BY MIKE SIMFENDERFER
58th Assembly District Candidate
We are generally governed best when governed locally.
The ABCUSD’s Measure BB reflected a lengthy period of input by so many who live and work in the district. The 1997 bond measure experience provided a road map of what not to do. The defeat of the 2014 bond measure provided this same guidance. Incompetent leaders never learn. Competent leaders learn then adapt, improvise and overcome. This school district and the city leadership from Cerritos, Artesia and Lakewood defines competence and commitment. There are disagreements. There are personality clashes. That is normal. When we look at the big picture we should be grateful for what we have.
The measure indicated the cost is approximately $50 per $100,000 assessed with the average assessment of about $300,000 or $150 a year. Here is how fortunate a home owner is in Cerritos, Artesia, and Lakewood.
Cerritos is located in tax rate area 2011; Lakewood in tax rate area 1996; and Artesia in tax rate area 1972; all have a property tax base of only 1.08%. Meanwhile, a home in Montebello, which is in tax rate area 6330, has a property tax base of 1.39%
A $300,000 assessment with a 1.08% property tax base is $3,240 a year while in Montebello it is $4,170 a year due to its property tax base of 1.39%.
Bottom line, the average home owner in the ABCUSD pays $930 a year less when compared to the same in Montebello. This is proof our leaders in Cerritos, Artesia and Lakewood did a good job the past several years.
They have earned the right to ask the voters to pass Measure BB.
The Great Recession postponed numerous repairs and upgrades needed. We are playing catch up and this has occurred/is occurring at many school districts. Starving our schools financially is not responsible and would ultimately have a negative influence upon home prices over time. People purchase homes in the ABC Unified School District because the schools are great. Measure BB will help ensure the greatness continues and exceptionalism is the future.
If we don’t support our schools now, when will we? We can “Monday morning quarterback” any measure to death repeatedly. Construction costs only increase. Deterioration continues.
We should remember the measure asks for “up to” $258 million. If we can find alternate funding for some projects, we reduce the amount needed from the bonds. Approximately 10% of the funds go for strengthening our schools for safety. The district will not use capital appreciation bonds. Lastly, the district will follow the Orange County Tax Association guidelines.
Our leaders did their jobs over the years. They controlled costs as reflected by the property tax base throughout the district. Let’s do our job and invest now in the future of our kids by supporting Measure BB.
ABCUSD MEASURE BB: IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
Timing for the school mello roos bond is at least appropriate year. Too many taxes for voting on. Public is burned out. Past couple of Elections, too many new county taxes Etc, in this November’s election there are too many taxes again. Worse than international food smorgasbord.
ABC residents could be much more on board with a bond, if we had the existing old two bonds paid for, and if this wasn’t staged almost directly behind the AAA Bond. Need fully amortized bond, so we are 100% educated.
We really have to to take a serious look and evaluate not just our schools, but our housing element. Our housing element is extremely fragile in Cerritos, plus the other cities in the district, we don’t have that many families left anymore, families are boycotting this area, this area is not growing compared to other neighborhoods because it’s very expensive, and the housing sales prices doesn’t reflect the quality of the homes. Cerritos has grown in to a giant HOA, chasing away families, plus restrictive parking and RV ordinances. Alternative marriages, abortions, birth control, will furthermore, shrink size of families, plus backyard guest homes, will bring in more residents with no children.
Also, we have to look at our statewide Medical insurance, it doesn’t make sense to have a family, if non insurable/ or Affordable, plus I think we are at the end of STEM education, and robotic automation is going to be our next new war, which will replace STEM education. Schools are pushing PHD’s, but our economy is not strong enough, country full of PhD employment in manufacturing.
USA entered into post era after World War II, when we converted to more automation, now we’re heading in tomorrow robotics.
ABCUSD has diversity, but we don’t have equal diversity, and that has to be fulfilled first, before we start addressing our educational system, we have too many internal economic and social issues inside the district, and we need to seriously analyze that first.
Proposed school campus renovations, does not meet our present housing stock. Our ABC campuses need more janitorial and less remodeling, but some campuses just new reorganization of the interior layouts.
New governor will last poss.8 yrs, so time may change schools budgets drastically. New governor may encourage Heartland of America to locate in to Socal, which we presently do not have.
Trustees/ councilpersons are going to be washed away, replaced with out of the district CEO/CFO, as cities are not producing talented said elected. ABCUSD Housing element is not in par for CFO/CEO to live within the borders of district.
https://www.loscerritosnews.net/2018/10/14/abcusd-measure-bb-if-not-now-when/
I don’t what was is talking about. This is a no brainer. The ABC school district needs a major upgrade, period. If you care for your kids and think that education is important. Then you are going to vote Yes!!! I have no kids and I’m voting yes.