Orange Unified School District Finances

Trustees of Orange Unified School District had hoped to give some property owners a tax break, but on the advice of experts, they changed their minds. July is when the school board must approve annual rate increases for special Mello-Roos assessment districts, which are formed to issue the bonds that pay for new schools. The rates are adjusted each year to meet interest and principal payments to bondholders.

The Orange Unified School District unanimously voted to apply for a Band/Orchestra Community Program Grant for Cerro Villa Middle School from the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The supervisors approved a $750 grant Dec. 14, but Cerro Villa needs to complete an application to claim the money.

In the last four years, Orange Unified School District has received grants totaling $84,350 for school programs and materials from the Joe MacPherson Help Our Schools program. Through the program, any customer who bought or leased a new or used car at any of MacPherson's five dealerships could select a school to which the car dealer would donate $50 in the customer's name. In all, MacPherson has raised $2 million for Orange County schools.

The division between Orange Unified School District teachers and the school board continued to widen Tuesday after the board unanimously rejected a teachers' contract proposal that trustees said could bankrupt the district in less than a year. "This is bad-faith bargaining at its worst," said James Bowles, the district's labor law attorney. "The proposal is not serious and not realistic." According to a district cost breakdown of the proposal, the district would have to pay $21.

Orange Unified School District trustees voted this week to accept a settlement option offered by the county that will pay the district 77% of its money tied up in the bankrupt investment pool but initially limits the right to sue. The trustees Thursday night debated the options offered by the county and even considered suing the county and Merrill Lynch Co. for putting their investments at risk.

Flush with surplus money, Orange Unified School District trustees began the process of spending it this week--and made an immediate pledge to bolster sports programs. District officials said they expect to gain up to $5 million as they buy out lifetime health benefits from teachers. The trustees can safely spend about $200,000 now, while they wait to see what the outcome of the buyout is in November, officials said.

The Orange Unified School District has a $1.2-million shortfall in its projected budget for this fiscal year because of declining high school enrollment. John Perry, assistant superintendent of support services, said the district enrolled 24,709 students, 349 less than were anticipated. The district's budget for the entire year is $100 million.

The division between Orange Unified School District teachers and the school board continued to widen Tuesday after the board unanimously rejected a teachers' contract proposal that trustees said could bankrupt the district in less than a year. "This is bad-faith bargaining at its worst," said James Bowles, the district's labor law attorney. "The proposal is not serious and not realistic." According to a district cost breakdown of the proposal, the district would have to pay $21.

The Orange Unified School District unanimously voted to apply for a Band/Orchestra Community Program Grant for Cerro Villa Middle School from the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The supervisors approved a $750 grant Dec. 14, but Cerro Villa needs to complete an application to claim the money.

In the last four years, Orange Unified School District has received grants totaling $84,350 for school programs and materials from the Joe MacPherson Help Our Schools program. Through the program, any customer who bought or leased a new or used car at any of MacPherson's five dealerships could select a school to which the car dealer would donate $50 in the customer's name. In all, MacPherson has raised $2 million for Orange County schools.

Flush with surplus money, Orange Unified School District trustees began the process of spending it this week--and made an immediate pledge to bolster sports programs. District officials said they expect to gain up to $5 million as they buy out lifetime health benefits from teachers. The trustees can safely spend about $200,000 now, while they wait to see what the outcome of the buyout is in November, officials said.

Trustees of Orange Unified School District had hoped to give some property owners a tax break, but on the advice of experts, they changed their minds. July is when the school board must approve annual rate increases for special Mello-Roos assessment districts, which are formed to issue the bonds that pay for new schools. The rates are adjusted each year to meet interest and principal payments to bondholders.

Orange Unified School District trustees voted this week to accept a settlement option offered by the county that will pay the district 77% of its money tied up in the bankrupt investment pool but initially limits the right to sue. The trustees Thursday night debated the options offered by the county and even considered suing the county and Merrill Lynch Co. for putting their investments at risk.

The Orange Unified School District has a $1.2-million shortfall in its projected budget for this fiscal year because of declining high school enrollment. John Perry, assistant superintendent of support services, said the district enrolled 24,709 students, 349 less than were anticipated. The district's budget for the entire year is $100 million.