Consultants: Voters Would Support a School Bond

A $65 million bond measure supporting Newark Unified School District has potential for approval by Newark voters if it is placed on the November ballot, according to findings from a consultant firm.

Analysis of TBWB Strategies and Godbe Research’s recommendations and the assessment of needed facilities improvements, headed by of DLM Architects and Kitchell Construction, were presented at a special school board meeting Tuesday night.

If placed on the ballot, the bond would be targeted to upgrade school facilities to improve safety standards and access for students with disabilities. All of Newark schools were built before 1970.

TBWB and Godbe’s recommendation comes after an eight-month study that includes analysis of the feasibility of a bond versus a parcel tax, outreach to school site representatives and telephone surveys.

The most recent polling of registered voters, which was conducted in mid-July, found that 61 percent of voters indicated support for a bond measure, with a 5.5 percent margin of error.

The poll had a sample size of 300 voters and assumptions are based on the estimate that approximately 6,785 registered voters will take part in the November elections. Newark currently has 18,705 registered voters, according to TBWB Strategies.

A bond requires a 55 percent vote for approval while a parcel tax requires a two-thirds vote.

The $65 million figure is based upon a tax rate of $39 per $100,000 assessed value, with the assumption that Newark will experience a 4.5 percent assessed value growth in years to come, according to KNN Public Finance.

An assessed value is the dollar value of a property for tax assessment purposes, not necessarily its current market value.

Newark has seen drops in assessed value by 3.8 percent and 3.1 percent in the past two years, but Janice Peters of KNN Public Finance noted in the past decade, Newark averaged an annual growth in assessed values of 4.26 percent.

Studies by KNN also are based on assumptions that 1,200 homes will be built off Stevenson Boulevard as part of the Area 3 & 4 Development project. The Dumbarton-Transit Oriented Development project, which has yet to be approved, was not included in KNN’s calculations.

Charles Heath, a partner with TBWB Solutions, said it is important for the bond’s advocates to stress the positives of passing a bond, which includes the fact that the monies would be controlled locally.

"The tax dollars stay in their community," Heath said.

Board President Charlie Mensinger said residents have asked why the district would go forward with a bond during tough economic times and asked for the consultants’ opinions. Heath said he is still confident the bond would pass.

Mensinger added that while the bond aims to improve facilities for safety, improvements would also strengthen energy efficiency, which could essentially lower the cost of operations.

"It’s a win-win situation," Mensinger said. “This could offset costs to allow us to use our revenues a little bit better."

Superintendent Dave Marken said the bond could help the district maintain a good educational environment.

"Good schools make a good community," Marken said. "We need them to be good structurally and instructionally."

No action was taken regarding the proposal for a bond at Tuesday’s meeting. The Board of Education has another special board meeting on Aug. 9.

The deadline to place a bond measure on the November ballot is Aug. 12.

 For more information, click here to visit the district website.

Here is a breakdown of when Newark’s schools were built: 

School Site

Year of Construction

Bunker Elementary School

1966

Graham Elementary School

1960

Kennedy Elementary School

1963

Lincoln Elementary School

1964

Milani Elementary School

1961

Musick Elementary School

1955

Schilling Elementary School

1959

Snow Elementary School

1960

Newark Junior High School

1961

Newark Memorial High School

1969