Measures M, G and H

General obligation bonds fund projects, such as the renovation of existing classrooms and school facilities, as well as construction of new schools and classrooms. When voters approve a bond referendum, the NVUSD Board of Education is authorized to sell bonds to pay for much needed renovation/replacement, additions, and technology upgrade needs. The bonds are sold over a multiple year period and represent a long-term general obligation, similar to a home loan. Typically, general obligation bonds are repaid over a 30 year period, but can be repaid over a shorter period. By passing the referendum, voters agree to property-based taxes to fund the annual principal and interest payment on bonds. The loan repayment comes from a tax on all taxable property located within the District — residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial.

At least 55% of those voters who cast a ballot on the measure must vote “Yes” in order for a bond measure to be approved.  

General obligation bonds provide funds to build new classrooms to relieve overcrowding, and to make repairs and upgrades to existing classrooms and school facilities; many of which are also used and available to the community such as the libraries, gymnasiums, auditoriums, swimming pools, and athletic fields.

Improvements to schools can have a positive impact on the entire community, not only the students.  Aside from positive impacts on quality of education, improvements to schools can positively impact the local economy, local property values, traffic flow and safety. The District is committed to hiring from local businesses and companies, benefiting the current workforce.  A better quality of education will lead to a better-skilled workforce in the future.

The physical environment makes a difference in education.  Research links student achievement with the quality of the built environment (new and modernized buildings and grounds, lighting, indoor air quality, thermal comfort, acoustic quality).  Safe, secure, well designed and maintained facilities have a positive effect on student performance, attendance, and reduced disciplinary problems.

Improvements funded by bond measures ensure students can continue to learn in safe and modern classrooms by:

• Replacing or repairing leaky roofs
• Upgrading fire and earthquake safety
• Repairing and upgrading classrooms and science labs
• Improving indoor air quality and comfort
• Improving acoustics
• Preventing overcrowding by providing additional classrooms and facilities
• Updating learning technology and infrastructure

Fiscal accountability provisions were established to protect taxpayers. As required by law, an independent citizens' oversight committee ensures that bond funds are properly spent. Also by law, the District conducts annual audits. No bond money is used for teacher or administrative salaries. All funds go directly to our local schools and cannot be taken away by the State.

As required by Education Code Section 15278, the District appoints a committee of local residents, whose main charge is to inform the public about how the bond dollars are being spent. The committee, known as the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, actively reviews and reports on the expenditure of taxpayer’s money for school construction to ensure that bond funds are spent in accordance with the provisions of the bond. The committee is comprised of volunteers who represent specific constituencies, such as senior citizens, parents, businesses, or the community-at-large.

Each year a fiscal and performance audit of bond expenditures is conducted.  The Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee reviews and reports on the annual audits, in addition to their other monitoring and reporting activities.  

When you pay rent to the property owner, you are indirectly paying for the bond issue cost.  The rent you pay to the owner helps to cover the owner's costs, including the owner's payment of this tax as part of the property tax bill.

When market conditions allow, NVUSD refinances previously issued bonds in order to save taxpayers millions of dollars.  Under California law, refunding bonds are issued in order to achieve debt service savings, which results in reduction of property taxes levied on taxpayers in the District.

In order to obtain facilities funding grants from the State, the District must be able to provide the local matching funds required by the State.  Bond measures help the District to qualify for state matching funds that otherwise would not be available to our schools.  New construction grants must be matched equally by the District on a 50/50 basis, whereas modernization grants provide funding on a 60/40 basis (60% State, 40% District). 

Please visit School Planning and Construction.