Support for Proposition K

By Sharon Jenkins

- Cost of construction is 15 to 40% less than it was several years ago. By passing a general obligation bond in November the district will be able to take advantage of these historic lower costs.

- All of our kids deserve to attend schools that have the most up-to-date facilities. Academic success throughout the district has soared over the past few years. Great academic success coupled with modernized facilities will most likely increase property values sooner. Recently released state API (Academic Performance Index) scores release show San Marcos Unified School District with an 853. The target is 800. San Marcos and Mission Hills high schools are outperforming many of the local high schools.

- All of these funds remain under local control and CANNOT be taken by the state.

- Passing this bond will help the district leverage about $50M in matching funds from the state that will go to other districts if we do not pass this general obligation bond.

- The bond funds will be watched over carefully by an independent oversight committee with a member of the San Diego Taxpayers Association on the committee.

- The San Diego Taxpayers Association has endorsed Proposition K.

- The oldest schools with the most need receive the most funds. These include: Alvin Dunn Elementary, Richland Elementary, La Costa Meadows Elementary, Knob Hill Elementary, Paloma Elementary, Twin Oaks Elementary, San Marcos Middle, Woodland Park Middle, San Marcos High and Twin Oaks High.

- Five of the above schools are major rebuild schools + Alvin Dunn Elementary, La Costa Elementary, Richland Elementary, San Marcos Middle and San Marcos High.

- The newest schools (San Marcos Elementary and Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary) receive zero funds. Those built since 1997 (Discovery Elementary, Carrillo Elementary, San Elijo Elementary, San Elijo Middle and Mission Hills High) receive less than $8M total between all the schools.

- The cost to a taxpayer is about $44 per $100,000 of assessed value of a home. This is not the market value of your home. The average assessed value of a home in the district is $300,000. Using these figures this calculates out to be about a $11 per month. The general obligation bond will be $287M. Along with state matching funds and other funds we have set aside for facilities the district will spend about $384M on facilities.

- Local North County contractors will be used creating hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs for local workers over the life of construction.

- As you look around we see both Palomar College and CSUSM building new facilities, modernizing where needed, replacing buildings where needed and getting ready for the growth that is yet to come to this education hub we have become.