Measure EE has strong opposition

FALLBROOK – Voters Against Wasteful School Bonds, No on EE and various prominent organizations and individuals have lined up to oppose Measure EE. The Republican Party of San Diego County; Carl DeMaio, Chairman, Reform San Diego; Richard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax Fighters; Jeff Egkan, local active Democrat, and many others have stated their opposition to this bond.

Carl DeMaio, chairman of Reform San Diego and host of KOGO’s news radio show, The DeMaio Report, said, “Voters should be wary of deceptive games being played by BUSD with Measure EE – a costly and unnecessary proposal that voters have already rejected five times in previous elections! Showing complete disregard for the will of the voters, BUSD then tried to force the taxpayers to fund the projects without a public vote by using a dubious leasing scheme that eventually fell apart due to legal challenges. Now BUSD is back again trying to fool voters into approving a flawed bond that they have rejected so many times in the past.”

The San Diego County Taxpayers Association wrote in the 2018 ballot “Argument Against Measure EE,” that EE “creates new debt and imposes a costly burden on residents without offering them guarantees that their money will be responsibly spent on improving children’s education.”

Kerry Patterson, retired math teacher and VAWSB principal officer said, “If passed, EE will open the door for more taxes and more debt because BUSD would probably have to request additional bonds. BUSD has not shown taxpayers that it can afford to operate or maintain an additional and expensive campus of any size. In fact, BUSD has shown a budget deficit for the last seven years. Equally egregious, measure EE does not guarantee that any projects will be completed – final costs are unstated. Cost overruns are always a possibility, and this could result in additional costs to taxpayers.”

Victor Dervin, (PE: CA, WA, retired) a VAWSB researcher, has concluded that Measure EE is not necessary and may increase student risk. Dervin notes that in 2018, only 57 students graduated from Bonsall High School and about 50 percent of new BUSD high school students select other high school options.

“BUSD student projections are overly optimistic,” said Dervin. “The total 2017-2018-year high school enrollment was only 328. And building a new school on Gird Road, which is classified as a ‘very high risk’ wildfire zone, does not improve student safety. During the Lilac fire, Highway 76 was closed in both directions, leaving only one road open for evacuation out of the densely populated Gird Road area.”

VAWSB asks voters to be aware that BUSD already has a new high school with high-tech labs. Additional classrooms can be constructed as needed, saving many millions of dollars. Building another campus is financially irresponsible, geographically undesirable, costly to operate while duplicating basic student services, and wastes taxpayer money.

In addition, millions of dollars in school security and athletic improvements were attached to Measure EE to sway voters, even though these improvements are available through government and private grants and should not be part of a school construction bond.

Voters Against Wasteful School Bonds, No on EE is registered with the California Fair Political Practices Commission as a “Ballot Measure Committee.” VAWSB’s mission statement is to provide first-rate educational opportunities at an affordable cost to BUSD taxpayers. For more information visit http://www.NoOnMeasureEE.com.

Submitted by Voters Against Wasteful School Bonds.