On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board voted unanimously to put the $9 billion bond measure aimed at modernizing schools on the November ballot.
If voters approve of it, property taxes in the district will increase an estimated 2.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, City News Service reported.
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It’s the first time in 16 years that LAUSD is asking voters to increase property taxes to pay through “general-obligation bonds,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho told the board that these are “the right investments at the right time for absolutely the right reason.”
In a report, school officials said 60% of the school buildings are more than 50 years old and that upgrades are needed, including modernizing the facilities, making the campuses safe and earthquake resilient, and upgrading educational technology.
Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association told KNX News’ Jon Baird that residents will ultimately foot the bill.
“And not just homes, it's all businesses. Anybody who pays a property tax has exposure to these local general obligation bonds,” he said.
He added that the district should find another way to pay for the upgrades, such as consolidating buildings and leasing out property rather than putting this on the taxpayers.
A man who spoke with Jon Baird said it’s a terrible idea.
“Taxes are theft and too much and the state and governments are terrible at education,” he said.
One woman, however, said she’d be willing to pay more in property taxes to help fix the schools.
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“I would if that's really going to be what they're going to do,” she said.
Another woman, a teacher, told Baird she would also pay more.
“I have to work in those classrooms that are dilapidated and tiles are falling down and it leaks when it rains and there's animals and rats and things that come in the classroom,” she said. “So I'd be more than happy to pay for that.”
The board convened a special meeting to vote because Friday is the deadline to place the matter on the Nov. 5 ballot.
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