Poll indicates green light for green bond

A recent telephone survey of district residents has led Mountain View-Los Altos School District officials to believe they have enough community support to put a proposed bond measure on the June 2010 ballot.

Administrators say the $45 million bond measure would not increase tax rates, but would extend a current tax for another five years or so.

“We’re planning on moving forward with our community outreach regarding the bond,” said Superintendent Barry Groves. “Right now our plan is to continue to look forward to putting the bond on the June ballot.”

The poll, conducted by Oakland-based EMC Research, surveyed 400 “likely voters” over the last few weeks to gauge whether the district should move forward with the proposal. Those surveyed were read the proposed bond measure and asked if they would support it. According to EMC Research, 57 percent of those polled answered “yes” or “probably yes.”

When it was emphasized to voters that their tax rate would not increase, support for the measure jumped 10 percent, with 66 percent of those polled indicating they would either support or likely support the measure.

The proposed bond measure would require only 55 percent of the vote to pass, because it comes with an oversight committee. Bond measures without an oversight committee require a two-thirds majority to pass.

Groves said he was “really happy” with the poll results, adding that part of the district’s strategy going forward will be to “reinforce that there’ll be no tax rate increase” to voters.

The measure would add additional classroom space for growing student enrollment, as well as help the district make “green” renovations to save energy. According to the survey, voters are most supportive of funding science labs and equipment, ensuring equal facilities and preventing overcrowding.

“Greening” facilities was of less importance than academics and safety, but was still important to many surveyed. Renovating the Mountain View High School swimming pool was of least importance among the proposed renovations.

Groves said that although the project list for the bond will not change, the district is taking note of the public’s priorities.

The survey also found that although current parents give the district higher ratings overall, they are no more likely than non-parent voters to support the bond measure. The results of those surveyed show that likely voters give MVLA a positive rating by a three-to-one ratio.

The report by EMC indicated that voters in Mountain View are more likely to support a bond measure than those in Los Altos or Los Altos Hills. It also found that Democrats and younger voters are more likely to support the measure.

“I think (the survey results are) in line somewhat with what we expected,” Groves said. He added that according to the EMC consultant, Mountain View is one of the most positive areas the polling group has seen in all of California when it comes to supporting school funding.

Groves said the board will not make a final decision on the measure until its March 9 meeting. The deadline for placing the bond on the June ballot is mid-March.