By Lydia Browne
The upcoming March 5, 2024 ballot contains a measure that could affect the future of the Benicia Unified School District. Measure C—a $122.5 million general obligation bond program—is meant to repair and renovate District schools.
A general obligation, or G.O., bond funds the renovation and construction of school facilities, and is typically repaid over a period of 30 years. This money is collected through property taxes.
Throughout the month of February, a series of fireside chats were held in Vallejo to discuss Solano County ballot measures and candidates.
On February 10, in a chat led by Voters Voice of Solano County representative Tara Beasley-Stransberry, Superintendent Dr. Damon Wright discussed the necessity of the passage of Measure C. “It is important when students arrive at school, that they feel comfortable at school, that they arrive at a school they are proud of, [and] that it has some curb appeal,” he said. “[Students ought to feel that] this is my school. This is an institution of learning and I feel like I’m going to go in there and learn.”
Wright also commented that improvements in schools would have a community-wide impact. “When you see a community that is flourishing, you look at the schools and they are flourishing as well.”
This is not the first time that such a measure has been supported in Benicia. As Wright said, “Over the years our community has been outstanding in supporting Benicia schools. We’ve had facility bonds in the past. We had one in ‘91, we passed another one in ‘97, and the most recent one in 2014.” The opportunity for Measure C stems from one of these past bonds. “The one from 1997 is set to expire in 2026, so we have a unique opportunity with Measure C to extend that bond at a lower tax rate and to actually save out taxpayers more than $40 than what they’re currently paying.”
According to Wright, based on the results of the bond passed in 2014, the benefits of Measure C are projected to last for about 15 to 20 years. The funds will be distributed based on a Facilities Master Plan which has been prepared by the District with input from Benicia teachers, staff, parents, leaders in the community, and an architect. The plan addresses specific projects, such as repairing and replacing leaky roofs, expanding and renovating career technical classrooms and labs, replacing outdated heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, renovating and constructing science and technology labs, and improving student access to computers and technology.
Wright specifically referenced technical education as an area of importance when it comes to the changes that Measure C may bring. “. . .Our career technical education program is just bursting at the seams,” he said. “There is a lot of interest there. We have seven programs and we have an interest in expanding that down to the elementary and the middle schools and having the ability to provide the facilities at these levels would really make an impact on students.”
Measure C would have an impact on the District’s goals for improvement. “We have 4 areas that we are definitely highlighting: Social Emotional Wellness, Equity and Inclusion, Mathematics or STEAM, and also Literacy,” Wright explained. “The passage of Measure C would help us make sure that our facilities are able to touch upon those areas.”
“As I think about education 20 years in the past to where it is today, it has evolved significantly, and it’s going to continue to do so,” Wright reflected. “Right now, with Measure C, we have the opportunity to make ourselves flexible and nimble for the future and to do it at a lower tax rate.”
However, not everyone is completely in agreement with the idea of Measure C. “Of course we face some opposition, and we have to clarify some misunderstandings,” Wright mentioned. “The first that usually comes up is the tax rate. ‘How are you able to receive $122 million and we, as residents, are going to have a lower tax rate? How does that work?’ It works because we’ve had bonds in the past and we’ve been fiscally responsible, we’ve built up a reserve and we have a high credit rating.” As a result, the interest rate on the bonds will be lower. He also pointed out that this measure is unrelated to Measures A and B: two tax measures aimed at combating the financial struggles of Benicia that are also on the March 5 ballot. “[We also often have to] clarify that the city and the school district are two different entities. We work well together, we have a great partnership together, but Measure A and B are separate from Measure C.”
Wright claimed during the discussion that Measure C “is a great opportunity to invest in the schools, the community, and the children.”
If passed, this measure will have a huge impact on changes within the Benicia Unified School District.
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