Vote NO on Measure O Tax Increase

Local property tax watchdog group discovers bond Measure O is primarily funded by the construction industry. The staggering $200 million bond is an end-run on Proposition 13 protection, raising property taxes.

(Walnut, CA) September 30, 2015 – A group of local homeowners learned backers of Measure O are funded by the construction industry, not “a grassroots organization of volunteer parents, and educators,” as the Committee to Support Outstanding WVUSD School’s claims. To date, nearly all of the $66,750 hastily raised was from 23 donors listed as construction and building companies. In addition, 24 of the 26 donors are from cities outside of Diamond Bar and Walnut. “These grass-roots companies funding this bond measure are about as genuine as AstroTurf™,” said Michael West, Walnut homeowner, “Measure O is funded by firms outside of our neighborhood to benefit their own profits- and they won’t be subject to any of the new property assessments.”

It was also uncovered that the WVUSD School Board hired cunning San Francisco marketing firm TBWB Strategies with taxpayer money. The firm boastfully states, “TBWB helps you package and pass a ballot measure…” right on their homepage. This is clearly not the work of “volunteer parents” as disingenuously stated by the Committee.

Measure O has serious problems as proposed, it is poorly (or intentionally) written as a “blank check” in that it does not have a “list of specific school facilities projects” as required for a proper bond measure. It is possible that a big portion of the money could be used on administrative costs and salaries. San Francisco marketing firms are typically expensive.

This new onslaught of bond money comes at homeowners even before the last school bond promises have been completed (Measure S in 2007). Collegewood Elementary did not get to “replace aged relocatable classrooms with five permanent classrooms,” and Westhoff Elementary did not receive the “coverings for all six stairwells” as promised eight years ago. “I think it’s a disgrace that the temporary classrooms my two children had to endure at Collegewood are still there,” said Michael West, “one of my children is in college now.”

Another misconception promoted by realtors and others is that school districts with better facilities increase property values. Some of the most expensive homes in Walnut are in the Rowland School District − one recently selling for $1.7M in Meadow Pass Hts. Given the deceptive nature of who is funding bond Measure O, the vague language on how the money will be spent, and the WVUSD School District’s failure to act in a timely matter managing bond funds − we urge a NO VOTE ON “O.”

Media Contact: Richard Michael

Concerned Walnut Homeowners

aroundwalnut+wvusd@gmail.com

website: www.metrolinktrainriders.com/WVUSD/