Bond Measure L
Achieving Facility Goals Without Raising Taxes
The Board of Education placed a school bond measure on the November 2024 ballot, that, if approved, would not increase taxes, but would extend the years at the current tax rate. This proposal could generate $64 million to address many of the facility needs that have been identified. Because the bonds from the 2004 Measure A and 2008 Measure E bonds will be completely repaid in the near future, the District has an opportunity to go out for a bond authorization that would raise significant funds while staying at the current combined bond program tax rate target of $180 per $100,000 in assessed value. This new bond measure will require an approval of 55% of voters under Proposition 39. School facility needs are an ongoing issue as school buildings and systems age, yet operating budgets cannot accommodate infrastructure projects.
Measure L Bond Resolution 2023-24-28 (click here)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Measure L bond for?
Schools need renovations to upgrade aging buildings, be ready for natural disasters, improve energy efficiency, address deferred maintenance, and ensure adequate accessibility for people with disabilities. In short, bond funds would be used to ensure that Albany schools provide students a safe, modern, and functional learning environment.
Schools need renovations to upgrade aging buildings, be ready for natural disasters, improve energy efficiency, address deferred maintenance, and ensure adequate accessibility for people with disabilities. In short, bond funds would be used to ensure that Albany schools provide students a safe, modern, and functional learning environment.
The HVAC systems at AHS and AMS are near the end of their service life, and are not connected to a modern energy control management system. Albany has already experienced significant smoke events from wildfires and elevated temperatures that may become more common. Our schools need to become more resilient. Restrooms and locker rooms at both schools also need to be modernized to accommodate the needs of all students and staff. AMS needs a lunch shelter that provides more weather protection as well as cafeteria/kitchen improvements. Cornell Elementary has modernization needs that were not addressed when the other elementary schools were rebuilt.
Albany High School:
HVAC and Electrification
Modernization including classrooms, roofing, restrooms, and locker room
Renovated/New Fine Arts / MPR Building
HVAC and Electrification
Modernization including classrooms, roofing, restrooms, and locker room
Renovated/New Fine Arts / MPR Building
Albany Middle School:
Modernization of kitchen/serving area/lunch shelter and restrooms
HVAC and Electrification
Modernization of kitchen/serving area/lunch shelter and restrooms
HVAC and Electrification
Cornell Elementary School:
Modernization of Kindergarten playground, restrooms, classrooms, and offices
New Classroom and Administration buildings, replacing portables
(Note that an HVAC system has now been installed at Cornell.)
Modernization of Kindergarten playground, restrooms, classrooms, and offices
New Classroom and Administration buildings, replacing portables
(Note that an HVAC system has now been installed at Cornell.)
Other projects include limited modernization of remaining older classrooms at Marin Elementary, the gym/multipurpose room at Ocean View Elementary (a holdover from when it was originally built as a middle school), repairs at the Albany Aquatic Center, and much-needed structural work at Albany Children’s Center.
How is it possible that the District can raise $64 million without raising taxes?
Because the bonds from 2004’s Measure A and 2008’s Measure E will be completely repaid in the near future, this bond authorization would raise significant funds while maintaining the current combined bond program tax rate target of $180 per $100,000 in assessed value. Rates are expected to remain the same or slightly lower until 2038, when another drop in rates is planned.
Albany just passed a bond for school construction in 2016. Why do we need another bond?
When Measures B&E passed in 2016, only a subset of the projects identified by the Facilities Master Plan could be addressed. The AMS Annex, AHS Courtyard Addition, and rebuilds of both Ocean View Elementary and Marin Elementary required all the revenue generated from those bonds. However, the Facilities Assessment completed in 2024 re-verified that projects from the Master Plan are still necessary, and that more projects have become needed in the intervening 10 years. For example, the HVAC systems at both AMS and AHS are at the end of their service life.
What guarantees that Measure L bond funds will be used appropriately?
If the bond passes, then law requires that a Citizens Bond Oversight Committee be formed to audit all expenditures from bond revenue. This Oversight Committee will have the authority to disallow expenditures that do not comply with the stated uses of bond funds in the ballot measure.
If the bond passes, then law requires that a Citizens Bond Oversight Committee be formed to audit all expenditures from bond revenue. This Oversight Committee will have the authority to disallow expenditures that do not comply with the stated uses of bond funds in the ballot measure.