WCCUSD officials have repeatedly shown they CANNOT BE TRUSTED to spend your money wisely.

The District’s extreme wastefulness is well-documented. Among other flagrant abuses, the County Grand Jury found that the District’s per square foot construction costs are THREE times the state average. Conflicts of interest and blatant stonewalling were also exposed, including the refusal of the construction manager for this $1.6 billion construction program to open its books for a District-requested audit (and then the District would not take any steps to force compliance!).

In addition, prior spending decisions have been highly questionable. More than $200 million was spent building a single high school in Pinole, along with $23 million on a football stadium in El Cerrito, all while ignoring badly needed school repairs across K-8 schools.

Bond measures typically include certain safeguards to prevent questionable spending decisions, such as a specific project list of the schools that will be rebuilt, what will be purchased, and the maximum cost. However, such provisions are vague and effectively non-existent in this measure.

Taxpayers are currently paying off six previous bond measures. As of June 30, 2018, we owe $2.3 billion in principal and interest with maturity dates extending to 2055.  The average household is paying $1,000 annually in property taxes to repay all WCCUSD bonds.  This measure would add another $250 to your property tax bill once the bond is fully drawn down. The East Bay Times has called the cost of these construction bonds “exceptionally high” and characterized the District as “badly managed for so many years”.

Now the District wants more of your money. What have they done to deserve your trust? 

It’s time we sent a clear message. We will vote NO until the District demonstrates a commitment to ending its shameful track record of recklessness and incompetent management of taxpayer funds.