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Vote NO on Measure Z

6 hours ago
2 min read

If you pay property taxes or pay rent in the El Capitan, Merced, or Golden Valley High School Districts, this tax affects you!


Attn: School Facility Improvement District (SFID) 3 [El Capitan/Merced/Golden Valley HS] area residents


Vote NO on Measure Z


Here’s why:


=> This $129M bond is one of (3) different MUHSD New bonds on the November ballot totaling $221.9M


=> The (3) New bonds are projected to cost $739M to repay (principal + interest)


=> MUHSD still owes $283M in Old bond debt (principal + interest)


=> New bond debt ($739M) + Old bond debt ($283M) = $1.02 BILLION to be repaid by property owners


=> Increased costs to property owners is passed to renters


=> School bonds are drafted by the School Board and District Superintendent; but voters approve the new tax


=> In the Full Text (pg A-3) of this measure, it states, by passing this New bond, voters are authorizing MUHSD to ask the State to waive the normal legal cap on how much school-bond debt it can have. More bond debt = more property taxes


=> The ballot Question does not state the maximum rate of interest as required by Education Code § 15122


=> The Full Text does not include a list of the specific school facilities projects required by California Constitution Article XIII A, § 1(b)(3)(B) and Education Code §§ 15264 et seq



Specific to the SFID 3 [El Capitan/Merced/Golden Valley HS] (which is just 1 of 3 bonds totaling $221.9M as summarized above):


=> The Measure Z bond is for $129M in New bond debt (which is part of the total $221.9M being requested by MUHSD)


=> The Measure Z bond could cost $429.7M to repay (principle + interest) based on historical CIB/CAB ratio


=> Measure Z would stack a New SFID 3 tax on top of the Old tax, listed as “MERCED UHSD BONDS (1)’ on your tax bill


=> SFID 3 high schools serve 5,758 students (2025-2026 enrollment); 13-yr avg is 5,390; however,


=> ECHS classroom capacity is 2,200 students; MHS classroom capacity is 2,750 students; GVHS capacity is 2,590 students (combined they are filled at 76% capacity based on 27 students per classroom)


Let’s put the brakes on borrowing.



- - - - - - -


=> All Current MUHSD Bonds (thru 2025 and still open)


=> 2008 Measure M Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, Nov 2021 Report


=> Merced Union High School District 2025 Audit (see pgs 44-45) for bond debt:


=> Combined El Capitan/Merced/Golden Valley: Classroom Capacity as reported


• El Capitan design: Merced Sun-Star, April 6, 2012 https://www.mercedsunstar.com/latest-news/article3266240.html





=> Measure Z Question


=> Measure Z Full Text


=> Measure Z Tax Rate Statement


=> Measure Z Impartial Analysis


=> Measure Z Argument in Favor


=> Merced County Property Tax Rates; look for ‘MERCED UHSD BONDS (1)’ as it appears on the property tax bill:


=> Combined attendance for El Capitan/Merced/Golden Valley HS: PublicSchoolReview.com (2008–2023),

NCES CCD (2024-25) www.PublicSchoolReview.com

California Dept. of Education (2025-26) https://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/

 
 
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