Survey shows bond issue may pass
Angelique Flores
HUNTINGTON BEACH -- A recent survey shows residents strongly support a
bond measure to help Huntington Beach City School District repair its
schools.
The survey sampled 400 registered voters within the district boundaries,
and the results were released May 3. The 15-minute telephone interviews
conducted in March by Price Research showed that more than 70% of the
respondents would support a bond measure.
Furthermore, 70.5% said they would support a maximum 30-year,
$16-per-year raise in property taxes to pay for the bond. The district
said it only needs a $13 raise from taxpayers. The tax would affect
property owners within the district’s boundaries.
“[The survey results are] extremely positive,” said Jerry Buchanan,
assistant superintendent of administrative services. “This means that the
district board could pass a bond issue.”
The school board ordered the survey to test the waters for a possible
bond election and gauge how voters feel about education and their
attitudes toward proposed school improvements.
The results indicate that a bond could pass with more than the necessary
two-thirds majority, district officials said.
Voters could see a bond on the ballot in the fall or spring, Supt. Duane
Dishno said.
he district needs about $40 million worth of repairs and upgrades,
including the replacement of broken and deteriorating water and sewer
systems, old roofs, classroom fire and smoke alarm systems, electrical
systems, air-conditioning systems. It also needs to add modern
technology.
Although the district is eligible for $21 million in state funds, it must
come up with $4.2 million of it on its own to get that money.
To make the match, the district said it is also looking at selling or
leasing a closed school site or taking out a loan.
A tentative school board study session is set for the end of the month to
discuss the survey results and how to match the state funds.
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