked voters in Mt. DIablo Unified School District communities if the district should issue $250 million in General Obligation bonds to pay for projects to improve school buildings and grounds. To pass, the measure needed to be approved by 55 percent of those who voted on March 5.
What is a General Obligation (G.O.) bond?
A school district uses a G.O. bond to finance major repairs and improvements to its facilities just like a homeowner who uses a loan to pay for house repairs and additions. Both receive cash in advance that is paid back over time. A G.O. bond is a tax on the assessed value of the property.
How does a G.O. bond differ from Measure A, which District voters passed in 1989?
Measure C will generate $250 million in bond funds for the district. Having passed, the district is now eligible for an additional $80 million in "matching funds" from the state as state bonds are passed. Thus, more than $300 million could come to Mt. Diablo schools that have major repair and modernization needs. If the local bond did not pass, state bond funds would have been awarded to other communities that have passed a local bond.
How much money will Measure C raise for District schools?
The tax rate will be $60 per every $100,000 of a property's assessed valuation, not its market value. The cost to local taxpayers will be the same rate over the entire length of the bond.It cannot be increased without another vote of the people.
What is this going to cost me?
The tax rate will be $60 per every $100,000 of a property's assessed valuation, not its market value. The cost to local taxpayers will be the same rate over the entire length of the bond.It cannot be increased without another vote of the people.
How will the money be used?
The list of project includes:
- Upgrading safety systems
- Repairing leaky roofs
- Improving electrical systems for safety and increased capacity
- Repairing heating and ventilation systems
- Upgrading plumbing; renovating restrooms
- Replacing aging portables; adding classrooms
- Improving access for individuals with disabilities
How were these projects chosen?
Funds generated through the bond will be used for projects identified at each school by two means:
- A site evaluation conducted by district maintenance staff, an engineering consultant, and staff members and parents at each school; and
- A Facilities Task Force comprised of representatives, including mayors, from the district's communities.
These studies concluded that:
- To assure a safe and healthy environment for students and staff, it is essential to modernize plumbing, repair roofs, upgrade restrooms, and replace unsafe playground equipment.
- The demand in the schools for more computers and other technology and for modern heating and air conditioning systems requires electrical upgrades and increased power.
- Overcrowding is a major issue for some schools. It is necessary to add new classrooms and also to replace old and outdated portables with permanent air-conditioned classrooms.
- Making schools accessible to people with disabilities is not just desirable, it's a legal requirement.
Responses to a survey mailed to residents throughout the district support these findings.
How can I be sure the money will be used for these purposes?To guarantee that all the bond money is used only for the school improvement and repair projects listed, a Citizens' Oversight Committee will provide ongoing monitoring, and two independent audits will be conducted each year. In placing this measure on the ballot, the district had to list all the projects that will be funded with bond money.
What's in it for my neighborhood?
Every school in the district will get money from Measure C. The need is critical as 95 percent of the district's schools are more than 30 years old. Clean, attractive, and well-maintained schools improve the value of property in the neighborhoods surrounding them. A detailed list of improvements for the school in your area is available at the school office, or on this web site.