The Antelope Valley Times

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Palmdale City Council endorses Measure DD

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PALMDALE – Palmdale City Council passed a resolution in support of Palmdale School District’s Bond Measure DD for 21st Century Palmdale Schools that will be on the Nov. 6 Ballot.

Measure DD is a $220 million school bond measure that will upgrade Palmdale schools so students have a strong academic foundation that prepares them for high school, college and the competitive 21st century job market, city officials said.

“Measure DD will provide locally-controlled funding to update Palmdale schools and not one dollar can be taken by the state,” said Mayor James Ledford. “This measure will keep our students competitive and best prepare them for future careers.”

Superintendent Roger Gallizzi also spoke in support of the resolution.

“Our strong academic programs in science, math, and english help students succeed,” Gallizzi said. “Our classrooms and school facilities, however, need essential safety repairs and upgrades to support a 21st century learning environment that prepares students for today’s competitive economy.”

Measure DD will repair leaky roofs, provide up-to-date science and computer labs, repair aging and deteriorating classrooms, upgrade facilities to meet health and safety codes, replace outdated heating and cooling systems to improve energy efficiency, provide 21st century classroom technology and update technology over time, and provide modern fire-detection, alarms, emergency communication, and security systems.

The bond will cost residents no more than $30 per $100,000 of assessed property values annually.

Measure DD requires strict fiscal accountability. All funds will be controlled locally and no funds can be spent on salaries, pensions or benefits for administrators, teachers or other school employees.

An independent citizen oversight committee and annual audits will be required.

(Information via press release from the Palmdale School District.)

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Filed Under: Education, Palmdale

38 comments for "Palmdale City Council endorses Measure DD"

  2. Lancaster city council voted tonight to back measure L. Raising property taxes “for da lil children”. LOL thought for a minute there deputy dog smith grew a pair (wanting to show the world he’s no one’s lap dog) and was going to vote against it. If they are there, they’re little teeny tiny balls, as he couldn’t quite make himself to vote against his lord and master Rex. So he took the cowards way out, and ABSTAINED from voting. Rex rewarded him by reminding everyone that Ron’s running as the republican candidate for assembly. Got to love local theater!

  4. Just refreshed my memory from Palmdale Aerospace Academy article dated August 7th…raising our taxes doesn’t seem to be a concern in Palmdale according to Ledford & Corrales…..surprised?

  5. Who cares want the council supports?

    NO NEW TAXES!!!

    They waste the money we already shell out and then want more, good money after bad.

    Are these council members elected and if so maybe we should replace them.

  6. No new taxes, no way. Our taxes have already been misappropriated. Forget it, Ledford & Co. Time for some new leadership here in Palmdale.

    • WHY IS EVERYONE IGNORING LANCASTER’S SUPPORT FOR RAISING PROPERTY TAXES FOR LANCASTER SCHOOLS???
      They worked it out to $38 per $100,000 in property value.

      Chuck’s letter condemned Palmdale for supporting more taxes going towards Palmdale schools, (and accused them of being corrupt and incompetent) and says Lancaster is a better school district because Lancaster ISN’T supporting those same tax hikes.

      No, because they got their own tax measure on the ballot! Along with a new charter Rex is on the board of. And the measure is paying for things at Park View. Do we still have kids going to Park view? Why isn’t anyone talking about Rex Parris coming out for raising property taxes with measure L?

      We live in some alternate universe? We got Republicans HERE bad mouthing repubs in Palmdale for raising property taxes, yet not a word on the article in the AVP that came out saying Lancaster/Rex was supporting measure L. Did I miss something? Did the Lancaster CC and mayor not pay their dues, and thus kicked out of the local AVRP?
      Or were they all just closet dems from the get go?

      This is why I vote independent. I just DON’T grasp the double standards of the right or left!

      • The GOP up here can pack sand – they’re all a bunch of liars, opportunists, Carpetbaggers and Flim Flam Men. Have been for eons.

        In their universe, if they screw up – no big deal, demand more money.

        Obviously both Mayors have screwed up BIG TIME with both desperate for Measures – and, like good little Plutocrats they’ll whine to the Valley Press, and the VPress will put the magic spin to make it all ok again.

        As long as you can vote Independent in a Primary, I say go for it.

  10. It’s just more money to the bureaucracy to waste. They’re never satiated.

    No more $ to feed the beast!

  11. Really!! Measures 30 & 38… and Gallizzi tries to get his DD passed on the same ballot….what an idiot! Another example of his financial stupidity….or ours!

  12. NO WAY. I hate bond issues. Especially when they involve “the children”. Why should property owners pay for the whole thing, while tons of students’ families are apartment dwellers and renters, and won’t have to pay a thing. Totally unfair way of doing things. I say if you want money to spend, first look at cutting something less important.

    • Cause somebody paid for your education when you were a kiddie. Maybe, some childless couple on Social Security.

      Plus, apartment dwellers pay property taxes through their rent.

      You are a typical greedy right wing pig but you’re so innocuous.

    • Right on Hector.

      Just say NO to all new taxes, William and the other liberals can just pay more and be more than happy, problem solved.

      • Thanks Steve. It’s libs like William that have no problem with a little increase here and a little there….and they don’t understand that they all add up. Give me a break….they pay through their rent…what a joke.

        • So, you’re in the 47% that it’s Romney’s job not to worry about. And, he won’t.

          Poor Hector is so confused.

          • Poor Willie is on fire tonight…seeing all those government benefits going away as soon as Romney takes over.

          • Hector isn’t at all confused, Willy. He has you pegged for what you are. Can’t wait to see Ryan make mince meat out of that BOOB Biden in the next debate. Biden will be pulling out all of his bad hair plugs in desparation.

      • Did that ultra lib Steve Hofbraur vote yes on this? Rex Parris is supporting measure L in Lancaster. Vote these 2 liberals out!

  13. I love a DD measurement! I mean, they’re just gr- Wait.. What? Ohhhh, ‘Measure DD.’…

    Seriously, though, it sucks that the state has taken so much money from our local schools that we should even have to consider a tax increase upon ourselves for these needs. Circumstances being what they are, however, I support this measure with the one caveat that I REALLY want protections against yet another state money grab OR reduction in other funding from the state because of this measure’s passage.

    • I usually vote for school bonds. But, when AV College did the bait and switch with the Palmdale site, I won’t vote any more money for the place.

      I don’t know why Palmdale has to be at the mercy of the AV College instead of having it’s own district or whatever. Much smaller cities than Palmdale have community colleges.

      • Ummm… William… The comparison that you give is not quite fair in this case. This is not a bond for the ‘bait-n-switch’ AV College District. It is only for the local Palmdale School District, which teaches grades K-8.

        • Yes it is fair.

          I’d vote for DD if Palmdale reneged on the promised slush-fund that goes to AV College/Lancaster Redevelopment Fund.

  14. Ohh goody. Another bond measure so the district can buy new computers, furniture, vehicles etc. Don’t let them fool you, I’ve seen bonds in school districts, and I know I saw at least 50% go for items other than what the bond measure was for. Accounting will need new computers, managers will need new furniture for their offices. Very little will go for “the kids”.

    • It’s basically $$ to pad the funds they stole from the public schools to fund the Charter.

      • @Eris…not according to board member Sandy Corrales…she has previously posted on this site that no $$ has been stolen from the PSD budget/student’s.

        • Doesn’t make sense. Since Charters are entitled to public taxpayer funds, and there’s a new Charter school in Palmdale – then perhaps it wasn’t ‘stolen’…… but rightfully used.

          Increasing more schools with the same amount of money available, of course cuts the budget — more fuzzy arithmetic from the scholars @ City Hall.

          • ….Instead of upgrading an school already in operation, which would’ve required less upgrades, they dumped all the money into a vacant structure and call it PROGRESS. Since the student population has dropped considerably – as with income from taxes, where do they get off establishing yet another school when they can’t even maintain the one’s they have?

            Planning 101

        • Do you think she would post anything negative? If I’m not mistaken her husband is a Charter board member.

    • I guess you want current and future school kids to be ignorant like yourself.

      Well, enjoy the company in a few years when they work alongside you at PepBoys.