Survey reveals strong support for school bond

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- After two years of preparation, the Huntington

Beach City School District may move forward with a bond election as soon

as June.

A second survey conducted in the fall revealed strong support for a

$25-million bond measure to help the district repair its aging schools.

Of the 48,000 registered voters in the district boundaries, 20,346

were polled by phone. Results showed 51% in support of a bond, 21%

opposing and 28% undecided.

District consultant, Ernesto Flores of Caldwell Flores Winters Inc.,

foresees that some of the voters not polled and some that are still

undecided will eventually support a bond. Flores predicts a win in the

70% range.

This survey echoed the one conducted last March that sampled 400

registered voters in the district. The 15-minute telephone interviews

showed that 70.5% said they would support a maximum 30-year, $16-per-year

raise in property taxes to pay for the bond. This bond would be less than

ones passed in Buena Park, Brea and La Habra.

“We surveyed again to get a pulse. We don’t want to run a stealth

campaign,” Flores said.

In addition to voter support, a volunteer support base has been

secured as well as endorsements from council members Ralph Bauer, Debbie

Cook and Shirley Dettloff, Assemblyman Tom Harmon (R-Huntington Beach),

Police Chief Ron Lowenberg, and prominent businessmen Steve Bone and

Perry Cain.

The schools are more than 25 years old and some buildings having been

in use for more than 40 years. The main building at Dwyer Middle School

has been in use for 67 years. The district needs about $41.6-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 and air-conditioning systems.

“The key is state money,” Flores advised the board.

Although the district is eligible for $20.8 million in state funds, it

must come up with $4.1 million of it on its own to get that money.

The remainder not paid for by state funds could be covered by the

$25-million bond.

With applications in to the state and clearances going through the

Department of State Architects, the district is already lined up to

receive bond money.

District officials expect a $15 billion to $17 billion bond issue from

the state in March.

Flores recommended the board pursue a bond election with a two-thirds

voter requirement. If the district opted for a 55% voter requirement, as

under Proposition 39, the district would have to wait until 2002 for a

regularly scheduled election in order to put the bond on the ballot.

Supt. Duane Dishno plans to follow through with the recommendation,

and the board expressed the same support.

“We’d be fiscally irresponsible if we did not pursue every possible

funding source,” trustee Catherine McGough said.

If the bond fails, the district may come back to the voters again with

a 55% requirement or apply for hardship money from the state. The

district would qualify for hardship after a failed bond election.

The board will come back to vote on the matter at the next board

meeting Feb. 20.