Frequently Asked Questions

Measure SP, on the June 2, 2026, ballot, will provide funding to repair aging classrooms and labs at all SPUSD neighborhood schools.

While SPUSD has made some upgrades, there are still aging roofs, plumbing, gas lines, sewer lines, and electrical systems in need of repair. Classrooms and labs built for a different era of education need upgrades to keep pace with current safety and academic standards.

Measure SP will:

• Provide modern classroom technology and infrastructure

• Upgrade, improve, and provide age-appropriate restrooms for all students

• Repair and replace aging roofs, plumbing, gas lines, sewer lines, and electrical systems

• Update classrooms and labs to prepare students for college and careers

•  Renovate the SPHS Anderson Auditorium

• Improve student safety and school security including security fencing, security cameras, safety protection systems, emergency communications systems, smoke detectors, fire alarms, and sprinklers

• Remove any remaining hazardous materials like asbestos and lead pipes from
  school sites

Yes. Measure SP includes strict fiscal accountability protections, including:

• • • Requiring all funds remain locally controlled and cannot be taken by the State

    • Requiring an independent citizens’ oversight committee, mandatory annual audits, and public disclosure of spending ensure all funds are used for voter-approved projects only

    • Ensuring no funds used for administrators’ salaries or pensions

    • Guaranteeing every dollar directly benefits our local schools

Yes. In 2015 SPUSD developed a comprehensive Facility Master Plan to guide priority repairs and updates to local schools that identified the most urgent repairs. Voter approval of a bond measure in November 2016 funded the first phase of improvements.

Over the last year, school facility experts carefully assessed every school and developed an updated plan to complete remaining repairs and upgrades to support quality education. The updated 2026 Facility Master Plan establishes the priorities for Measure SP funds and related state matching funds. The plan and related information is available at https://www.spusd.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=781650&type=d&pREC_ID=2732698

Yes. Voters approved Measure SP in 2016 to fund an initial round of school facility repairs and improvements. Measure SP’s independent Oversight Committee has confirmed that all funds were used as promised and that projects were completed on time and on budget. Voting YES on SP this year will provide locally controlled funding to address many urgent projects to repair and upgrade neighborhood schools.

No. By law, no funds from Measure SP can be used for operating expenses, including administrator salaries and pensions.

Measure SP will provide $128 million in locally controlled funding for repairs and upgrades to South Pasadena schools. The cost of Measure SP would be limited to $48 per $100,000 of assessed (not market) value. The measure will cost the typical homeowner in SPUSD approximately $245 per year.

The cost of bond measures is based on the assessed value of properties. The assessed value of a property is based on the original purchase price and may not increase by more than 2% a year, while the market value tends to grow at a much faster rate based on market conditions. Thus, the assessed value is usually much lower than the market value, especially if a property was purchased long ago at a much lower price than it could be purchased for today. It is this lower assessed value upon which the cost of Measure SP is based.

Yes. All funds from Measure SP will only benefit South Pasadena schools. No funds can be taken by the state or federal government or used for other purposes.

Yes. South Pasadena Unified School District has benefited from local voter-approved parcel tax funding from since 2009 that supports quality academic programs and teachers in local schools. The parcel tax funds people and programs in our schools but cannot be used for facilities improvements. Funding from Measure SP can only be used for school buildings, technology and equipment – but cannot be used for teaching and academic programs.

By state law, no exemptions may be provided for bond measures. However, the cost of bond measures is based on the assessed value of a home, not the market value. Assessed value is based on the original purchase price of a home. The longer a home has been owned, the lower the assessed value is compared to the market value. Typically, the older homeowners who have owned their homes the longest pay the least for bond measures.

Whether or not you have school-age children, supporting quality education is a wise investment. Good schools improve the quality of life in our community and protects the value of our homes. Additionally, the new facilities will be available to every member of the community for after-school use.

Measure SP will be on the June 2, 2026, ballot. All registered voters within the South Pasadena Unified School District will receive a ballot by mail in early May. You can vote by mail, drop your ballot in a drop box, or vote in person at a designated vote center. As soon as you receive your ballot, please vote YES on Measure SP and return it right away.

At least 55% of those voters who cast a ballot on Measure SP must vote “Yes” in order for Measure SP to be approved.

You can register to vote at www.registertovote.ca.gov. To find out more about voting in this election, please contact the Los Angeles County Registrar of voters at https://www.lavote.gov or by calling (800) 851-2666.

Our campaign is a grassroots organization dedicated to passing Measure SP for our local schools. Get involved in the effort to pass Measure SP by donating to the campaign, displaying a YES on SP lawn sign at your home and adding your name to our list of Measure SP supporters!