Voice Your Opinion: Say No to Another SUSD Bond Measures.
Join the Fight Against Unjust Taxes: Stand Up for Our Community's Financial Future
Tonight, on July 30, 2024, the Saugus Union School District (SUSD) will hold a crucial board meeting. One of the agenda items is the approval of a new bond measure for the November 2024 ballot. This proposal is being pushed forward despite a previous study by a consulting firm indicating insufficient community support. Our community's voices must be heard before this decision is finalized, which could result in a significant tax increase.
Saugus has a history of putting together poorly thought-out bond measures; most of these bonds are 30 years old and have an interest upwards of 7%, such as Measure EE, which was hotly debated in 2014. One of the more foolish decisions on Measure EE was buying new technology/computers on a 30-year bond. Are these people serious? Suppose you buy a laptop or tablet for $1000 on a 30-year bond at 5% for round numbers. By the time the bond is paid off, you would have paid $1950 for a computer that has been outdated for 25 years. This is probably why they keep coming back decade after decade.
True to form , the administration has rushed an ill conceived and deceptive proposal for a General Obligation Bond Issuance on to the agenda for your consideration. You have to approve it tonight or schools will collapse on innocent students. Fear is a powerful motivator isn’t it. ~Steve Petzold
Hawkins’ presentation, which can be seen here, will discuss AB 300, passed in 1999—yes, 25 years ago—and the fact that many schools, including some in SUSD, had significant “Earthquake/Seismic Needs.” This begs the question: Did SUSD not use the money to fix the Seismic Needs back then, and have they had our students go into unsafe classrooms for the last 25 years? What does AB 300 have to do with this most recent payday loan Hawkins wants to put on the shoulders of Santa Clarita homeowners? Hawkins is either admitting SUSD misappropriated funds and didn’t fix the Seismic Needs, OR she is just gaslighting as usual. Neither would surprise me. It is exactly what Steve Petzold said; this is an attempt to fearmonger, “Won’t somebody please think of the children.”
Another thing that stood out particularly fish is why SCVNews.com published and then pulled a press release dated July 27 that said the following?
”Colleen Hawkins, Ed.D., Superintendent of the Saugus Union School District has announced that the $190M bond measure for facilities improvements authorized by the SUSD board on July 30 will appear on the November ballot.”
~A Pulled Press Release on ScvNews.com stating it passed
The original press release, dated July 24, says something doesn’t smell right here. Is the fix in? Do we have more Brown Act violations from the most seedy school district in the valley? I would not put it past them. Hawkins and the company know this is very unpopular, so she is trying to slip it through without anyone noticing. Here is an idea: how about we cut back on the 56% increase in admin and support salaries since 2012? Teachers’ salary budget has only increased about 6%, well below the 36% inflation during that period. In short, Admin/Support costs increased by 20%, and Teacher’s salaries decreased by 30% once accounted for inflation. We must start a serious conversation about consolidating the elementary school districts, but I will save that for another time.
The Agenda:
The bond measure approval is listed under "IX General Functions A.2024-25 #15" on tonight's agenda. If approved, the measure would be placed on the November general election ballot, requiring 55% of voters' approval to take effect. If passed, the district would receive $190 million for various capital upgrades and improvements.
Everything about this is shifty.
Community Concerns:
Last year, a consulting firm conducted a study revealing that there wasn't enough community support to place this measure on the ballot. Despite this, the SUSD attempts to push it through at the last minute. The community needs to have input in such significant decisions, especially those that could lead to increased taxes.
Call to Action:
We urge the community to voice their concerns and displeasure with this proposal. The school district is proceeding with a bond measure that could lead to higher taxes without adequately considering the community's stance. However, it's essential to scrutinize this proposal closely. The administration has rushed an ill-conceived and vague proposal onto the agenda. The agenda item's wording, "Overview of Facility Measure," is incomplete and lacks transparency. This is also another reason why the SUSD should not vote on renewing Hawkins and her admin team tonight
Past Bond Measure Issues:
In 2022, a similar bond measure proposal was brought forward and needed help to secure a single trustee's motion to pass. Why is the administration trying again now? Past bond measures like Measure EE have faced significant issues, including:
Ineffective Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) ignoring public concerns.
Illegal expenditures at closed school sites.
Mismanagement of bond proceeds, violating the Education Code.
Take Action Now:
It's crucial to stop fostering fear across the district for political gain. Examine this proposal closely before sending it to the ballot. The community deserves transparency and a say in decisions that impact our taxes and schools. To express your opinions, attend tonight's board meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the district's administrative office or via Zoom.
Please spread the word widely so the community can express their views before deciding. Let's ensure our voices are heard and say NO to this rushed and poorly conceived bond measure proposal.
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