Voters give thumbs up to higher taxes for schools

Across the San Gabriel Valley voters gave their strong approval to bond measures that raise money for school improvements. The bond money will pay for new classrooms, security upgrades, technological improvements, and heating and cooling upgrades in schools throughout the region.

Eight measures that allow school districts to issue bonds repaid by property taxes passed, mostly by wide margins. All needed 55 percent approval to pass.

Measure AB in the Bonita Unified School District was the closest of the school bond measures. It passed 61 percent to 39 percent. The measure is a $83.5 million bond that will increase property taxes approximately $35 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

Measure O in the Rosemead School District passed 76 percent to 24 percent. The measure is a $30 million bond that will increase property taxes approximately $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

Measure MM in the Alhambra Unified School District passed 75 percent to 25 percent. The measure is a $50 million school bond that will increase property taxes approximately $16 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

Measure TT in the Pasadena Unified School District also passed 75 percent to 25 percent. The measure is a $350 million bond that will increase property taxes approximately $46 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

Measure W in the Whittier Union High School District passed 72 percent to 28 percent. The measure is expected to generate $75 million. It will maintain existing tax rates for a school improvement bond in the district, but extend the repayment period by 10 years.

Measure KC in the El Monte City School District passed 72 percent to 28 percent. The measure is a $75 million bond that will increase property taxes approximately $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

Measure D in the El Monte Union High School District passed 74 percent to 26 percent. The measure is a $148 million bond that will increase property taxes approximately $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

Voters also gave their approval to a bond measure for infrastructure improvements at Mount San Antonio College, Measure RR, by a vote of 70 percent to 30 percent. The measure is an extension of Measure R, which passed in 2001. With it the college can raise another $353 million bond. It will increase property taxes approximately $25 per $100,000 of assessed property value.