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The Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District authorized a telephone survey to test the support of district voters for a possible $45 million general obligation bond on the June 8 ballot. The calls also asked the priority voters would assign to various projects if the additional funds became available. Passing a new bond would not have a major impact on Santa Clara County taxpayers, assured district Superintendent Barry Groves. The effect of the additional debt would extend the term five years but hold the annual cost constant.
p>“Taxpayers would see no difference in what they already pay for taxes,” Groves said. The language of the measure would request the extension of the 1995 bond payment term without changing its rate, according to Grove. The 1995 bond, which totaled $58.5 million, funded major construction on both the Los Altos and Mountain View high school campuses, including new classrooms, library facilities and theaters. Groves said the new bond is necessary because demographic projections indicate the district could enroll an additional 900 students over the next 10 years. That represents a 25 percent increase, split approximately evenly between the two high schools. Projects that could be supported with the increased funding include additional classrooms, solar panels, more windows in current classrooms, cogeneration units and upgrades to the heating and air-conditioning systems. As a byproduct of updating facilities, the district estimates a savings of approximately $4,000 to $5,000 each year in energy costs due to increased efficiency and sustainability. Trustees are scheduled to review survey results at the Monday board meeting and itemize the projects to list on the ballot measure. The board must decide by March 8 whether to place the bond on the June ballot. It requires a 55 percent vote for passage. “This is a very good time to go for a bond, because construction costs are very low and interest rates are historically low,” Groves said. “Borrowing money could save the district and taxpayers more money over time.” If the trustees vote to place a bond on the June ballot, a separate citizens committee would run the campaign for passage. Contact Traci Newell at
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