Moreno Valley USD Seeking $240M In Bonds With Measure X

This November, voters in the Moreno Valley Unified School District will be asked whether or not to approve Measure X, a $240 million bond package that will be used to modernize school sites and upgrade not only the technology used throughout the district but also the tech infrastructure.

“We’re starting to become a little outdated with some of our school sites being 60-plus, and a majority being 30-plus years at this point,” Jacob Romero, director of Facilities Planning and Development, said. “Our boom was in the 80s, so those schools we are able to hopefully receive those matching state grants.”

Romero said that once a school facility reaches a certain age, the district becomes eligible for matching state funds to help cover the cost of modernizing the building and bringing it up to date for students whether those updates are to the structure itself, technology or safety.

“And that’s essentially the number one priority, creating those modern schools, safe schools,” he said.

Prior to heading out for bond, the district conducted polling with voters and found that there was overwhelming community support for the effort.

“I think it was close to 75% support from the community,” Romero said. “We tested it with pros and with cons, and even with cons, we were well into the 60s.”

Voters previously approved Measure M in 2014, which provided the district with $398 million to repair existing facilities throughout the district as well as construct new facilities.

“We still have funds from that, but they’re already earmarked for projects that are currently ongoing,” Alex Sponheim, interim director of communications and community engagement, said. “But all of those funds have been accounted for, and we wanted to continue that, which is why we’re doing Measure X.”

When it comes to property taxes, the district is asking voters to approve a levy of up to $40 for every $100,000 in assessed value for all residential, commercial and industrial properties. However, Romero said taxpayers would not see an increase in the tax rate.

“[This bond] would just extend essentially the exact same tax rate that voters approved in 2004,” he said, noting that payments for that bond are set to finish next year. “So on their tax bill, it just would not fall off, and we would extend that rate until [Measure X] would be paid off over the next 30 years or so.”

Both Romero and Sponheim said now is the right time for this bond because of the needs in the district, but also because of the potential to maximize funds using matching state funds and the ability to do this without actually increasing the tax rate.

“This is what’s best for our students,” Sponheim said. “By providing campuses that are safe, that are welcoming and that are modern, they can focus on the educational portion while they’re there.”