Pasadena Foothills Association of Realtors joins Pasadena Chamber in Opposing PUSD Measure O

Concerned about the negative impact of higher taxes, local and regional business groups have united to oppose Measure O, the $517 million bond measure proposed by the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) on the Nov. 3 ballot. 

The Committee to Defeat Measure O website cites poor planning, insufficient oversight on past bond measures, high taxes, and the measure’s lack of impact on student education as the reasons for the group’s opposition to the measure.

The Pasadena Foothills Association of Realtors and the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed) each cited the dismal state of Southern California’s economy and the potentially negative impacts the measure would have on affordable housing as reasons for opposing the measure.

“PUSD is asking for a massive expenditure of half a billion dollars on a vaguely defined project list with no real oversight or accountability,” said Dennis Murphy, treasurer of the Committee to Defeat Measure O. The Committee to Defeat Measure O is a grassroots organization of local residents opposed to the largest local tax hike ever. 

“This bond scheme will have no real impact on PUSD student achievement,” said Murphy.

According to state law, Measure O funds cannot be spent on instructional materials, teacher salaries, training, or support.

Titled the Pasadena Unified School District Repair, Technology, Student Achievement Measure by its proponents, Measure O is  also opposed by the board of directors of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association.

“We all want to improve the quality of education in the PUSD. The problem is Measure O devotes more than half a billion dollars to infrastructure, not improving the quality of education for young people in the PUSD,” said Pasadena Chamber President and CEO Paul Little. 

“Investment needs to be made in teachers, teacher training and support along with instructional materials and classroom support, not beautifying buildings, especially when the school board is going to be faced with closing another half dozen or more campuses in the next five years,” Little said.

In citing its opposition to Measure O, Los Angeles BizFed focused on the economic turmoil in California and Los Angeles County, high unemployment, and the financial chaos facing many small businesses. Specifically, BizFed noted that less than 15 percent of the bond measure’s expenditures would go toward technology upgrades. It also highlighted that Measure O would raise taxes by an average of $45 per $100,000 of assessed value by 2022.

“We’re concerned about the rushed manner by which Measure O was considered and put on the ballot,” said Tracy Hernandez, founding CEO of Los Angeles County BizFed. “Any time that property owners are asked to spend more money, they have the right to expect that proper oversight and accountability are in place and that there is a legitimate need – particularly for a half-billion-dollar bond measure.”

PUSD has already invested millions of dollars in district facilities, with the Measure TT bond payments still outstanding. At the same time, district enrollment has plummeted. Today, PUSD has approximately 17,000 students. By the 2025 school year, PUSD projects having only 14,000 students. In spite of the decrease in students, the district has invested more than $500 million in upgrading and expanding facilities, many of which have been closed.

For more information about the No on O campaign, visit www.noonpusdmeasureo.com