Comments on: School bond will be Proposition R on Nov. 6 ballot http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2012/08/22/school-bond-will-be-proposition-r-on-nov-6-ballot/ Ramona's Community Paper Since 1886 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:22:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: MaryG http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2012/08/22/school-bond-will-be-proposition-r-on-nov-6-ballot/#comment-450263 MaryG Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:34:03 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=16682#comment-450263 Thousands of dollars in equity? I would love to see where you get your numbers from. Thousands of dollars in equity? I would love to see where you get your numbers from.

]]> By: Linda http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2012/08/22/school-bond-will-be-proposition-r-on-nov-6-ballot/#comment-450257 Linda Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:28:05 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=16682#comment-450257 So Ramona is expected to pay back a loan from 2004 that we as voters voted against? (Currently $22.7 million in outstanding debt) Why do schools that are nice schools such as Barnett need $1.7 million dollars? James Dukes needs $6 million? RHS almost $14 million? But, the oldest and most run down school in the district needs $7.4 million... Hmmmm. I have no objection to the fact that Ramona Elementary needs an overhaul. As a voter and a parent I want hard numbers to look at. No more of this "soft cost and contingency" BS. Also, will you be hiring LOCAL contractors and workers to put the money back into the community or, outside firms that are government approved and never the lowest bidder? This math does not add up. Maybe it is because I am a RHS graduate? Next issue should be why these schools cannot perform. Must be the paint on the walls, or the fact that all kids cannot get an iPad to do their work on. This proposition has a NO vote from me. Not because I do not care about my kids, simply because they cannot explain what where and why. They need to go back to the drawing board and try again. So Ramona is expected to pay back a loan from 2004 that we as voters voted against? (Currently $22.7 million in outstanding debt) Why do schools that are nice schools such as Barnett need $1.7 million dollars? James Dukes needs $6 million? RHS almost $14 million? But, the oldest and most run down school in the district needs $7.4 million… Hmmmm. I have no objection to the fact that Ramona Elementary needs an overhaul. As a voter and a parent I want hard numbers to look at. No more of this "soft cost and contingency" BS. Also, will you be hiring LOCAL contractors and workers to put the money back into the community or, outside firms that are government approved and never the lowest bidder? This math does not add up. Maybe it is because I am a RHS graduate? Next issue should be why these schools cannot perform. Must be the paint on the walls, or the fact that all kids cannot get an iPad to do their work on. This proposition has a NO vote from me. Not because I do not care about my kids, simply because they cannot explain what where and why. They need to go back to the drawing board and try again.

]]> By: Jim http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2012/08/22/school-bond-will-be-proposition-r-on-nov-6-ballot/#comment-423166 Jim Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:05:15 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=16682#comment-423166 Joe, Paying back the loan will take money away from the school's budget AND prohibit the repair of old buildings and new construction that is neccessary to bring our schools into good condition. I also hate the idea of paying the loan. I also hate paying taxes. But if you can see a little further beyond that you will see that paying for a bond now will be money in your pocket later when you want to sell your home. Like I said before, "Don't cut off your noose to spite you face!" Joe,
Paying back the loan will take money away from the school's budget AND prohibit the repair of old buildings and new construction that is neccessary to bring our schools into good condition. I also hate the idea of paying the loan. I also hate paying taxes. But if you can see a little further beyond that you will see that paying for a bond now will be money in your pocket later when you want to sell your home. Like I said before, "Don't cut off your noose to spite you face!"

]]> By: Mike Saavedra http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2012/08/22/school-bond-will-be-proposition-r-on-nov-6-ballot/#comment-422614 Mike Saavedra Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:23:14 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=16682#comment-422614 If Ramona values education we must vote yes for this bond. It is our community and our sons and daughters future at stake. Ramona has never passed a bond and yes I do know times are tough but our children deserve the best education we as a community have to offer. There has been talk about how our schools have used the money in the past. In this case the money has been earmarked and will be used to upgrade all schools to current technology and for repairs needed to class rooms and very old structures in very poor condition. This must be our goal and I hope this community values education as I do. If Ramona values education we must vote yes for this bond. It is our community and our sons and daughters future at stake. Ramona has never passed a bond and yes I do know times are tough but our children deserve the best education we as a community have to offer. There has been talk about how our schools have used the money in the past. In this case the money has been earmarked and will be used to upgrade all schools to current technology and for repairs needed to class rooms and very old structures in very poor condition. This must be our goal and I hope this community values education as I do.

]]> By: Joe http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2012/08/22/school-bond-will-be-proposition-r-on-nov-6-ballot/#comment-422208 Joe Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:41:08 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=16682#comment-422208 Unfortunately, I am voting no because of two conditions. One, this money is going to be used to pay off another loan. That is a vicious cycle, how long until there will be yet another tax to pay off the bond from prop R (2 Years, 5 Years?). Pay back the previous loan first. Second is I do not see any financial accountability to prevent mismanagement of funds. Sure, there will be an "independent" oversight committee, but will they have the authority to quickly remove any or all school board members responsible for mismanagement? Will the school board sign a statement of accountability allowing for civil and possibly criminal prosecution of any mismanagement of funds? Will there be 100% transparency where every dollar of this bond measure is accounted for? I have no problem opening up the purse strings to provide a better education for my three children. But don't expect me to blindly give to anyone under the guise of "trust us". That is just not fiscally sound business. Unfortunately, I am voting no because of two conditions. One, this money is going to be used to pay off another loan. That is a vicious cycle, how long until there will be yet another tax to pay off the bond from prop R (2 Years, 5 Years?). Pay back the previous loan first.

Second is I do not see any financial accountability to prevent mismanagement of funds. Sure, there will be an "independent" oversight committee, but will they have the authority to quickly remove any or all school board members responsible for mismanagement? Will the school board sign a statement of accountability allowing for civil and possibly criminal prosecution of any mismanagement of funds? Will there be 100% transparency where every dollar of this bond measure is accounted for?

I have no problem opening up the purse strings to provide a better education for my three children. But don't expect me to blindly give to anyone under the guise of "trust us". That is just not fiscally sound business.

]]> By: jim http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2012/08/22/school-bond-will-be-proposition-r-on-nov-6-ballot/#comment-420635 jim Wed, 19 Sep 2012 01:53:02 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=16682#comment-420635 If you are rejecting this bond just because it is money out of your pocket, you don't know all the facts. Your number 1 investment (your home) will loose its value if this bond doesn't pass. The bond is only $5.00 a month for every $100,000 of assessed value. That's much better than loosing thousands of dollars in equity. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face! A vote no on the bond is a vote yes to decrease your home's value. If you are rejecting this bond just because it is money out of your pocket, you don't know all the facts. Your number 1 investment (your home) will loose its value if this bond doesn't pass. The bond is only $5.00 a month for every $100,000 of assessed value. That's much better than loosing thousands of dollars in equity. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face! A vote no on the bond is a vote yes to decrease your home's value.

]]> By: sandra j http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2012/08/22/school-bond-will-be-proposition-r-on-nov-6-ballot/#comment-397584 sandra j Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:57:14 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=16682#comment-397584 Reject. Refuse. Rubbish. Racket. Rancid. Rape. Ridiculous. Ream. Reject. Refuse. Rubbish. Racket. Rancid. Rape. Ridiculous. Ream.

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