School Bond Measure Passing With 56 Percent Votes in Favor

With 56 percent of voters saying, "yes," will passed, meaning that property owners will have to contribute to a $63 million bond that will help pay for facilities upgrades throughout the

The bond needed a 55 percent majority of votes cast to pass. A total of 2,698 residents voted in favor of the school bond measure, while 2,140 residents voted against it.

The money would go toward updating classrooms, libraries and science labs and refurbishing schools to meet earthquake and fire safety standards.

Consultants have identified $150 million worth of facilities upgrades needed at Newark Unified’s school sites.

Most of Newark’s schools are up to 40 years old, and some school sites contain asbestos, lead and hazardous materials and poor insulation, which increases the school's energy costs. Some schools also have roof leaks, aging plumbing systems and are not accessible to people who use wheelchairs.

Homeowners would have to pay $39 per $100,000 of assessed value annually, beginning in 2013 and ending in 2046. That calculation is based on an assumption of annual growth in assessed value of 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent.

Consultants have said the 4.5 percent represents an annual growth in assessed value that includes a proposed addition of 1,200 homes to be built in the city’s development area off Stevenson Boulevard, which was approved by the City Council last year.

Newark's City Council also recently approved the , a project that would add up to 2,500 homes east of Willow Street and spanning west toward Hickory Street between Central and Thornton avenues.