by Garth Meyer
Redondo Beach voters would support a $389 million school bond, according to a Dec. 12 report to the Redondo Unified school board by bond consultant John Isom, of Isom Advisors.
“Statistically, we have a green light to proceed,” he said.
Residents were surveyed about the facilities bond, to renovate and modernize buildings and classrooms across the district. It would tax homeowners at a rate of up to $60 per $100,000 of assessed property value.
Bond passage requires 55% of the vote. The Isom survey found 54.5 % of voters would favor the hypothetical bond on “gut reaction.” The number rose to 58.8% in a second part of the survey, which gave respondents more information.
The school board and district administration have been weighing whether to send a new bond to voters. The last time was in 2012.
Projected numbers differed depending on whether the bond runs in March during a Redondo Beach city election, or in November during the the county, state and national election, not to mention the presidential election.
Voter support was 56% in a March election, and 64% for November.
Approximately 400 residents were surveyed in September, representing Redondo’s 47,000 registered voters. The margin of error, Isom said, is +/-4.88 %.
He noted that 79% of respondents believe local voters need to do more to protect the quality of education facilities in their public schools.
Local bond money could be added to matching money from the state.
The Redondo Unified school board needs to decide by Aug. 8 if it will put a bond on next November’s ballot. If not, it’s on to 2026. The deadline for March 2024 has already passed.
Isom advised that RBUSD may want to adjust its total, with “tax sensitivity” in mind. The district may decide to run a bond asking for well under the $389 million surveyed, at a lower collection rate.
Redondo Unified passed facilities bonds in 2000, 2008 and 2012. The latter totaled $63 million at a tax rate of $24 per $100,000 in assessed property value.
Isom Advisors is based in Tustin, and has been RBUSD’s financial advisor for more than a decade.
The survey also found more than 80% of respondents rate education in the Redondo district as “good” or “excellent.” More than 80% rated facilities as “good” or “excellent.” Finally, eight of 10 respondents said the state is not doing enough to support local school districts. ER
