Early results show a majority of voters are supporting school bond measures, but it is still a coin toss whether they will garner enough votes to pass.
On Nov. 3, voters in North Monterey County, Carmel and Pacific Grove showed up at the polls to support bond measures to either upgrade facilities or keep student programming.
In Carmel, Measure I, a $250 million bond measure to upgrade facilities across the district which needs 55 percent or more to pass, is leading by a short margin, with 4,934 votes, or 56 percent, as of Nov. 4. If it passes, property owners within CUSD will pay $36 per $100,000 of assessed property value, expected to generate $17.7 million annually until 2054.
In North Monterey County, the North Monterey County Unified School District swayed voters to support Measure L, but it’s still unclear whether it will gather enough support. The measure is falling behind by 2 percent, as of Nov. 4. Currently, 53 percent of voters favor the $40 million bond measure, although it needs 55 percent. If it passes, property owners would pay $32 per $100,000 of assessed value. The bond measure would generate $2.8 million annually for facility upgrades.
In Pacific Grove, the yes vote on Measure K leads with nearly 68 percent, a razor-thin margin of the two-thirds it needs to pass, as of Nov. 4. This bond measure focuses on instruction and direct student services—including English and math programming, services for students with disabilities and mental health services. The measure would add an $85-per-parcel tax for five years, raising an estimated $800,000 annually.