MEASURE Z: Bond hasn't kept pace with land values
Measure Z funded much work, with one big exception
Thanks to funding provided by a school bond passed by voters in 2004, the Perris Union High School District has added new classrooms, renovated some buildings and will open a new high school this fall. But one provision of that $46 million bond has not happened: the acquisition of land to build another high school in Menifee.
It's been three years since voters approved Measure Z, a school bond that was intended to pay for repairs and renovations at the district's current high schools, Perris and Paloma Valley. The money also was to be used to build a portion of Heritage High School, which opens this fall in Romoland.
But escalating land prices and the search for a suitable location have stymied the land acquisition plan for a future high school.
"We're still looking," said Bill Hulstrom, Perris Union High School District board president. "At this stage, property right now is the big issue."
Fulfilling that obligation of the bond has been an ongoing priority among trustees and district officials. "The biggest problem with land acquisition is finding land that will work with us," said board vice president Eric Kroencke. "The value of land has escalated since we bought the land for Heritage."
Trustees asked to earmark about $2.5 million plus interest in bond money toward purchasing a 60-acre site in Menifee. They want to build the school somewhere east of Interstate 215.
Four years ago the district purchased 60 acres south of Briggs Road and Highway 74 in Romoland for $1.8 million for a site to build Heritage High School. That looks like a bargain compared with current prices.
"You can't buy a site for $2.5 million anymore," said Kroencke, referring to the amount set aside for a purchase. "Land is going for $100,000 to $200,000 an acre."
Growth in the area has left Menifee's Paloma Valley High School especially crowded with more than 3,300 students. The district currently serves more than 8,200 students on eight sites in the Perris, Menifee, Romoland and Nuevo areas.
Emmanuelle Reynolds, district facilities and planning director, said the district made an offer on a suitable property in the area about six months ago but it was rejected by the owner.
The size of the property involved and the number of landowners also are important in negotiating land deals.
"It's easier with huge developers. The problem is that there are a lot of small developments. Their developments are not big enough (to build a new high school)," said Reynolds.
Kroencke said the district will search for additional ways to secure more funding through grants or other sources.
The Bond
Although the land acquisition for another high school site was an important part of Measure Z, the district is not legally bound to complete all the provisions on the ballot.
"The list you do is a wish list. You put everything you can in. But nothing says you will do everything," said Reynolds.
With passage of Measure Z, residents of the Perris Union High School District -- which includes Perris, Menifee, Romoland and Nuevo -- now pay a property tax of $30 per year per $100,000 of assessed value.
The 2004 district-wide measure narrowly passed with 57.9 percent of the votes cast. State law requires at least 55 percent passage of all the votes cast. Earlier that year a $36 million bond failed by 1.5 percent.
With passage of the bond, the district was required to establish a citizens' oversight committee from different segments of the community to ensure that the money was used for the scheduled projects.
Perris resident Cynthia Clark was a vocal opponent of Measure Z and its wording. Clark worried the money would be used to pay for salaries or other expenses instead of capital improvements.
"We want to make sure they would adhere to the list," said Clark. The ballot stated the money would repair or replace old, inadequate roofs and reduce crowding by building a new high school and purchasing a Menifee area school site.
The detailed voters pamphlet, published and distributed before the election, more clearly stated that the bond funds would be used on those projects, as long as the money lasts.
For more information about buying, selling or financing Corona Real Estate, Norco Real Estate or Riverside County Real Estate go to http://www.951info.com Elite Properties and Finance
Measure Z funded much work, with one big exception
Thanks to funding provided by a school bond passed by voters in 2004, the Perris Union High School District has added new classrooms, renovated some buildings and will open a new high school this fall. But one provision of that $46 million bond has not happened: the acquisition of land to build another high school in Menifee.
It's been three years since voters approved Measure Z, a school bond that was intended to pay for repairs and renovations at the district's current high schools, Perris and Paloma Valley. The money also was to be used to build a portion of Heritage High School, which opens this fall in Romoland.
But escalating land prices and the search for a suitable location have stymied the land acquisition plan for a future high school.
"We're still looking," said Bill Hulstrom, Perris Union High School District board president. "At this stage, property right now is the big issue."
Fulfilling that obligation of the bond has been an ongoing priority among trustees and district officials. "The biggest problem with land acquisition is finding land that will work with us," said board vice president Eric Kroencke. "The value of land has escalated since we bought the land for Heritage."
Trustees asked to earmark about $2.5 million plus interest in bond money toward purchasing a 60-acre site in Menifee. They want to build the school somewhere east of Interstate 215.
Four years ago the district purchased 60 acres south of Briggs Road and Highway 74 in Romoland for $1.8 million for a site to build Heritage High School. That looks like a bargain compared with current prices.
"You can't buy a site for $2.5 million anymore," said Kroencke, referring to the amount set aside for a purchase. "Land is going for $100,000 to $200,000 an acre."
Growth in the area has left Menifee's Paloma Valley High School especially crowded with more than 3,300 students. The district currently serves more than 8,200 students on eight sites in the Perris, Menifee, Romoland and Nuevo areas.
Emmanuelle Reynolds, district facilities and planning director, said the district made an offer on a suitable property in the area about six months ago but it was rejected by the owner.
The size of the property involved and the number of landowners also are important in negotiating land deals.
"It's easier with huge developers. The problem is that there are a lot of small developments. Their developments are not big enough (to build a new high school)," said Reynolds.
Kroencke said the district will search for additional ways to secure more funding through grants or other sources.
The Bond
Although the land acquisition for another high school site was an important part of Measure Z, the district is not legally bound to complete all the provisions on the ballot.
"The list you do is a wish list. You put everything you can in. But nothing says you will do everything," said Reynolds.
With passage of Measure Z, residents of the Perris Union High School District -- which includes Perris, Menifee, Romoland and Nuevo -- now pay a property tax of $30 per year per $100,000 of assessed value.
The 2004 district-wide measure narrowly passed with 57.9 percent of the votes cast. State law requires at least 55 percent passage of all the votes cast. Earlier that year a $36 million bond failed by 1.5 percent.
With passage of the bond, the district was required to establish a citizens' oversight committee from different segments of the community to ensure that the money was used for the scheduled projects.
Perris resident Cynthia Clark was a vocal opponent of Measure Z and its wording. Clark worried the money would be used to pay for salaries or other expenses instead of capital improvements.
"We want to make sure they would adhere to the list," said Clark. The ballot stated the money would repair or replace old, inadequate roofs and reduce crowding by building a new high school and purchasing a Menifee area school site.
The detailed voters pamphlet, published and distributed before the election, more clearly stated that the bond funds would be used on those projects, as long as the money lasts.
For more information about buying, selling or financing Corona Real Estate, Norco Real Estate or Riverside County Real Estate go to http://www.951info.com Elite Properties and Finance
posted by Elite Properties and Finance at 8:48 AM
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