Palm Springs Unified School District seeks voter approval for $465 million school bond
Voters living within the boundaries of Palm Springs Unified School District will decide in the Nov. 5 election whether or not to approve $465 million in bonds to repair and modernize the district's school facilities.
PSUSD has explored the issue since earlier this year, and unanimously decided Tuesday night to push the issue to the community. The measure will require approval of at least 55% of local voters who cast a ballot.
School bonds essentially act like loans and allow districts to pay for facility-focused capital improvement projects, such as repairing school buildings, improving school safety and infrastructure, as well as modernizing technologies. Local property owners are typically on the hook for repaying that debt through an increase to their tax bill.
In this instance, however, taxes would not increase. Like Desert Sands Unified School District — which recently passed a $675 million bond measure in the March presidential primary election — PSUSD's proposed bond measure is asking voters to consider extending the duration of the current tax rate, a combination of its previous bond authorizations.
Coachella Valley Unified School District's board of education opted against moving forward with discussions in January for a potential bond measure to modernize Coachella Valley High School, a century-old institution, after holding three public community meetings in late 2023.
If the bond is approved by voters, the measure would levy a tax of an average estimate of $39.58 per $100,000 of assessed property valuations through 2049.
PSUSD hopes to expand its science, technology, engineering, art and math labs, improve its vocational/career technical education classrooms, replace air conditioning and security systems, among other repairs and upgrades across the five trustee areas, said Jeff Simmons, assistant superintendent of business services.
"Our No. 1 priority always for schools is the health and safety renovations and improvements to buildings to keep those safe and to stay within building code," said Julie Arthur, executive director of facilities planning and development. "And, of course, in the desert, air conditioning is huge. We can't have class or school if we don't have air conditioning in our classrooms, so constantly changing those out and updating those is absolutely necessary."
Measure I, a $216.46 million debt re-authorization bond initially approved in 2008, gained approval from 75.47% of voters in 2016. The second and final series of the $98.5 million were issued earlier this year, which will be used to modernize Della S. Lindley Elementary School, Sunny Sands Elementary School, Landau Elementary School, Cathedral City High School, James Workman Middle School and other smaller projects.
A consultant with Dale Scott & Company estimated that the potential bond measure could be issued into three series: $110 million as soon as 2025, $130 million in 2028 and $225 million in 2031.
PSUSD has determined that if the November bond measure is approved by voters, funds may be used to continue work at Cathedral City High School. The next major project would focus on Bubbling Wells Elementary School. In addition to the major modernization projects, improving student safety through fire alarms, fire suppression systems, access systems and surveillance have also been deemed essential.
"Times have changed so much in how our schools (think about) security," Arthur said.
Previous reporting by Kristen Hwang was used in this report.
Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs Unified wants to borrow $465 million for school repairs
