Two campaign mailers arrived in Santa Ana mailboxes today – in a direct hit on the SAUSD’s Measure I – the district’s third property tax increase in 19 years.

One of the mailers addressed the unfairness of Measure I, which will have a huge negative impact on Santa Ana senior citizens and others on fixed incomes, such as the disabled and those who are combating serious illnesses.

The mailer also notes that Measure I is unfair to Santa Ana homeowners and renters. The SAUSD has already raised our property taxes twice before – spending over $1 billion on school bonds. Measure I will cost the typical Santa Ana homeowner over $2,500 more in additional taxes over the life of this latest bond measure.

The fact is Santa Ana taxpayers have already had to cover over $1 billion in previous school bonds. That comes to $367 a year for every adult in Santa Ana. The new bond, Measure I, will mean we will be paying off more debt fore another forty years. That comes to $73 million annually. Doing this to Santa Ana’s low income families is simply unfair.

The mailer also highlights the basic unfairness of Measure I – it won’t help the area’s charter schools, which are also public schools and which also educate a lot of kids who need help.

Another mailer features SAUSD Trustee Ceci Iglesias, who is running for Santa Ana Ward 6:

• Thousands of Santa Ana’s children won’t benefit from Measure I because they attend Charter schools, which are public schools
• The district has not kept its past promises and keeps coming back to the voters for more money
• The measure will cost homeowners with higher gas prices

There  are two candidates challenging SAUSD School Board Members John Palacio and Valerie Amezcua, who are the driving forces behind Measure I. The challengers are Art Pedroza and Angie Cano. Both of these candidates have promised to hold the SAUSD accountable for the millions of dollars of tax revenue they get every year.