$77M bond measure to address overcrowding, infrastructure needs in Santa Maria-Bonita district

If approved by a 55% majority, Measure K-24 will authorize funds to upgrade classrooms, science labs, and essential infrastructure. The bond will also provide financial support for constructing new campuses to accommodate the district’s growing student population.

Overcrowding is a major issue for the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, with several campuses operating beyond their intended capacity.

“Our schools are already at or beyond capacity, and we expect to continue growing each year,” said Matt Beecher, deputy superintendent for business services. “We’re expecting more than 18,000 students on our campuses by the 2029-30 school year. If the bond measure isn’t successful, we’ll have to really contemplate how to continue serving our students in the best facilities possible within our existing buildings.”

If the measure fails, the district may have to consider using more portable classrooms, which would further strain existing facilities like cafeterias, libraries, and parking lots, officials said.

Superintendent Darren McDuffie emphasized the bond’s importance, noting that many of the district’s buildings are over 60 years old and were initially built to accommodate around 600 students.

“Now they serve over a thousand students,” he said. “We need Measure K to upgrade our classrooms, renovate our older schools, construct new classrooms or schools, and replace outdated portable buildings.”

Measure K-24 would require a property tax levy estimated at $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value, adding approximately $120 annually —or about $10 monthly — to property tax bills for a property with an assessed value of $400,000.

“The bond is actually a debt instrument, much like a mortgage, secured against all of the property within the district’s boundaries. The county assessor’s office will add an assessment to property owners’ tax bills to pay for this debt over 30 years,” Beecher said.

Beecher clarified that assessed values, not market values, determine tax contributions.

“A lot of people aren’t clear on the difference between the fair market value of their home, which they might see on Zillow, and their assessed value, which is stated on their property tax statement from the county assessor’s office.”

To ensure transparency and proper use of funds, the district plans to establish a Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, that will be responsible for monitoring expenditures and ensuring they align with the projects outlined in the ballot measure.

“We are authorized to spend these dollars only on projects that are described in the ballot measure itself,” Beecher said.

Additionally, independent auditors will assess and report on the expenditures, providing an extra layer of accountability.

“Our auditors will be doing specific procedures and providing a separate report to our board and citizens bond oversight committee,” Beecher noted.

Annual reports detailing expenditures will be made accessible to the community through the district’s board agendas and meetings, as well.

Beecher said the district will produce an annual report that highlights the activities of the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, along with summaries of the independent auditor’s procedures and reports, all of which will be available on the district website.

If approved, the district also intends to pursue state matching funds to extend the $77 million generated by Measure K-24.

“We’ll do everything we can to take advantage of any state matching programs that are available,” Beecher said, citing as an example the district’s receipt of $18 million in state matching funds for the construction of Bill Libbon Elementary.