Editor,
The Hillsdale megaproject is a fiscal time bomb for our public schools. As a Senate Bill 330 project, its school impact fees are frozen at Feb. 5, 2025, rates — permanently. With over a decade of entitlements and construction, the project will only pay 2025-level impacts while actual costs (construction, salaries, facility maintenance) spiral upwards.
This massive gap creates a built in structural deficit that will show up as larger classes, reduced programs, deferred maintenance or crushing new parcel taxes on existing homeowners.
In the guise of “housing reform” the state has stripped local agencies of fee adjustment power, handing developers and private equity a sweetheart deal at public expense. The Hillsdale project is more than a decadelong raid on the school budget that our district cannot absorb. Hillsdale is not unique; every SB330 project will tax the district’s budget.
Our community faces a stark future as Hillsdale offloads its true costs onto our kids’ education. The message from Sacramento and your state representative is clear: the interests of developers take priority over our children’s future.
Lisa Maley
San Mateo
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(1) comment
It the public is worried about the SMUHSD's money problems... then how about the $40 million that "evaporated" in the sale of Crestmoor High School
Where is the $40 million the SMUHSD "gave away" in the sale of Crestmoor?
December 2020- $125 million
August 26, 2021- $84 million
August 12, 2021- Superintendent Skelly receives a two year contract extension of $329,000 per year. The DR Horton deal was cancelled, yet Superintendent Skelly (under investigation by the state) gets a new contract and a bonus! (?)
How does a 40 acre Bay Area property (under contract) take a $40 million price cut which is approved by the Trustees ($1 million per acre)
Time-line
December 2020-SMUHSD enters into a contract to sell Crestmoor HS to DR Horton for $125 million
https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/crestmoor-campus-sold-for-125-million-in-san-bruno/article_bf949b66-41b2-11eb-aef4-4fa9ba9ade93.html
July 2021 (not August 2021 as reported by the SMUHSD)
The City of San Bruno reports in it City Counsel meeting that DR Horton informed San Bruno that it had cancelled the contract with the SMUHSD.
August 26, 2021-
On August 26, 2021, the SMUHSD's Trustee President Robert Griffin announces the sale of Crestmoor to SummerHill Homes for only $84 million. There was never a disclosure of the cancellation of the DR Horton contract.-The August 5 and August 12, 2021 SMUHSD Public agenda LIST DR Horton as the buyers.... (contract cancelled in July 2021)
SummerHill Homes sells Crestmoor before the close of escrow-
December 2024
SummerHill Homes announces a "sale upon the close of escrow" of the Crestmoor Property to the Toll Brothers, the amount was not disclosed.
February 2025
Crestmoor Sale is finalized-
SMUHSD provided "consultant" DCG Strategies a $1.3 million commission
https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/86m-crestmoor-sale-is-finalized-in-san-bruno/article_0eaa4260-eb54-11ef-a38e-8fc2e4e5aeb4.html
Everything above is sourced from public documents.
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