Measure C FAQs

Many residents have plenty of questions about the bond, and rightfully so. We have been talking and listening to you and have compiled a list of the most common questions that we've been hearing.

How will the funding from Measure C be used?

Measure C funds are strictly dedicated to HIGH SCHOOL facility improvements, including rebuilding the Bryden Gym, reconstructing the swimming pool and creating new space for the performing arts. These funds are for FACILITIES ONLY and cannot be used for the elementary school sites.

What’s wrong with the pool as it is?

Our pool isn’t just old; it actively holds our student athletes back. Its shallow end doesn’t meet the depth and dimension requirements for competitive water polo, so the six times Santa Paula earned a first round home playoff game, we had to move it to Ventura, Rio Mesa, or even Torrance. Few opponents are willing to play here, and swimmers must travel elsewhere to record CIF qualifying times because the pool lacks the required fully automatic timing system. There’s also no warm up area for meets, something our coach hasn’t seen at any other pool in 25 years. Meanwhile, the filters and heaters are obsolete, replacement parts are no longer available, and frequent breakdowns cancel as many as 10 practices each girls’ season. The plaster is cracking and the walls are crumbling. A modernized pool would let our students train in proper conditions, compete for CIF qualifications, and play at home when they’ve earned it.

What happened to the insurance money?

We have it! We received $24 million from insurance, and used $2 million to clear the site, replace lost school items and pay for the architecture designs leaving $22 million. But it’s not enough to build what we lost. We face the same inflation as everyone, and costs have escalated. The project is now projected at around $48 million.

Ok, but what’s wrong with the performing arts spaces?

To the band’s credit, it has become the single most popular group on campus, with over 160 students being served. Unfortunately, the space is wholly inadequate, having been converted from the old snack bar space. Choir and theater are also popular groups and are strapped for space to practice and store things.

I heard you can spend the bond money on ANY of the schools in the district.

Full transparency: this one got away from the board. Yes, there is language in the bond that suggests we could do that. HOWEVER, that was never the intention of the board – the gym, the pool and the performing arts complex were and are the priority, and other high school projects if there is money left. We in fact held a special board meeting on Sept 30th to pass a covenant resolution that explicitly states this. This resolution CANNOT be revoked by future boards.

How will this affect my property taxes?

Property taxes are the source of funding, and each property owner (not renters directly), will be assessed at under $28 per $100,000 assessed value of your house. For the average home owner in Santa Paula, that comes out to be $105 a year – some will be less, and some will be more. The measure is structured as a standard property tax assessment that is fair and proportional. The cost is a direct investment back into our community's property values and the quality of local education.

Why should I say Yes? I don’t have kids in the school district.

Ask any economic developer what one of the first questions they ask about a city, and they will tell you: how are your schools? On the instruction side of the house, we are investing heavy resources for professional development to overhaul how we teach kids, and it’s paying off: over the past 5 years scores for reading increased 19% and math increased 53%. We need the facilities to match. While gym, the pool and performing arts seem like ‘extras’, in this day and age with so much competition for kids’ attentions, we have to provide these opportunities to keep them engaged. Would you rather them be on their devices? As our schools go, so does our town.

Why don’t you pull from your General Fund?

Because the General Fund pays for the school day itself: teachers, counselors, classroom aides, books, and keeping the lights on. Every dollar moved into construction is a dollar taken out of classrooms. That budget is already tight, for three reasons:

Enrollment is down. The state funds schools based on how many students attend. Like districts across Ventura County and California, Santa Paula has fewer students than it used to, so we receive less money.
Way more than half of our budget is already spoken for. State and federal rules direct that money to specific programs. It is not available for construction.
Special education is critical in what we do, but truth be told it costs far more than we receive for it. State and federal funding covers less than half the cost of these required services, so we add about $10 million a year (10% of the overall budget) from the General Fund to make up the difference.

What remains pays for everyday teaching in every classroom. A bond lets the community pay for buildings over time, the way a family uses a mortgage to buy a home, without cutting into what students need every day.

Who provides oversight for these project funds?

An independent Citizens' Oversight Committee, mandated by law, will monitor all spending to ensure funds are used only for voter-approved projects. Regular public audits will also be conducted for full transparency.

What is the projected timeline for completion?

If approved, construction planning will begin immediately in 2027. Major projects like the gym and pool are expected to break ground within 18 months, with multi-phase rollouts to minimize student disruption.

Take Action for Our Schools

Your voice matters. Whether you're registering to vote or sharing information with neighbors, every action helps ensure our students have the safe, modern facilities they deserve. Make sure you are registered to vote so your voice can be heard!