Measure O is a general obligation (GO) bond measure approved by voters in November 2020. Measure O authorizes $516.3 million to increase student access to technology, upgrade classrooms and schools, and expand STEAM and Career Technology Education programs and facilities.

Measure O includes $60 million in Education Technology bonds, which are short-term 3-5 year bonds to allow for the purchase of technology. The remaining $456.3 million will be issued as long term 30-35 year bonds for facilities capital improvements.

• Improving equitable access to technology for students
• Providing classrooms, labs, and technology to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEAM) courses
• Improving access to school facilities for students with disabilities
• Improving energy conservation with installation of district-owned solar panels and energy-efficient windows
• Upgrading Career Technical Education classrooms
• Replacing aging roofs and plumbing systems
• Repairing and upgrading aging classrooms and labs to better prepare students for high school, college, and careers
• Replacing heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems
• Installing new electrical systems to safely accommodate new technology
• Improving student safety and c ampus security, emergency communications systems, smoke detectors, fire alarms, and sprinklers

Measure O’s average annual tax rate is estimated to
be less than 4¢ per $100 of assessed valuation while bonds are outstanding. Assessed valuation should not be confused with market value. The assessed valuation while bonds are outstanding is the value placed on the property by Los Angeles County and is typically lower than market value.

Measure O comes with taxpayer protections. An independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee and a third-party auditor must review and audit all bond expenditures. Funds are prohibited from being used for administrators’ salaries, pensions or benefits. Measure O includes legal safeguards requiring that all bond funds be spent on Pasadena Unified schools—the state is legally prohibited from taking and spending the funds in other districts.

The District Board believes the state does not provide sufficient funding for repairing facilities and updating technology. Measure O allows the District to fund critical classroom and technology improvements to provide our children with the skills needed to compete in a modern world. In addition, COVID-19 has made it clear that emergencies can happen at any time, and our schools must be equipped to educate our students in a safe and secure learning environment.

General Obligation, (GO) bonds are commonly used by California school districts to fund improvement projects, such as construction and renovation of classrooms. Similar to a home loan, GO bonds are repaid over time. Funds to repay the bonds come from a tax on all taxable property—residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural—located within the District.