Great question! Essential infrastructure like roofs, pipes, wiring, air conditioning and fire safety systems simply wear out over decades. Last year, there were a dozen roof leaks. Failing underground pipes cause water and gas leaks, and sewage backups. Outdated wiring and technology can’t support modern instruction and the labs needed for today’s science, math, engineering and career skills. Older buildings have enclosed lead or asbestos that should be removed. Your YES vote on A will help make these repairs and ensure our kids learn in a safe and modern environment.

No. Measure A will not raise your taxes by a single penny. Laguna Beach hasn’t passed a school bond in 25 years. To repair schools and support high quality education, the LBUSD Board of Education voted unanimously to place Measure A, a local school improvement measure, on the November 3, 2026, ballot that would renew the funding approved in 2001. This November, your YES vote will ensure that every Laguna Beach student attends a safe, modern local school.

Currently the tax rate from the existing bond measure approved 25 years ago is $8.85 per $100,000 of assessed value (not market value). This proposed measure will simply extend—but not increase—the existing tax rate. Zero new taxes! The typical homeowner will just continue paying what they already do: about $117 a year (less than $10 a month).

It makes sense that you would want to know what your taxpayers will do for our kids in the classroom. If Measure A is successful, funding would be used to:

• Provide modern labs, instructional technology and career technical facilities so students are prepared for college and careers with today’s science, math and engineering skills

• Replace deteriorating roofs, plumbing, and electrical systems, and eliminate hazardous lead and asbestos from older schools

• Upgrade old schools to meet current health, safety and academic standards, including access for students with disabilities

• Protect schools from wildfires by upgrading or replacing fire alarms, sprinklers, emergency communication systems, and adding fire resistant materials and defensible space.

LBUSD’s record of transparency and accountability from the previously approved funding is stellar and this proposed renewal measure also includes strict fiscal accountability provisions including:

• All funds stay in local Laguna Beach schools

• No funds can be taken by the State

• Independent citizens’ oversight, annual public spending disclosures, and a detailed project list to ensure that funds are spent responsibly and as promised

Because waiting only makes it more expensive. While construction costs are high today, deferred maintenance is a financial trap. Ignoring a leaky roof or failing pipes now means paying double for emergency repairs later. Voting YES on A protects our existing assets before minor issues turn into costly crises.

The cost of a bond measure is based on the assessed value of a property. The assessed value of a property is based on the original purchase price and may not increase by more than 2% a year, while the market value tends to grow at a much faster rate based on market conditions. Thus, the assessed value is usually much lower than the market value, especially if a property was purchased many years ago at a much lower price than it could be purchased for today. If you own a home in Laguna Beach assessed at $1 million dollars, this measure will cost you $88.50 per year because the tax rate is $8.85 per $100,000 of assessed value.

That is a very fair question. General Fund dollars and bond dollars serve entirely different purposes and cannot be mixed. The General Fund pays for teachers, programs, and daily operations, but generally only a small portion of it is allocated for facility repairs and upgrades. By law, bond funding can only be used for facilities. While LBUSD is a well-funded district, it cannot afford to pay for the repairs and upgrades in the $144 million Facilities Master Plan without devastating cuts to the programs and staff that make our schools exceptional.

Yes! Your YES vote on the proposed measure would directly help Laguna Beach schools qualify for millions in State matching funds that would otherwise go to other school districts. State funds are highly competitive and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to districts with local matching dollars ready to go so be sure to vote YES on the proposed measure.

No! You can rest assured knowing that your YES vote will not increase administrator salaries and pensions.

All funds from Measure A would benefit Laguna Beach Unified School District only. No funds could be taken by the State or used for other purposes.

Measure A will appear on the November 3, 2026, ballot.