Measure QS: Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District facilities bond

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is asking voters to approve a property tax increase to fund $495 million in renovation and repair projects in Santa Monica Schools.

At least 55% of voters need to approve Measure QS for it to pass.

The measure is one of two on the November ballot that affects SMMUSD; we'll get to that lower down.

Official title on the ballot: Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Measure QS

You are being asked: Can Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District borrow $495 million to fund repairs, renovations and construction in Santa Monica schools?

A "yes" vote means: The district can borrow $495 million to construct new buildings, repair and renovate existing public schools in Santa Monica.

A "no" vote means: The district cannot borrow $495 million to construct new buildings, repair and renovate existing public schools in Santa Monica.

Understanding Measure QS — and a ballot error

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District serves about 8,700 students across 18 schools.

The district is separated into two "School Facilities Improvement Districts" — one for Santa Monica, the other for Malibu. Measure QS is a school bond specific to Santa Monica. Malibu residents will vote on the bond known as Measure MM . Some voters in an unincorporated area near Topanga will also vote on Measure MM.

Los Angeles County mistakenly included both school funding measures on all ballots in the district when in reality only Malibu voters can determine the outcome of Measure MM and Santa Monica residents can only vote on Measure QS.

“Although we cannot modify the voting materials at this stage, we will ensure that only votes cast by eligible voters within the defined [School Facilities Improvement District] boundaries are reported and certified," said Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan in a statement . "The election results will not include votes from outside these specific areas."

In the case of Measure QS, the school district wants money to repair and replace leaky school roofs, outdated wiring, and plumbing; remove hazardous materials; and upgrade classrooms, labs, and instructional technology, among other things.

How it would work

If at least 55% of voters approve Measure QS, SMMUSD can issue up to $495 million in bonds to finance specific school facilities projects.

A bond is basically a loan that a school district takes out, and which property owners in that school district pay back through property taxes.

The district estimates the bond would cost property-owners that live within the school district's boundaries an average of $30 per $100,000 of assessed value. There’s also a possibility that SMMUSD could get additional state funding if Prop. 2 , the statewide school facilities bond, passes.

Districts cannot spend bond money on employee salaries and are required to commission independent audits of bond spending.

What people who support it might say

In California, there’s no dedicated stream of funding to support the upkeep of the 10,000 public K-12 schools attended by 5.9 million students. The majority of the money schools receive from the state every year supports students, staff salaries and other day-to-day expenses.

School districts rely on voters to approve statewide and local bonds to pay for repairs, renovations, and new construction. This year, Malibu voters will decide whether to support one of each: the district’s Measure Measure MM and the statewide Proposition 2. (We’ve got a voter guide for that one too .)

"Santa Monica schools have served the community well for decades, but many are now nearly 70 years old and need urgent repairs," district spokesperson Gail Pinsker told LAist. "These improvements will better prepare students for college and in-demand careers, ensuring safe and effective learning environments."

Research links higher student achievement to better quality schools — it’s easier to learn in clean, climate-controlled, well-lit classrooms.

Throughout California, 38% of K-12 students go to schools that do not meet the minimum standard to be considered clean, safe, and functional.

What people who oppose it might say

Critics of bonds often say the cost to property owners is too high and question why school districts with declining enrollment need money for construction when they’re serving fewer students.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is a frequent opponent of state and local school bonds. The nonprofit is dedicated to upholding Prop. 13, the 1978 constitutional amendment that limited changes to California property taxes.

“We think bond financing has its place, but it should be judicious because it raises property taxes at the local level,” said Susan Shelley, HJTA’s vice president of communications. “It increases the debt burden on future budgets because bond payments have to be made ahead of current needs in the budget.”

The Association has not taken a position on specific local bonds other than LAUSD’s $9 billion Measure US (no) and on Prop. 2 (also no).

Shelley said voters weighing school bonds should carefully consider how the school spent previous bond funding and the plans for future projects.

“You should have confidence that the priorities are right,” Shelley said. “And if they're not, say no and make [the district] come back to you with a better plan.”

How long would construction take?

While districts identify projects that could benefit from improvements, that list is not a guarantee of which projects will be funded.

Bond-funded spending is reviewed by a Bond Oversight Committee. And there are often years of community meetings, design, and permitting between the passage of a bond and the start of construction, though minor renovation projects could be completed sooner.

Santa Monica voters last approved a bond in 2018, the $485 million Measure SMS. Construction based on that bond is still underway, but funded projects include Santa Monica High School's gym and the Exploration Building , a career tech academy that will include biotech and engineering programs, video production labs, a 3D art studio, a photography lab and other art classrooms.

Who is in charge of all this money?

State law lays out several accountability measures for local school district bonds including:

• Independent, annual performance audits of bond-funded projects and spending
• The creation of an independent bond oversight committee that includes:
  
  • At least seven members
  • Representatives of the business community, taxpayers, and parents. School district employees, vendors, contractors, and consultants cannot be appointed.

Check out SMMUSD's bond oversight committee website to see upcoming agendas, summaries of past meetings, audits, and other information about how the district has spent bond funding.

Potential financial impact

A bond is basically a loan. The bond authorized by Measure QS would be paid back — with interest — through local property taxes.

Further reading

• What is a bond? Why am I always being asked to vote for one?
• Read Measure QS.
• Read Measure MM.