Natomas School Bond Measure Passes

Mayor Pro Tem Angelique Ashby thanks Measure J supporters Tuesday night in Natomas. / Photo: Marc Laver

BY BRANDY TUZON BOYD
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

Updated Nov. 4, 2014 at 11:55 p.m.

A $129 million facilities school bond measure passed handily tonight in Natomas, according to unofficial results posted by Sacramento County Elections.

Measure J had 4,346 votes – more than 70 percent – in favor of passing the new school bond just before midnight Tuesday.

To pass, votes needed to exceed the 55 percent threshold.

Updated Nov. 4, 2014 at 11 p.m.

There is little doubt a $129 million facilities school bond measure has passed tonight in Natomas.

Measure J had 3,080 votes – more than 68 percent – in favor of passing the new school bond. Votes must exceed the 55 percent threshold to pass.

Updated Nov. 4, 2014 at 8:30 p.m.

A $129 million facilities school bond measure appears to be winning in Natomas based on early election returns Tuesday night.

Measure J had 1,951 votes – nearly 70 percent – in favor with 28 precincts out of 50 precincts reporting. Votes for the bond must exceed the 55 percent threshold for it to pass.

The campaign in favor of the new property tax was lead by Mayor Pro Tem Angelique Ashby, who represents the northern part of the Natomas Unified School District, and was funded in large part by developers, architects and labor unions which contributed nearly $70,000, according to campaign contribution reporting documents on file with Sacramento County Elections.

If passed, Measure J will be added to Natomas property tax bills next year. The cost to Natomas tax payers will be about $59 a year per $100,000 their property’s value for up to 30 years.

It will be the fourth school bond tax added to annual property assessments for Natomas.

Currently, the owner of a home valued at $334,770 within Natomas Unified’s boundaries pays about $540 toward bonds previously passed by voters. Passage of Measure J will result in possibly an additional $177 per year, or $717 in all.

Natomas Unified already had bonds from Measure D in 1992, Measure M in 2002 and Measure D in 2006. The last year of taxes associated with the 1992 Measure D bonds is fiscal year 2025-26, the last year of taxes associated with the 2002 Measure M bonds is 2027-28 and the last year of taxes associated with the current 2006 Measure D bonds is fiscal year 2031-32.

School district officials said the new school bond is needed to help pay for a multimillion dollar facilities master plan which includes building new schools, upgrades and repairs to existing campuses and more. The district said the money is needed for when a defacto building moratorium is lifted and home construction resumes in the region.

A two-week, online field poll leading up to Election Day showed 59 percent favored passing Measure J while 19 percent opposed a new tax. Nearly 22 percent said they were undecided on Measure J.

Natomas Unified school board members Sue Heredia, Teri Burns, Scott Dosick and Lisa Kaplan join Mayor Pro Tem Angelique Ashby to watch Measure J returns Tuesday night. / Photo: Marc Laver.