$9 Billion May Go Toward LA School Upgrades

When it comes to Los Angeles, there’s never a dull moment, especially when it involves billions of taxpayer dollars. The LAUSD board has approved a $9 billion school construction bond for the November ballot. Yes, you read that right, $9 billion.

The proposal seeks to update the infrastructure of schools in the district. So let’s dive into the nuts and bolts to see what’s involved in this measure.

Fast Facts: The Bond Proposal

The bond requires a 55% voter approval to pass this November. Should it be approved, the bond would translate to roughly $25 extra per year for every $100,000 of assessed property value. Given the inflated property prices in Los Angeles, that’s no small change for homeowners already strained by high living costs.

The bond is the largest ever put on the ballot by @LASchools and is just shy of a statewide school bond measure for $10 billion. For the bond measure to pass, at least 55% of voters will need to vote in favor of the bond. #LAUSD #caedu #capol #caleg https://t.co/qXrr7OmAui

— EdSource (@EdSource) August 7, 2024

Given that more than 60% of LAUSD school buildings are over 50 years old, the need for significant infrastructure improvements is apparent. The district estimates that $80 billion is needed to adequately address school facilities and technology needs.

The Taxes: Who Takes the Hit?

If you’re wondering who’s footing the bill, let’s break it down. According to LAUSD estimates, the additional property tax would hit the median-priced home with about $273 a year. Others estimate a closer impact at around $100 annually, emphasizing the discrepancy in projections.

“At a time when Los Angeles homeowners are struggling to pay the high cost of living, including skyrocketing utility bills, this bond would sharply increase property taxes,” said Susan Shelley of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

What Are the Funds For?

The funds aim to modernize school facilities, upgrade technology, improve outdoor spaces, energy efficiency, seismic safety, and disability access. The necessity for these upgrades is not in question; the district has outlined that over 525 schools need retrofitting, modernizing, or replacement for seismic safety.

Stakeholder Group Chair Speaks Up

The proposal reportedly had strong support at the school board meeting where the decision was made. However, according to EdSource, Michael Hamner, chair of LAUSD’s Bond Oversight Committee, noted the lack of involvement of his committee in the process.

“While we understand the district’s infrastructure needs are greater than the pool of resources currently available to fund them, the process by which this bond measure was developed and put forward, without consultation of key stakeholders groups such as ourselves — and therefore outside public view — prevents us from providing any meaningful comment,” Hamner explained

A Decision for Voters

Remember, this isn’t the only bond on the November ballot. Proposition 2, a state bond measure for $10 billion in school and community college repairs and upgrades, will also be up for a vote. “The money from the last successful school bond, which passed in 2016, has long since been spent, and the state’s school repair fund is expected to be depleted by January,” per The Los Angeles Times.

Board President Jackie Goldberg said of the $9 billion proposal, “Kids know when they have not the best — they don’t have it as good. And they do feel, somehow or another, that maybe [they’re] just not worth as much.”

$9 billion may sound like an astronomical sum, but in the context of LAUSD’s aging infrastructure and modern educational needs, it’s just scratching the surface. Still, voters may have questions to consider. Is the timing right? Are the taxpayers overburdened? What differences will the measure make for students? How could this impact other school districts across the country in the long-run?

Ultimately, it’s up to the voters of Los Angeles to decide whether this is a justified investment for their communities.