Districts’ opinions vary on bond proposition

Angelique Flores

With two local school districts possibly facing their own bond

elections, Proposition 39 may make it easier for their bonds to pass.

The initiative would reduce the school bond vote requirement from a

two-thirds majority to 55%. Districts would have the choice of opting for

either majority vote. The lower requirement comes with additional

stipulations, such as when elections can be held and how the funds raised

can be used.

Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach City school district officials

say they favor the initiative. Ocean View School District has not taken a

formal position yet, and Huntington Beach Union High School District does

not support it.

“It’s a poorly written initiative and too constrictive as to how you

proceed with it,” said Michael Simons, Huntington Beach Union High School

District board president.

But some school officials don’t mind the restrictions and disagree

that it would hinder local schools.

“This has a lot more accountability, a lot of provisions to assure

that the money is being spent in the right places,” said Shirley Carey, a

trustee of the Huntington Beach City School District.

However, Matthew Harper, a trustee with the Huntington Beach Union

High School District, said he is concerned that 55% isn’t enough consent

from taxpayers to impose a tax.

“It’s a very serious issue, because you’re supposed to get the consent

of the taxpayer before you tax them,” he said. “Two-thirds makes it so

you have to get the consent of the taxpayers.”

Fountain Valley School District Supt. Marc Ecker disagrees.

“I’ve never agreed that one vote can cancel out two,” Ecker said.

“When you get 62%, 63% that are in support, it’s inherently unfair. It’s

still more than majority, but not as high as two-thirds.”

Trustees who support the proposition also recognize the difficulty of

reaching a two-thirds majority.

“If you look at most of bond issues put out, two-thirds has been a

hurdle that is just too difficult to reach,” Carey said.

Huntington Beach City School District officials have been discussing

whether to hold a bond election to receive funds to repair their schools.

Huntington Beach Union High School District held a bond election last

November and lost with a 61% vote. Officials there may look at another

bond election.

“We were very close, and we really worked hard,” Simons said. “And if

we got support from areas we weren’t able to last time, we’d have a real

good chance.”