Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Bond topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oakwood Schools superintendent and treasurer explain May 6 bond, estimate $165.90 per $100,000 cost
Summary
Superintendent Neil Gupta and Treasurer Boris Saber released a factual video explaining the May 6 Oakwood Schools bond, outlining differences among operating levies, permanent improvement levies and bonds, and stating the bond would cost homeowners $165.90 per $100,000 of assessed value as presented in the video.
Neil Gupta, superintendent of Oakwood Schools, and Boris Saber, the district treasurer, released a short informational video outlining a bond question to appear on the May 6 ballot and urging voters to use the district's materials to make an informed choice. "Oakwood Schools is not advocating for or against the passage of the bond issue," Gupta said, adding the videos are meant to provide clear, factual information.
In the video, Treasurer Boris Saber described how the district funds its operations and capital needs. He said Oakwood relies mainly on voter‑approved local taxes and identified three commonly used tools: operating levies, permanent improvement levies and bond issues. "Operating levies provide school districts money to be used for day to day expenses, such as instructional supplies, utilities, and personnel costs," Saber said. He described permanent improvement levies as funding for building and facility maintenance, security, technology and replacement items that last five years or longer, and noted those funds cannot be used for personnel.
Saber said bond funds are used for capital improvements and to pay off financed debt for significant facility renovations. He reviewed recent local ballot history, saying the community approved a combined operating and permanent improvement levy in November 2023 and that the district's last bond was approved in 2019 to fund phase one of the master facility plan, including renovations at Oakwood Junior High and Oakwood High School.
Regarding the item on the May 6 ballot, Saber stated in the video that "the levy being placed on the May 6 ballot is a 4.74 bond issue that will cost homeowners $165.90 per $100,000 of value." The video directs viewers to oakwoodschools.org and the district's master facility plan webpage for additional details and provides a QR code linking to the plan.
The video is described by district leaders as informational; the clip does not record a board vote in this segment and does not advocate for a particular vote. For more information on the bond proposal and the master facility plan, the district lists resources at oakwoodschools.org.
