Commentary and Opinion by Samuel Strait – October 17, 2024

I just now received my 2024 ballot for November 5th, where the deepest dive into the remotest corners of my wallet are ongoing for the loose change I may have hidden away from the grasping hands of State and local taxing authorities.  It appears almost normal to see ballot measures on each and every ballot claiming the government needs more of our money or catastrophe will ensue.  Funny thing about all the pleas that profess utter disaster when too often money has been given to various agencies at previous times for the same sort of problems and nothing seems to get fixed.

At the local level our illustrious school district, which is currently vying Imperial County for the worst performance by a school district in the entire State, wishes the local population would cough up $59 million in a general obligation bond to accomplish precisely the same things that a previous general obligation bond of $25 million was to do when passed in 2008.  How surprising!  Seems the school district is claiming the same laundry list of projects this time around that were going to be resolved with that 2008 Bond Measure.

Trust me when I say that when the school district says $59 million, what they should actually be saying is that by the time the Bond is paid off it will total over $100 million.  They, the experts in high finance, never seem to mention that with the accrued interest over the thirty year life of the bond, the total will likely come close to double the amount.  Nor does the school district even pretend to be honest about who will be paying for this Bond…. Everybody!  If you think because you are not a property owner it will not affect you.  Think again!  Landlords will be increasing your rent, residential and businesses, to cover their costs.  Count on it!

The question really becomes, is it imperative for the Del Norte Unified School District to behave in such a reckless, dishonest, and deceitful fashion to raid local pocketbooks for this veritable repeat laundry list of projects?  When the district had their July 2024 meeting, of the eleven school sites, nearly all were in “fair” or “good”  condition.  What that meant in light of wanting $59 million was not explained.  How can the school sites be in fair to good condition if they need $180 million dollars worth of attention?  Bet you didn’t see that one coming!

Most “projects” on the district’s lists would in normal circumstances be considered “routine maintenance”.  Anything beyond such “projects” should be considered in light of the district’s declining enrollment.  At the same meeting in July the district fessed up to the fact that the 2025-2026 school district would decline to near 3,000 pupils.  No mention of perhaps closing schools to save money or shifting students to allow for that possibility.  The talk was only about more, more, more.  I guess the $80 million budget wasn’t enough this past year.

While just as the school district’s overall performance towards educating local children is significantly lacking, it should be no surprise that funding for maintenance of the district’s school sites could have a larger focus.  Rest assured the situation is no where near as dire as the school district makes it out to be.  For the past several years the district has had millions of dollars from the State and Federal governments for Covid related expenses, plus ADA money from the State in excess of actual enrollment, and empty classrooms during the Covid years would have provided more savings.

So what did the district do with the extra millions?  Well, according to the geniuses in charge, “adventures in social services” was the answer, duplicating those services already offered by the County’s Department of Health and Human Services.  Those dastardly parents of school aged children, after all, were not feeding then, housing them, providing for proper mental health, and a host of other omissions.  This forced the school district to step up.  Can’t after all, be letting the County do their job.  Educating kids, routine maintenance, or maybe some modernization, not a chance.  For the district to receive a dime more of taxpayer money, perhaps it is time to demand better results in the classroom and more attention given to living within the district’s means. Did I mention, the district is forced to live within the budget constraints most would find in that of a small city.

Tire of being deceived by the 1% elites in the County when facing horrific double digit inflation.  Soaring taxes, rent, and the cost of gasoline and groceries ruining your life?  Sales tax, income tax and now the local school district wants more?  Time to tell the tone deaf officials at the school district no more until the school district gets its house in order.  Education has to be the primary focus no matter what the state of the school district’s fantasy might demand.  Vote NO! on Measure H…..