Bond measure would have support, L.A. Unified hears
Telephone poll finds that 68% of voters would probably back a new funding measure.
The Los Angeles Unified School District, amid a $20-billion school construction program, is gearing up to put on the November ballot its fifth bond measure since 1997, officials said Friday.
The district commissioned a telephone poll in which 604 likely voters were asked whether they would support a $3.2-billion measure "that may appear on the November ballot" to build schools and early education centers, remove hazards and otherwise renovate aging campuses.
The results, which were presented to the Board of Education in closed session on Tuesday, suggest that voters would support the measure as strongly as they have in the past, with 68% likely to vote for it and 3% leaning toward doing so. The poll has a 4% margin of error.
"It was great news," said Supt. David L. Brewer, adding that the school system desperately needs to transform older campuses into "state-of-the-art facilities, with wireless [networks for] computers and safe buildings." He said that despite looming budget cuts, the district needed a permanent program to improve its schools.
"An organization doesn't just shut down because it has a budget crisis," he said. "This is a long-term goal."
Board president Monica Garcia did not return a call seeking comment Friday.
"These people have lost touch with reality," said Kris Vosburgh, executive director of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. "I'm not surprised by much anymore, but I am really amazed that they would have the nerve to even consider this with all of the money that they are already taking out of property owners' pockets."
Data provided by the Los Angeles County assessor showed that more than $420 million was collected from taxpayers last year for Los Angeles Unified obligations.
The Board of Education has not yet voted to place the bond on the ballot.
Darry Sragow, the political consultant who has run the campaigns for the district's four prior construction and repair bonds, said his firm's contract with the district has increased from $5,000 a month to $15,000 to do the advance work for a referendum in the fall.
In order to qualify for the ballot, the district would have to file with the county registrar-recorder by August.
Sragow said the results were not a foregone conclusion, given the district's recent payroll problems and criticism from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
