Measure RU: Los Nietos School District facilities bond

The Los Nietos School District is asking voters to approve a property tax increase to fund $28.5 million in renovation and repair projects.

At least 55% of voters need to approve Measure RU for it to pass.

The district is also asking voters to approve another bond. We’ll get to that down below.

Official title on the ballot: Los Nietos School District Measure RU

Understanding Measure RU

Los Nietos School District, near Whittier, serves about 1,300 students across four schools. The district wants money to repair leaky roofs and windows; remove asbestos and lead; update heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; and do other safety-focused renovations.

School districts rely on voters to approve statewide and local bonds to pay for repairs, renovations, and new construction. This year, district voters will decide whether to support the district’s Measure RU and ST and the statewide Proposition 2. (We’ve got a voter guide for that one too.)

A bond is basically a loan that a school district takes out, and which property owners in that school district pay back through property taxes.

If at least 55% of voters approve Measure RU, Los Nietos School District can issue up to $28.5 million in bonds to finance specific school facilities projects.

LAist asked the district to name its top priorities for bond funding, but representatives have yet to respond.

The money borrowed through the measure would be paid back through a property tax. The district estimates the bond would cost property-owners that live within the school district’s boundaries an average of $30 per $100,000 of assessed value. There’s also a possibility that Los Nietos School District could get additional state funding if Prop. 2, the statewide school facilities bond, passes.

Districts cannot spend bond money on employee salaries and are required to commission independent audits of bond spending.

Wait, isn’t there another bond for Los Nietos?

That’s correct: Measure ST, which seeks $26.5 million.

According to a school district FAQ, here’s the way to think about it: Measure RU focuses on repairs (lead and asbestos removal) and updates to physical infrastructure (fixing leaky roofs; HVAC). Measure ST is about safety (repairs to broken concrete and uneven play surfaces; new security systems) and technology (classroom upgrades).

And clever readers will note that the combined measures do indeed spell: RUST.

What supporters of school bonds say

Research links higher student achievement to better quality schools — it’s easier to learn in clean, climate-controlled, well-lit classrooms.

In California, there’s no dedicated stream of funding to support the upkeep of the 10,000 public K-12 schools attended by 5.9 million students. The majority of the money schools receive from the state every year supports students, staff salaries and other day-to-day expenses.

Throughout the state, 38% of K-12 students go to schools that do not meet the minimum standard to be…