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Santa Paula Unified trustees approve bond-refinancing resolutions; staff previews potential $39.9M November 2026 facilities measure
Summary
Trustees unanimously approved two resolutions authorizing the district to seek refunding/refinancing of existing elementary and high‑school bonds to reduce taxpayer interest costs; administrators also presented a first reading of a proposed November 2026 general obligation bond measure with a preliminary ask of $39,875,000.
The Santa Paula Unified Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved two separate resolutions authorizing staff to pursue refunding/refinancing of existing district bonds and heard a first reading about a potential facilities bond the district may ask voters to consider in November 2026.
Trustee Frutos moved to approve a refinancing resolution for $10,000,000; the motion carried on a unanimous board vote. The board then approved a second related resolution covering additional refunding authority. Board members voted to adopt both refinancing resolutions in separate motions; recorded votes on the action items were unanimous (5–0).
At the information presentation earlier in the meeting, district staff outlined a preliminary framework for a potential November 2026 general obligation bond asking voters to approve $39,875,000 to address high‑priority facility projects at the high school and elsewhere. Administration estimated the initial taxpayer impact at about $28.11 per $100,000 of assessed value and emphasized it had priced the proposal conservatively to keep the estimated rate below $30. Staff said these figures are draft and will be revised for a second reading in February and a possible approval later that month.
Board members discussed campaign planning and timing. One trustee urged building a grassroots plan and better outreach to union and community partners; staff said a more detailed project list and campaign plan would return to the board for review before any ballot placement.
The board recorded the closed-session action earlier in the evening related to personnel, and no changes were made to the draft bond timeline Tuesday.
Actions recorded: the board approved resolution 2025‑26‑12 (refinance) and resolution 2025‑26‑13 (refinance) and directed staff to return with revised numbers and a project list at the second meeting in February.
