The Millbrae School District is seeking support for a $95 million bond measure on the November ballot to improve infrastructure, just two years after a similar measure failed at the polls.
Measure J, which will cost $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value annually, looks to address infrastructure and technology updates at each of its five schools and tackle its Facilities Master Plan.
“We want our students to be safe and when we have aging facilities, they’re not safe,” board President Lynne Ferrario said.
Classrooms and labs at all of the four elementary schools and one middle school have been identified as in need of upgrading, Ferrario said. Current leaky roofs and out-of-date technology are also areas of concern that would be addressed by this revenue.
“We don’t want to have failing technology when our students’ academic programs are based primarily on programs online,” Ferrario said. “When your technology is down, so are our teaching tools for our students and the quality of instruction they’re going to receive.”
The measure also intends to prepare the district for the possibility of matched funds by the state if Proposition 2 also passes, Ferrario said. Proposition 2 is a state bond measure of $10 billion to help districts fund repairs and upgrades, also on the November ballot.
“With Measure J, local schools are eligible to receive up to $15 million in state matching funds when it becomes available,” Ferrario said. “If we don’t pass Measure J, that money would otherwise go to other districts.”
The district is also one of the only in the area without a bond measure supporting facilities updates. The district tried to pass a similar bond measure for $90 million in 2022, but failed by a close 1.5%. The measure needs 55% approval.
The Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association is the formal opponent to Measure J, citing the 2022 rejected measure as evidence of the lack of support.
Despite the failed attempt two years ago, Ferrario said now is the right time for such a measure to pass for the district.
“Millions of dollars would be allotted for matching funds and that’s something we don’t want to miss out on,” she said. “Now is the time. It’s something we’re putting all of our efforts into and we want to make sure we’re recognized this time by our constituents in the area.”
Ferrario said the bond ultimately helps Millbrae residents who might not be tied to the district.
“We need Measure J because it’s not just if you have children in the school, we need it because of our homes,” she said. “Our schools are the basis of our community and we need to make sure the measure passes and we have good schools so our property value is maintained.”
Ultimately, the facilities upgrades allow for optimal learning for the students and preparing them as best as possible for their futures, Ferrario said.
“The schools are the center of our community,” Ferrario said. “We’re looking at making our students really competitive in their careers and beyond and that’s going to bring back positivity for our community and to keep our property values high.”
(65) 344-5200 ext. 106
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(1) comment
Vote NO on Measure J. This bond will provide $95 million but is likely to cost homeowners $200 million, or more, assuming another bond won’t be floated to pay off this bond. The article doesn’t say how long homeowners will be paying for this bond. Ten years? Twenty? Forever and a day? Assuming the money will actually be used for what is being claimed, chances are that these schools will have leaky roofs, again, before the bond is paid off and in a few years technology will be out-of-date. But your bond payments won’t be. I’d expect most, if not all the money will likely go towards paying ever increasing pensions and benefits.
Vote NO on Measure J. If you have voter remorse, wait another year and you’ll see another Measure looking to take more of your money. BTW, didn’t Millbrae councilmembers recently vote to give themselves a raise from $345/month to $950/month? A little over $4000/year to almost $11,500/year. Millbrae needs money to pay for those raises, and Measure J is a beginning.
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