Category Archives: Bond Measure

Voters in Travis Unified district to vote on facilities bond | dailyrepublic.com

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Travis Unified School District trustees this week voted to place a $65 million facilities improvement bond on the Nov. 5 ballot.

The bond would set a rate of 6 cents on every $100 of assessed value, generating an average of $4.7 million per year for facility needs. It would take 55% of the voters to approve the measure. The last initiative garnered 50% support.

“The board believes that a high quality education is the fundamental right of every student, and seeks to provide a 21st century education in a safe and engaging learning environment for all students,” the proposed resolution states.

Source: Voters in Travis Unified district to vote on facilities bond | News | dailyrepublic.com

Travis Unified trustees hold off on bond vote | dailyrepublic.com

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By Todd R. Hansen

The Travis Unified school board on Monday tabled a decision on whether to place a $65 million general obligation bond on the November ballot.

Two board members – President Matthew Bidou and Vice President Will Wade – indicated their support for putting the measure on the ballot, and support for the measure itself, but Trustee Ivery Hood said, “I will not be supporting the bond.”

“I guess my primary reason is that I feel like we’ve gone out twice to the community and what I’ve learned over the years is that there’s a (percentage) of the community that already supports the schools, and are paying the Mello-Roos, and I think it throws things out of balance,” Hood said.

Source: Travis Unified trustees hold off on bond vote | News | dailyrepublic.com

Budget, obligation bond, LCAP land before Travis Unified board | dailyrepublic.com

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Trustees for the Travis Unified School District on Tuesday will receive a presentation and conduct a public hearing on the proposed 2024-25 budget.

A final decision on placing a $65 million general bond on the Nov. 5 ballot is also on the agenda.

The district, if approved, would set a rate of 6 cents on every $100 of assessed value, generating an average of $4.7 million a year for facility needs.

Source: Budget, obligation bond, LCAP land before Travis Unified board | News | dailyrepublic.com

TUSD leaders to consider new supe contract, bond measure proposal – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

A new superintendent’s contract and a proposed bond measure for the fall 2024 ballot are on the agenda when the Travis Unified governing board meets Tuesday in Fairfield.

Trustees are expected to approve a four-year contract with Tiffany Benson, currently the assistant superintendent for educational services.

The contract calls for annual base pay of $243,000 for 221 days of work, $3,000 compensation for earning a master’s degree, and a 2 percent annual pay raise.

Source: TUSD leaders to consider new supe contract, bond measure proposal – The Vacaville Reporter

BUSD Superintendent thanks voters as Measure C nears official passage – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Lynzie Lowe

While Measure C has not yet officially been passed by voters, Benicia Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Damon Wright said the 62.34 percent of tallied votes in favor of the Measure thus far “means everything to our district.”

“I want to thank the residents of Benicia for supporting our schools and investing in our children,” said Wright. “Passing Measure C provides $122.5 million for facility improvements, which will enable the district to address necessary safety repairs and complete much-needed modernization projects.”

As of Friday evening, a total of nine precincts had reported 6,004 in favor of the measure and 2,678 votes against, which has it narrowly cruising to victory with the necessary 55 percent or more of the total votes needed to pass.

Source: Benicia USD Superintendent thanks voters as Measure C nears official passage – The Vacaville Reporter

Early election results indicate unofficial passage of Benicia Measures – Times Herald Online

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The polls have officially closed in Solano County and election results are slowly coming in. Here are the most recent, and unofficial, results on the measures facing Solano County voters in Tuesday’s California Primary.

Measure A

With eight precincts reporting and 4,152 votes cast as of 10 p.m., the City of Benicia’s proposed hotel tax – known as Transient Occupancy Tax – was rolling to victory with 80.39 percent of the votes.

The tax would raise the transient occupancy tax on hotels and vacation rentals from 9 to 13 percent. This increase is projected to boost annual city revenues by around $250,000, with oversight from a citizens committee.

Source: Early election results indicate unofficial passage of Benicia Measures – Times Herald Online

BUSD Superintendent Wright outlines Measure C during fireside chat – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Lynzie Lowe

Benicia Unified School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Damon Wright said during a fireside chat held in Vallejo Saturday that passage of Measure C would increase the sense of pride, ownership and belonging for all Benicia Unified School District students.

“It is important when students arrive at school, that they feel comfortable at school, that they arrive at a school they are proud of, that it has some curb appeal,” said Wright. “This is my school. This is an institution of learning and I feel like I’m going to go in there and learn.”

The chat, facilitated by Voters Voice of Solano County representative Tara Beasley-Stansberry, was one in a series of chats highlighting Solano County candidates and measures on the March 5 ballot. This chat focused on a measure affecting the district — one of three measures on the upcoming ballot.

Source: Benicia USD Superintendent Wright outlines Measure C during fireside chat – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield-Suisun’s AAA bonds rating demonstrates financial stability – Daily Republic

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Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District announced Fitch Ratings has affirmed the district’s general obligation bonds at the highest rating of AAA, with a stable outlook.

The credit rating assigned serves as a measure of the safety and security of the school district’s bonds for potential investors. Similar to personal credit scores, the GO Bond credit rating system provides a range of ratings that help investors gauge the level of risk associated with an investment.

The AAA rating is the highest attainable rating and signifies an exceptional level of creditworthiness.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun’s AAA bonds rating demonstrates fInancial stability

Fairfield-Suisun trustees prep to tackle plans for new Measure S money – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

A subcommittee of the Fairfield-Suisun School District’s governing board will begin work soon to develop plans for how best to spend nearly $250 million in facilities property tax funding approved by voters in November.

“We are just in the beginning stages of discussing Measure S,” Superintendent Kris Corey wrote in an email to the Daily Republic.

The first Facilities Subcommittee meeting of the year will begin at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun trustees prep to tackle plans for new Measure S money

California school districts pass $20 billion in construction bonds, but some rural areas say no to higher taxes | EdSource

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By John Fensterwald & Carolyn Jones

Notwithstanding worries about a looming recession and misperceptions that schools are swimming in money, California voters approved 71 of 101 TK-12 and community college construction bond proposals last month. The 65 of 94 TK-12 and six of seven community college district ballot measures that won will generate $20 billion in renovations and new construction.

The overall passage of 71% is below the average approval rate of 80% since 2001, according to CaliforniaCityFinance.com. The voting margins also “seemed thinner this year,” said Jeff Becker, executive director of facilities for the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. He also chairs the Coalition for Adequate School Housing or CASH, the California lobby for school facilities.

Source: California school districts pass $20 billion in construction bonds, but some rural areas say no to higher taxes | EdSource

Travis hears update on Special Tax Annual Reports – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Chief Business Officer Gabe Moulaison gave a presentation to the Travis school board on Tuesday night on the Community Facilities Districts No. 1 and No. 2 Special Tax Annual Reports.

According to the report, there are 1,775 residential parcels for which a building permit has been issued as of June 1 for Community Facilities District No. 1.

The total annual special tax to be collected within CFD No. 1 for the fiscal year 2022-23 is $1.051 million.

Source: Travis hears update on Special Tax Annual Reports

Markham Elementary heralds completion of Measure A projects – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Edwin Markham Elementary School has changed quite a bit in the last few years. The 60-year-old campus now has new classrooms, a new cafeteria, administration building and library, all due to $35 million from Vacaville Unified School District’s Measure A bond.

The project, one of the largest under the Measure A initiative, was finished amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but with restrictions lifted and people allowed to meet fully in person, a brief ceremony was held Friday morning to commemorate the completion.

Against a backdrop of black and turquoise balloons and with wolf mascot Edwin pumping up the crowd, Principal Jose Bermudez welcomed everyone to “the new and improved Markham.”

Source: Markham Elementary heralds completion of Measure A projects – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield-Suisun trustees to hear updates on school bond projects, other programs – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees will hear several presentations at their next meeting Thursday, to include an update on Measure J projects as the district seeks approval of another property tax measure to finance future projects.

Measure J, a $249 million general obligation bond that’s being repaid through property tax assessments, was approved by voters June 7, 2016, with the third and final bond sale occurring Feb. 20, 2020.

Construction started with the replacement of the synthetic track and fields in the stadiums at all three comprehensive high schools in 2016. The district has completed several projects and is in design for most of the final projects of the bond program.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun trustees to hear updates on school bond projects, other programs

Fairfield-Suisun school district using Measure J dollars as intended – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The executive director of the Measure J oversight committee told the Fairfield-Suisun school board this week that proceeds from the bond have only been used for the purposes in the ballot measure.

Paul Speed, executive director of Facilities and Operations on the Measure J Citizens’ Oversight Committee, presented the committee’s 2021 report during a quick meeting of the board on Thursday.

The committee also concluded that the bond proceeds have been maximized, Speed said.

Source: Report: Fairfield-Suisun school district using Measure J dollars as intended

Final phase of Measure A projects moving along – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

When Vacaville Unified School District students return for classes Aug. 18, many will be returning to campuses that did not look the same as they did in the spring.

These include upgraded technology in the classrooms, new rooms and — in the case of Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy — a completely remodeled campus.

All of this is a result of Measure A, a $194 million bond approved by Vacaville voters in 2014 for educational improvements at VUSD sites. Among the larger projects completed so far are a pair of new two-story buildings at Vacaville High School, a new stadium at Will C. Wood High School, modernization of Willis Jepson Middle School’s campus and increased technology availability at all sites.

Source: Final phase of Measure A projects moving along – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield school board OKs $249.6M facilities bond for November ballot – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

A divided school board this week voted 6-1 to place a quarter of a billion dollar bond on the Nov. 8 ballot to provide what the Fairfield-Suisun School District describes as facilities improvements.

Trustee Ana Petero voted against the plan.

Superintendent Kris Corey said the bond will not increase taxes for the community. Instead, it will extend the terms of the combined Measures C and J bonds. By extending the terms and not increasing the tax rate, she said, the community will generate $249.6 million to use for school facilities projects.

Source: Fairfield school board OKs $249.6M facilities bond for November ballot

Vacaville School District refinances bonds, saves taxpayers more than $3M – Daily Republic

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The Vacaville School District has refinanced $22.2 million in general obligation bonds, which according to a press release from the district will save property owners approximately $3.1 million in lower tax payments.

District voters authorized the sale of up to $194 million of general obligation bonds on Nov. 4, 2014, to address needs for technology upgrades, facility renovation and new construction for district schools. Since then, the district has sold all of their bonds from the 2014 election.

Source: Vacaville School District refinances bonds, saves taxpayers more than $3M

VUSD refinances bonds, reducing tax bills for local property owners – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

An alert for many Vacaville property owners: You are going to see somewhat reduced property tax bills in the future.

Vacaville Unified this month refinanced $22.2 million in general obligation bonds, which will save school district property owners $3.1 million in lower tax payments, district leaders said in a press release issued Thursday.

District voters in November 2014 approved Measure A, the $194 million general obligation bond to pay for technology upgrades, renovations to existing buildings, and new construction for district schools.

Source: VUSD refinances bonds, reducing tax bills for local property owners – The Vacaville Reporter

Vacaville School District refinances bonds, saves taxpayers more than $3 million – Daily Republic

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The Vacaville School District has refinanced $22.2 million in general obligation bonds, which according to a press release from the district will save property owners approximately $3.1 million in lower tax payments.

District voters authorized the sale of up to $194 million of general obligation bonds on Nov. 4, 2014, to address needs for technology upgrades, facility renovation and new construction for district schools. Since then, the district has sold all of their bonds from the 2014 election.

Source: Vacaville School District refinances bonds, saves taxpayers more than $3 million

Solano College announces bond refinancing results – Daily Republic

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The Solano Community College District has announced its most recent bond initiative that it says will lower property taxes and save district taxpayers millions in future debt payments.

The district was able to achieve savings of approximately $13.9 million for local taxpayers by refinancing existing general obligation bonds, according to a press release.

The district has taken advantage of previous refinancing opportunities since 2005. The combined savings from all of the refinancing efforts now totals more than $46 million, the college district reports.

Source: Solano College announces bond refinancing results