Rose Stilo: Before asking for bond money, collect all your fees

Turlock School District is proposing school bonds totaling $89 million on election day. The District says the money is needed to upgrade existing facilities. While I support adding security lighting, air conditioning, etc. to our schools, I can’t support these bonds because one important issue remains. As a retired City of Turlock planner, I know our city has a great track record for requiring development to “pay its way.” This includes establishing school fees at the time any new residential project is approved so that the cost of providing services for future students is accommodated. Based on school district boundaries, the new residents pay school fees to their district.

However, my communication with the Turlock district has led me to believe at least one future residential area, in the northeast corner of Turlock but in the Denair School District, could result in unfunded costs to the Turlock Unitied School District. Future students would likely be accepted into Turlock schools without scrutiny. So, the school fees paid by developers would go to the Denair district, while the students would attend Turlock schools. Not good fiscal planning in my opinion.

This story was originally published October 27, 2016 at 1:15 PM with the headline "Rose Stilo: Before asking for bond money, collect all your fees."