Will Gilroy school trustees ask for another big bond approval?

GILROY—Citing crumbing schools and unstoppable growth, Gilroy school leaders will again ask taxpayers to approve a big bond measure—maybe.
Gilroy Unified School District trustees voted unanimously to explore what would be the district’s third bond measure since 2002 to arise millions of dollars to fix schools and build new ones.
Taxpayers could be asked to approve bonds in excess of $145 million, according to a district report.
School officials say a new elementary school predicted to be needed in five years could cost up to $60 million and that millions more is needed to upgrade or replace older facilities.
 “Our middle schools are in desperate need” of replacement in part or entirely,” district superintendent of schools Dr. Debbie Flores told school board members before their May 6 vote.
In the last 15 years, bonds and other taxpayer-funded financing tools have allowed the GUSD to spend $385 million on facilities, but “we do have to explore our options,” district finance director Alvaro Meza said in a presentation designed to help trustees decide whether to revisit the bond option.
 “We know the need is there,” he said, “We have more than $30 million in deferred maintenance needs now.”
Successful ballot measures in 2002 and another in 2008 authorized the sale of $69 million and $150 million in bonds, respectively. All of the ’02 bonds have been sold and spent; $29 million remains of the ’08 authorization, Measure P, according to Meza.
If trustees go to voters again it would be in June or November of 2016. They could seek as much as $145.2 million in additional bond authorization—about  
$140 million over the district’s current debt limit, a district report shows.
However, bond consultant Jon Isom told trustees that applying for the state waiver needed to seek bond authorization beyond a debt limit is common practice.
Of the districts he has helped, “All 41 were approved, even for double their debt limit,” he said.
Since passage of the property tax-slashing Proposition 13 in June 1978, bond measures are, “The only (financing) tools districts have nowadays,” Isom said.
He spelled out strategies needed for a successful measure. They included timing the election for when voters most amenable to a raising tax hike would be likely to vote—in June during local elections or November during the national elections.
His services would start off with a $12,500 telephone survey to measure voter support for more school funding, find out which building projects would be most popular among voters and to determine how big a hike would succeed at the polls.
A “public information” would be part of the campaign effort, he said, one that measured support from people “who shape opinion” in the community, such as the mayor and chamber of commerce officials.
If after more study the board moves forward, a ballot statement must be filed at least 88 days prior to the election, Isom said.
Trustee Jaime Rosso citied the district’s 2008 success at the polls.
“It was a tough year,” he said, but nearly 70 percent of those who voted approved the $150 million Measure P.
“By any standard, that’s a landslide of support,” he said.