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La Verne council backs Bonita Unified Measure A after hours of public comment
Summary
Following more than an hour of public comment that included both supporters and opponents, La Verne City Council voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution supporting Bonita Unified School District’s Measure A, a proposed $256 million general obligation bond. Residents raised concerns about long-term tax costs and oversight; supporters cited aging infrastructure and student safety.
The La Verne City Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution supporting Bonita Unified School District’s Measure A, a proposed $256 million general-obligation bond measure placed on the June ballot.
The bond, as discussed during public comment, is proposed to fund facility improvements such as HVAC, plumbing, science-lab upgrades and portable-building replacements. “A $256,000,000 school bond does not cost us taxpayers $256,000,000,” said Theodore Langale, a resident and veteran who spoke during public comment. “After adding the cost of issuing the bond and the interest paid over 25 to 40 years, the total repayment is typically two to three times the principal.” Langale urged the council and the district to consider alternatives, such as annual maintenance funds, smaller short-term bonds and banning capital-appreciation bonds.
Other residents urged support. Jeff Grun, a local resident, said the district’s infrastructure failures — old plumbing and air-conditioning systems, asbestos and lead issues — merit investment. “We need this,” Grun said of the bond, adding that the measures will support safety and academic programs.
Opponents and skeptical residents raised questions about cost, accountability and the cumulative tax burden. Bruce Becker criticized previous spending choices and questioned whether the district had adequately managed prior bond funds, saying he opposed the council’s endorsement without further oversight. Several commenters requested more clarity about how the district would spend bond proceeds and how the bond oversight committee would function.
Council members noted the bond’s accountability provisions; staff and the agenda packet cited existing requirements under state law and Proposition 39 (bond oversight, annual audits and specific reporting). Mayor Hepburn and other council members said the city’s resolution of support does not replace school-board responsibility for answering detailed budget questions and encouraged residents to attend school-board meetings for granular oversight and to participate in the bond oversight committee if it is formed.
After discussion, councilmember Crosby moved and councilmember Cashel Figueta seconded a motion supporting the measure and urging resident engagement; the council approved the motion 5-0.
The district’s informational materials and staff presentations are scheduled to continue as the measure approaches the June ballot; the council urged residents to seek detailed financial information directly from the district and to participate in oversight processes if the bond passes.
