Overview

prop k header

SMM New Building Project Alvin Dunn School K8 Conversion Project La Costa Meadows New Building Project
Technology Infrastructure Various Site Projects

prop k band fact sheet

prop k mailer


Purpose
Committee Meetings

Bond Issuance
Overall Construction Budget & Expenditures
Results of Annual Audits

Compliance with California Constitution

New Citizen's Bond Oversight Committee (COC) Composition

Erin Veit, Business Representative & Chair
Khary Knowles, At-Large Representative & Vice Chair
 -PTO Representative & Clerk
Bill Steinecke, Parent Representative
Gary Gidner, Senior Representative
Kelly Crews, Taxpayer Representative
Michael Brock, At-Large Representative
Becky Sparks, Alternate Member

SMUSD COC Scores High On Transparency in San Diego Taxpayer's Educational Foundation Report

The San Diego Taxpayer's Educational Foundation in its June 2019 Transparency Scorecard evaluated San Diego County school facilities bond programs and ranked SMUSD among the most transparent. SMUSD was given a 100% transparency grade and issued no recommendations. 

Purpose


The Citizens Bond Oversight Committee (the COC) was established to actively review and report on the proper expenditure of taxpayer money for school construction. The COC is required to report on compliance with Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3) of the California Constitution including:

  • Bond funds and earned interest are expended for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities;

  • That no bond funds are used for any teacher or administrative salaries or other operating expenses;

  • To report on the review of the annual independent performance audit; and

  • To report on the review of the annual independent financial audit.

The COC may also make specific recommendations related to maximizing bond revenues by implementing cost-saving measures.

The COC may not directly involve itself with the issuance of bonds or the negotiation of contracts.

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Citizens Oversight Committee Meetings


The Citizen's Oversight Committee was dissolved on 4.20.2021 and there will be no further public meetings. We thank all Oversight Committee Members, past and present, for their service to our community.

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Proposition K Bond Issuance


Bonds authorized: $287,000,000.

In accordance with Proposition K the maximum interest rate on any bond cannot exceed 12% and the final maturity of any bond cannot exceed 40 years. Recent legislation restricts Capital Appreciation Bonds to no more than 25 years along with other restrictions. Based on the initial financing plan a tax rate of $44 per $100,000 of assessed value was expected to be sufficient to support the debt service on the bonds; however, the maximum statutory tax rate is $60 per $100,000 of assessed value and the Series C Bonds were issued relying on the $60 per $100,000 cap based on the Resolution of Issuance adopted by the Governing Board on March 10, 2014. The Governing Board held workshops and public hearings to review the financing plan in light of AB 182. Recognizing that using the statutory limit would save an estimated $23 million in debt service savings the Governing Board authorized use of the full statutory limit.

Bonds issued to date: $281.7 million;

$142 million Series A bonds issued June 22, 2011; yields ranged from 1.38% for the shortest maturity to 6.65% for the longest maturity with an All-In True Interest Cost (calculation of borrowing cost including underwriter's discount and costs of issuance) of 5.234377%; maximum maturity at issue was 28 years with a weighted average maturity of 21.2 years (reflects that bonds mature beginning in 2013)

$65 million Series B bonds issued May 8, 2012; yields ranged from 0.75% for the shortest maturity to 5.80% for the longest maturity with a True Interest Cost of 5.689025%; maximum maturity at issue was 40 years with a weighted average maturity of 30.8 years (reflects that bonds mature beginning in 2013, however most of the issue was Capital Appreciation Bonds maturing in 2047 and 2051).

$74.7 million of Series C bonds issued May 15, 2014; yields ranged from 0.250% for the shortest maturity to 5.310% for the longest maturity with a True Interest Cost of 4.616904%; maximum maturity at issue was 26 years with a weighted average maturity of 21.886 years (maximum maturity of Capital Appreciation Bonds Current Interest Bonds was 24 years and 26 years respectively.

Remaining planned bond issuance: $5.3 million of potential issuance remains under Proposition K authorization.

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Overall Construction Budget & Expenditures


For a summary of the construction budget and status for the project you are interested in click on the thumbnail above or the link in the left margin. Project budget and status information is updated quarterly after COC meetings.

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Results of Independent Financial & Performance Audits


The District is required to obtain annual financial and performance audits related to the expenditure of Proposition K bond proceeds. Christy White Associates completed independent financial and performance audit reports for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019. As recommended by the COC and adopted by the Governing Board, the auditor met with the COC at its February 24, 2020 meeting.

The audit reports:

  • Opined that the financial reports submitted to the District and the COC present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Proposition K Bond Building Fund as of June 30, 2019 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;
  • Did not identify any deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting that the audit firm considers to be material weaknesses and their tests disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards; and
  • Opined that the District complied, in all material respects, with the compliance requirements for Proposition K Bond Building Fund for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019.

The full reports are available by clicking on the links in the left margin.

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Compliance with Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3) of the California Constitution and Recently Adopted AB 182


Based on its review of information provided by the District and the independent auditor to the COC, and its inspections of the projects to date, the COC concludes that expenditures of Proposition K Bond Building Fund have been in compliance with the requirements of Section 1(b)(3) of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution. Issuance of Series C Bonds were issued in compliance with AB 182 adopted in 2013 which added restrictions on the issuance of school bonds, especially Capital Appreciation Bonds.

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