The result was clear even before the tally was finalized. With 200,000 ballots yet to be counted, it became apparent that the measures for the school bond would not get close to the 55% majority that would have been required for them to pass. Several districts such as Tustin Unified, Rancho Santiago Community College and Anaheim Union High came close, however the gap was large in several other districts.
District officials felt that the bond measures they proposed were a good way to raise the money needed to repair, upgrade their facilities, and provide more learning space. The money from their regular budgets is not enough to finance the multimillion dollar projects many campuses require. Brochure printing could be used to show the scope of such projects. Bonds sold by the district are paid back over up to 30 years by increasing the yearly property tax rates. Many bonds already issued in this manner still have to be paid.
Carolyn Cavecche, who is the Orange County Taxpayers Association’s president, said:
“It’s not that they don’t want good schools. Schools are at the mercy of the voters. If voters feel like they are paying too much gas tax, schools will suffer because of that.”
The result of this vote goes against the trend for Orange County which typically supports such measures.