West Contra Costa Unified School District

The West Contra Costa Unified School District has a $360 million bond measure on the November ballot, Measure E.  CoCoTAX opposes this measure, which requires 55%+ voter approval. 

CoCoTAX signed the ballot argument due to this district's history of massive spending.  The District has continuously asked the state to permit it to exceed the normal level of bond indebtedness (see Waiver2009-a.pdf; Waiver2011.pdf; and Waiver2011-a.pdf).  The District already has $1.27 billion in bonds authorized and a downward trend in total enrollment.  Repaying these bonds and interest will burden the children of today's students with staggering debt for years to come.

A Bond Oversight Committee is required in order to have a 55% voter threshold for passage, rather than a 2/3rd vote.  However this District has far more than the specified 7 committee members.  For example, each of the school board members appoints a committee member; the Board of Supervisors has an appointee, as do the local cities; and even the unions have a representative.   

CoCoTAX Executive Director Kris Hunt serves as taxpayer representative on the District Bond Oversight Committee and has one vote in a group that numbers around 20 members. This is hardly the independent oversight committee voters envisioned. 

This is why we urge a NO vote on Measure E.