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Resident tells board proposed $160M bond is unfair to homeowners
Summary
A resident, Matthew Harden, told the board he opposes the district's proposed $160 million bond, saying the mailers omitted the 30‑year term and that the tax burden falls heavily on homeowners; staff offered follow‑up from the chief business officer.
During the public‑comment period Matthew Harden, a long‑time area resident, criticized a proposed $160 million bond measure and urged the board to improve disclosure and equity in taxing.
"The first mailer that I got didn't say how many years it was for. I had to find out it was for 30 years," Harden said, and later described the cumulative effect on his household taxes. He said homeowners are an "easy target" for assessments and stated he planned to vote no on Nov. 5.
Superintendent Leon offered to have Chief Business Officer Rick Champion call Harden to discuss the bond's structure and answer questions; Champion provided his cellphone number from the dais. The board did not take action at the meeting on the bond question itself; public comment was recorded under the district's public‑comment rules.
Harden's remarks reflect concerns the board discussed elsewhere in the meeting: trustees asked staff about outreach for COC recruitment and emphasized that applicant pools should include critical voices. District staff said they will continue public communication and provide more details about timelines and application processes.
