Redondo Beach Unified board votes to place facilities bond on Nov. 5 ballot

The Redondo Beach Unified School District board voted to place a general obligation facilities bond on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot after an extended discussion of the district’s aging buildings, safety and technology needs.

Board members emphasized that local bond passage is a prerequisite for the district to access significant state matching funds for modernization projects. Board President Flynn and other members cited roofs, HVAC upgrades, replacement of temporary classrooms and campus security work as primary drivers of the proposal.

Financial adviser John Isim, participating virtually, told the board that many California districts are pursuing bonds to qualify for forthcoming state matching dollars and confirmed that the district would be eligible to submit grant paperwork if the state program remains available. The board’s bond counsel also advised on ballot language and procedural steps required to qualify the measure by the county deadline.

Board members discussed draft tax-rate estimates included in the tax-rate statement. Staff said the measure’s estimated impact is roughly $29 per $100,000 of assessed value under current assumptions; speakers noted that last year’s combined tax rate for existing measures was about $72 per $100,000 and that the district has reduced the actual tax rate compared with prior estimates in past refinancing efforts. Board members also stressed that existing bonds will phase off over time, which will affect residents’ long-term tax burden.

Several community speakers addressed the board during public comment. Douglas Seeker, a Redondo Beach resident, urged the board to delay placing a bond on the ballot, citing projected K–12 enrollment declines and concern about cumulative tax burdens on long-term residents. Karen Reed, a parent and facilities program manager at the University of Southern California, urged the board to put the measure on the ballot and argued that deferred maintenance and rising construction costs make immediate action necessary.

After a motion to approve the resolution as amended (language clarifying technology infrastructure and the project list), the board approved placing the bond on the November ballot by voice vote, with four members voting in favor and one member absent. The board directed staff to submit the resolution and tax-rate statement to the county registrar to qualify the measure for the ballot and discussed next steps for factual community outreach and timelines for bond sales if voters approve the measure.

The board’s action was procedural: passing the resolution sends the question to voters; spending priorities and citizen oversight will be governed by the project list and the district’s oversight committee should the bond be approved.