Vote NO on Measure X
If you pay property taxes or pay rent in Atwater, this tax affects you!
Attn: School Facility Improvement District (SFID) 2 [Atwater and Buhach HS] area residents
Vote NO on Measure X
Here’s why:
=> This $59.1M 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 2 [Atwater HS and Buhach HS]:
=> The Measure X bond could cost $196.8M to repay (principle + interest)
=> Measure X would stack a New SFID 2 tax on top of the Old tax, listed as “MERCED UHSD BONDS (1)’ on your tax bill
=> SFID 2 high schools serve 3,728 students (2025-2026 enrollment); the 18-year avg is 3,710 students
=> AHS classroom capacity is 2,110 students; BCHS classroom capacity is 2,190 students (combined they are filled at 87% capacity based on 27 students per classroom)
Let’s put the brakes on borrowing.
- - - - - - -
=> All Current MUHSD Bonds (sold 2009 – 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 attendance for Atwater HS & Buhach HS: PublicSchoolReview.com (2008–2023), NCES CCD (2024-25), California Dept. of Education (2025-26)
=> Combined Atwater HS & Buhach HS: Classroom Capacity as reported
Atwater 2025 SARC — 78 classrooms; Buhach 2025 SARC — 81 classrooms
=> Measure X Question
=> Measure X Full Text
=> Measure X Tax Rate Statement
