Yes on P | Woodland

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FAQ2

Frequently Asked Questions

"What is Measure P?"

Measure P is a local school bond measure to improve Woodland's public school facilities. YES on P will remodel and create classrooms for science, technology, arts and mathematics; upgrade failing heating, ventilation and AC systems; replace aging electrical wiring, deteriorating roofs and leaking outdated plumbing; and ensure our schools are accessible for children with disabilities. If adopted by voters, Measure P would authorize $160 million in new bond funding, requiring strict accountability, an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, and annual audits. Funds cannot be spent on salaries for employees and must go only towards construction and renovation projects.

“Why do we need to pass a school bond?”

Woodland schools are our community’s most important asset and should be our top priority. Yet, most of our schools were built nearly 70 years ago. In 2022, the school district completed a comprehensive assessment of our facilities and found that Woodland's schools have over $600 million dollars worth of facilities improvement needs.

Our classrooms require urgent renovations and repairs to keep kids healthy, safe, and focused on learning. Yes on P ensures Woodland kids get the same educational opportunities as kids in surrounding communities by upgrading our classroom technology infrastructure, securing our campuses, and renovating aging facilities.

"Didn't we just pass a school bond recently? Why do we need another one?"

In 2020, WJUSD voters overwhelmingly authorized a $44 million school bond. This bond was an extension of property tax rates that were already being paid by residents, not a new tax. Prior to that measure’s passage, WJUSD had gone 20 years without approving a school facilities bond. While this first bond is a great starting point, the amount of funding authorized by the previous measure pales in comparison to the full scope of the need with a full price tag of over $600 million dollars. Measure P will authorize an additional $160 million in bond issuance, and combined the two measures will cover approximately 1/3rd of the total cost of facilities improvement needs for WJUSD.

"How is the funding generated to pay for these improvements? Will it impact my taxes?"

Measure P would authorize a property tax increment at the rate of $58 per every $100,000 of assessed value for the property. When a district issues bonds, they are borrowing money to fund capital improvement projects with the backing of future tax revenues. The repayment period for Measure P is stretched out over a span of 25 years to minimize the annual impact to taxpayers.

"Someone told me that this bond will increase my taxes by $15,000! Is that true?"

No, that claim is blatantly false. The average assessed value for a single family home in the Woodland Joint Unified School District is $335,976. For the average single family homeowner, Measure P would mean an additional $195 in property taxes annually – less than $20 per month. Over a period of 25 years, the average single family homeowner in Woodland would pay $6,246 in additional taxes – less than half of what the opponents of Measure P claim.

“What about the mello-roos taxes that Spring Lake residents are already paying?”

The mello-roos is a tax that goes directly to the City of Woodland. The school district does not receive funding from the mello-roos and does not have any control over how the money is spent. In 2004, the Community Facilities District for the Spring Lake Specific Plan area was formed to help finance the cost of certain backbone infrastructure costs such as roads, water, sewer, and storm drain facilities. These fees were never intended to fund the cost of school construction.

"What about the money that schools receive from the lottery?"

Funds generated from the lottery can only be spent on instructional costs. They cannot be spent on capital improvement projects. It's also important to know that lottery funds only account for ~1% of the total funding that K-12 schools receive in California. Lottery ticket sales represent a very small amount of funding that our district receives.

“How will projects be selected for funding?”

Projects can only be spent on project types included in the original bond resolution (see the Project List page for more information). The school district completed a Districtwide Facilities Assessment in 2022. This assessment developed a list of projects and a community-led vision for each of WJUSD's 18 school sites. The project lists contained in the Facilities Assessment will provide a framework for Woodland Joint Unified to spend funds generated by Measure P. School Board will approve all bond-funded projects at public board meetings. This means that community members will have the opportunity to give feedback on every proposed project to be funded through Measure P.

Site plans from the Districtwide Facilities Assessment can be viewed here.

Examples of potential Measure P projects include:

Classroom renovation and modernization.
Playfields, playgrounds, playground equipment, running tracks, and athletic facilities.
Outdoor learning and eating areas.
Facilities for vocational education programs.
Campus safety and security enhancements.
Cafeteria, kitchen, multipurpose room, and library upgrades.
Repairing or replacing aging buildings.

"What is the breakdown of the facilities needs identified in the assessment? How much of that $600 million price tag is related to deferred maintenance?"

Of the over $600 million in school facility improvement needs identified, here is a breakdown by category of the cost estimates provided in the Facilities Assessment:

25.10% for Modernization and Deferred Maintenance.
15.56% for New Classroom Construction.
14.78% for Exterior Play Spaces, Playfields, and Hardcourts.
8.37% for Science, Arts, CTE, and Elective Spaces.
6.7% for Multi-Purpose Rooms, Student Spaces, and Food Service Areas.
4.6% for Library and Student Support Areas.

"How will the district ensure that bond funds aren't mismanaged?"

An Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee will review all proposed expenditures and projects to ensure that they align with the approved list of project types. ALL bond expenditures will be audited annually to ensure that funds are spent appropriately and only on facilities construction and related expenditures. Funds generated by the bond cannot be spent on administrator salaries, travel, or other operational expenses.

“Will any of the funding be spent on staffing costs or administrator salaries?”

No. Funds from Measure P cannot be spent on employee compensation or benefits. Bond funds can only be spent on the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, furnishing, and equipping of school facilities.

“Will any of the funding be spent on travel expenses for district officials?”

No. Funds from Measure P cannot be spent on travel expenses. Bond funds can only be spent on the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, furnishing, and equipping of school facilities.

“I don’t have children or grandchildren that go to our schools. Why should I support this?”

Having high quality schools has a positive impact on local property values, and it also increases long-term economic opportunity for our youth and our community. Supporting our schools benefits all residents regardless of whether you have kids attending school in Woodland.