Roseville Taxpayers Could Be On The Hook For New High School
ROSEVILLE (CBS13) — Roseville parents are divided over a high school they say is desperately needed. It's been on hold for years and the Roseville Joint Union High School District is asking Roseville homeowners to pay for it.
"It was supposed to be built in 2013, and then they said '15, '17, '18 and now we're at 2020," said Jose Chavez, who moved back to the area a few years ago.
His daughter is in seventh grade this year, but the district's sixth high school won't be finished until 2020 at the earliest. She'll be a junior by then.
"She'll be having to get bused all the way to Oakmont, clear across town, so that's unacceptable," Chavez said.
Right now, there about 450 high school students in the West Park and Fiddyment neighborhoods. They're being bused across town to Oakmont High School.
"It's the closest school we have that has any space," said Superintendent Ron Severson. "For families that want to come at 4:30 to watch a volleyball match at Oakmont High School, getting across town there's a lot of traffic at that time, so it is inconvenient."
There are 4,500 new homes, just one fifth of the 24,000 planned for the community. Initially, the district expected school construction money from the state, but after the recession construction stopped and that money went away.
"We would never go to the taxpayer for more money unless we felt that it was urgent," Severson said.
In November, Roseville residents will decide on Measure D, which asks voters for $96 million dollars. $30 million is for the 6th high school, while the rest is for improving existing school facilities. For homeowners, it means paying $60 per year or $5 per month. It's worth it to Scott Alvord, even though his kids have already graduated from high school.
SOT: 43:01 Scott: "That's nothing compared to what it will do to the property values, having a world-class high school built here" (4)
While local homeowners already face existing taxes for city development, Dan Gergis believes passing the bond is the best move in the long run.
"We don't like paying taxes but we pay taxes with purpose and this is definitely a purpose we want to get behind," he said.
The school district says it's looked at all of the options and determined that a new tax is the best option the district has. Steverson says if the measure doesn't pass, the district will likely propose another bond in two years. If it does pass, they could break ground by 2018 and open high school doors by 2020.
