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Trustees debate bond (66.7%) versus plant‑facility levy (55%–60%) as path to fund projects
Summary
Board members tested multiple scenarios and discussed the tradeoffs between higher‑threshold bonds and lower‑threshold plant‑facility levies, weighing total interest costs, voter turnout and political risk.
Trustees spent significant time on the legal and political tradeoffs between a bond that would require a two‑thirds (0.667) approval and plant‑facility levies that can pass with 55% or 60% support. The board used a live model to show how different total asks push the district into bond territory and dramatically affect annual debt service and total interest costs.
"You would have to switch to this bond election ... 0.667 of bond election is required," Sean said, explaining the legal trigger and the political risk: "That's a very steep curve, to get something improved." Several trustees said they believed 60% was achievable while acknowledging the higher 66.7% threshold is unlikely to succeed in the district’s environment.
Trustees discussed practical strategies if an initial ask failed, including returning in a subsequent election at a lower threshold or increasing public education before the vote. No formal decision was reached; the board directed staff to refine scenarios and prepare ballot language for the Aug. 26 meeting.
