Reader’s Respond

At issue: The Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s proposed

$110-million bond on the June 6 special ballot.

This is in response to your article (“Heavily taxed residents say bond

is too much,” May 8) regarding opposition from the Newport Coast

contingent to school bond Measure A. Both John Moorlach and the Daily

Pilot have positively rated the upcoming bond measure.

Beyond the mechanics of why the schools need the money, how much the

state will chip in and who will oversee the expenditure of the total

proceeds, anyone who argues that it is unfair for them to pay an extra

deductible in order to make a statement against the past sins of the of

the school district, or as a vote against more taxes, or because those

bond dollars will not benefit me or because Republicans are always

against more taxes in any form, or because their children are already out

of school or attend solely private schools misses their own personal

obligation to sustain public education’s vital part in our American

dream.

For the past few weeks, I have been reading as much as possible on the

bond issue in order to vote intelligently.

Now, after reading your editorial in the Daily Pilot (“The bond: it’s

your obligation,” May 13), I have one question which is not being

addressed:

What is the length of time the property tax bills will be assessed?

When anyone is incurring debt, they usually have knowledge of when the

debt will be paid.

If anyone has the answer, I would certainly like to know.

JAN M. CONICOFF

Newport Beach

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District is adamant in its

representations that the Newport Coast Elementary School will be

completed and ready for occupancy in September 2000.

For this project, the district selected a construction manager to

assist in implementing and expediting the construction process. A

substantial fee is being paid for this service and the net result is that

the school will not be completed this calendar year, and will likely not

be ready for occupancy until the first or second quarter of 2001

(possibility of project not being available until September 2001).

In the proposed bond issue scheduled for vote on June 6, the district

is planning to spend $50.6 million for implementation fees. Taxpayers are

entitled to a comprehensive breakdown for these non brick-and-mortar

costs.

ALFRED R. WILLINGER

Newport Coast

Yes, repairing and renovating the schools are good ideas. Yes, we

should provide the children of our community the opportunity for the best

and safest education possible.

Yes, the issuance of municipal bonds to finance this endeavor may a

good idea. But I encourage every taxpayer to explore the tax implications

this bond issue may have on them as taxpayers.

But in the tradition of fiscally conservative Orange County (I’m

talking the citizens, not the politicians of late), I abhor any new taxes

that might be levied upon us. This is an issue every taxpayer should

consider.

PAUL JAMES BALDWIN

Newport Beach