During a recent government meeting, community member Marta Krafczyk raised significant concerns regarding a proposed $340 million bond measure by the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) set for the November ballot. Krafczyk highlighted that this would be the third bond in just 14 years, following previous measures approved by voters in 2010 and 2018, which totaled $323 million.

Krafczyk pointed out that despite the district's commitment to address urgent facility needs, such as those at Seaside High School, where over $81 million in repairs were identified, only a fraction of the funds has been allocated to these critical improvements. Instead, she noted that millions have been spent on projects unrelated to the most pressing needs of the schools.

She emphasized the financial burden this new bond would impose on local taxpayers, explaining that property owners are already repaying previous bonds, with the total indebtedness for MPUSD projected to reach nearly $1.2 billion. Krafczyk warned that the proposed bond could increase property taxes significantly, with estimates suggesting an additional cost of over $100 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

Additionally, Krafczyk criticized the inclusion of $60 million in the bond for teacher housing, arguing that such projects could be funded through developer financing rather than taxpayer dollars. She urged constituents to review their property tax statements and consider the long-term implications of the proposed bond on their finances.

The meeting underscored the ongoing debate over school funding and infrastructure needs, as community members weigh the necessity of new bonds against the financial realities facing local taxpayers.