School district discusses financing repairs

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The Huntington Beach City School District could

present a plan to pay for school repairs to the school board within the

next month. The financial plan may include asking voters to approve a

bond issue.

The school board met Tuesday night to discuss a recent telephone survey

that shows strong voter support for a bond. More than 70% of the

respondents asked by Price Research indicated they would support a hike

in property taxes to finance a school bond.

The district needs about $56 million worth of repairs and upgrades at its

schools, officials estimate. The board of trustees is looking at a

framework of plans that includes five major sources of funding -- state

money, a bond issue, teaming up with other districts on a joint-use

facility, placing portable lockers at Dwyer Middle School and getting

long-term leases from tenants at school sites.

The district is eligible for $21 million in state money, but it must

match it with $4.2 million of its own money to get it, officials said.

One ways to secure those funds is through a bond. The bond would cost

taxpayers $13.05 a year per $100,000 of assessed value of a home.

Property-tax payers would pay the extra money for 30 years.

“I’ll continue to recommend to the board that we need to do this,” Supt.

Duane Dishno said. “It’s the only way -- in conjunction with other things

-- that we can do this.”

Another source of funding would be the savings from a joint-use

maintenance and transportation facility that would be shared with

Huntington Beach Union High School and Fountain Valley School districts.

Officials estimate that it would save the district $2 million.

One of the district’s upgrades include installing new lockers at Dwyer.

Putting in portable instead of permanent locker structures could result

in another $1 million in savings, officials said.

Long-term lease revenue from the Burke and Gisler sites is the last

source of funding the district is considering. The two sites are now

leased on a yearly basis. The district is hoping to get five- to 10-year

leases and may raise the rent. Current lessees -- National Pediatrics

Child Care, the Japanese Language School and Brethren Christian -- have

indicated interest in long-term leases at the sites.

The board will meet in June to further discuss plans.