Measure W moves closer to percentage needed to pass

When will this site finally house a new high school for Menifee? No one knows, and the status of a bond measure is uncertain. File photo

By Doug Spoon, Editor

In case you haven't noticed, Measure W isn't dead yet.

The $148 million school bond put to voters in Menifee and Perris, which requires 55 percent approval to pass, stood at 51.82 percent "yes" the morning after the election. But that was before officials began adding to the count hundreds of thousands of mail-in and provisional ballots that are taking weeks to record.

In the results released tonight, Measure W has crept up to 54.85 percent "yes" -- on the verge of approval with 10,000 mail-in ballots and 45,000 provisional ballots still to be recorded County-wide.

Officials of the Perris Union School District, who approved placement of the bond measure on the ballot, remain cautiously optimistic. They announced from the first day after the election that they were not ready to concede, and now they have more hope than ever.

"We are unsure if the final results will reach 55 percent, but we remain optimistic, particularly after the last week of updates," said Candace Reines, deputy superintendent of PUHSD. "There are still many outstanding ballots left to count, and we will continue to monitor the results as they come in.

"As we watch the numbers climb, we are very grateful to the community for their support. Most of all, we are extremely proud of all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to support Measure W through Election Day. Clearly, their efforts have made a real difference."

Menifee resident Jennafer Griswold, who works at Paloma Valley High School, was one of the more vocal supporters of Measure W and wrote a commentary on the issue that was published in Menifee 24/7. She also is encouraged by the recent returns.

"We're hopeful, waiting for every vote to be counted, and are really proud of (54.85 percent) in such a tough environment," she said.

On the other side of the issue is a large group of residents who campaigned against the bond measure, posting "No on W" signs around town. For the most part, they are opposed to any additional taxes, particularly through a bond that would give only half of the $148 million to Menifee schools.

PUHSD officials have said that Menifee residents would pay taxes only their half, and that the funding is necessary to build a new high school already approved for a site on Leon Road, just east of Menifee. Critics suggest that funds generated from a 2012 bond measure should be enough to at least start construction of the school, and some question whether those funds have been kept in reserve.

Arthur Ma was a driving force behind the "No on W" campaign He wrote a commentary against it in the Oct. 15 edition of the Menifee 24/7 newspaper.

"If Menifee taxpayers approve this new bond in November, it will start with the fiscal year 2019-20, and it will end in the fiscal year of 2047-48," Ma wrote in that article. "Per the measure itself, this $148 million bond will require approximately $297 million in tax dollars to cover the debt service, principal and interest to pay back. With $149 million going to interest throughout 28 years, that is an average of $5.32 million a year frittered away on interest.

"Of course, Measure W never mentions or reminds taxpayers that they have already approved $153 million to build the same high school in 2012, and PUHSD is now using the same excuse to ask for more money."

According to PUHSD officials, half of that $153 million was used on Perris schools and half was set aside as partial funding of a high school in Menifee, which lies with the PUHSD boundaries. They say that half of the $148 million from Measure W would also be guaranteed for funding of the Menifee high school, and that it is necessary because of delays in state funding for the other half.

Ma expressed his frustration when contacted by Menifee 24/7 this week.

"I am watching it closely every day, and I notice the 'yes on W' has been gaining about 0.4 percent daily for the past weeks," Ma said on Monday. "We have to get past tomorrow in order to have a solid NO on W. Otherwise, there will be another unjust bond for Menifee voters for the next 30 years."

Measure W stayed under the magic 55 percent mark for that next day, but the count isn't over. The Registrar of Voters actually has until Dec. 6 to complete the count and certify the results.

Until then, it's a waiting game.