By Jondi Gumz
Voters in Pajaro Valley, Scotts Valley and Soquel will face local tax measures in the Nov. 5 election.
Voters in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (which includes Aptos and Corralitos) will consider a $315 million bond to acquire, construct and reconstruct school facilities.
Such projects would include replacing leaky roofs, renovating bathrooms and classrooms, electrical infrastructure, playgrounds and fields. They could include temporary or permanent classrooms and acquiring or building teacher-staff rental housing.
Taxpayers would pay $51.88 per $100,000 assessed value, to raise $18.3 million annually through 2053.
The district estimates the amount to be repaid to be $556 million.
Voters in Central Fire District which includes Aptos, Soquel, Capitola and Live Oak will consider a $221 million bond to construct, reconstruct or improve outdated fire stations in Soquel, Capitola and La Selva Beach, including acquiring land, construct a new fire station training facility, construct, reconstruct, relocate or improve fire staff offices, training rooms, governance facilities and fleet services, including acquiring land, and acquire or replace fire apparatus. A 55% yes vote is needed to pass.
Taxpayers would pay $29 per $100,000 assessed value through 2064, raising $11.6 million annually.
The district estimates the amount to be repaid at $470 million.
Voters in the Scotts Valley Unified School District will consider an $80 million bond measure to repair, renovate, rebuild, construct and acquire school facilities.
Such projects authorized include building a multipurpose room at each elementary school which may include space for gathering for the whole school and cafeteria functions, replaced outdated playground equipment, build a swimming pool, build a music-performing arts facility, build all-weather track at the high school, install solar panels, remove hazardous materials during construction and ensure full compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act.
Project priorities will be determined by the school board.
Taxpayers would pay $46 to $49 per $100,000 of assessed value ,to raise $5 million per year through 2058.
The district estimates the amount to be repaid to be $170.4 million.
Voters in the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District will consider a $24.5 million bond measure to build a new fire station on its property on La Madrona Drive and acquire land and building for new administrative offices, training room, and fleet services.
Taxpayers would pay $17 per $100,000 of assessed value, to raise $1.7 million per year through 2057.
The district estimates the amount to be repaid to be $51.5 million.
Voters in the Zayante Fire District will consider a parcel tax to pay daytime firefighters as volunteers are working and not available and update the emergency response fleet: $50 for vacant parcels under 5 acres, $100 for vacant parcels 5 acres or more, and $290 for residential and commercial parcels, with an annual increase based on Consumer Price Index. This would replace the existing $68 per parcel tax.
The district says this would raise $440,000 a year to maintain viability as a volunteer fire department.
Voters in the Soquel Union Elementary School District will consider a $73 million bond measure to replace, renovate, construct, acquire and improve classrooms and facilities.
Projects could include technology upgrades, federally mandated accessibility improvements, upgrading playgrounds and physical education fields, and relocation of dislocated facilities during construction.
Taxpayers would pay $30 per $100,000 of assessed value to raise $4 million per year through 2059.
The district estimates the amount to be repaid to be $147 million.
Sarah Newkirk
Voters countywide will consider an $87 permanent parcel tax to raise $7.3 million a year for the county Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience, with 40% distributed by that office, 20% to cities and 20% to the unincorporated areas and 20% for climate risk reduction, flood resilience on working ag lands, flood protection and fuel breaks and reducing hazardous fuel to prevent catastrophic wildfire, and stewardship of private lands for public benefit for fire resiliency, water quality and erosion control.
Sarah Newkirk, of Felton, who heads the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, wrote the measure. Her property is insured by the FAIR plan, which she said is not sustainable, motivating her to find a solution.
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Contested Races on November 5
The deadline for candidates to file was 5 p.m. Aug. 9, and when incumbents do not run, the deadline is extended to 5 p.m. Aug. 14.
Since Aptos Times goes to print at noon, this report will not have the latest information.
Here is what is known as of 3 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 13.
Cabrillo College incumbent trustee Rachael Spencer representing Area 4 did not file and the Area 5 seat is vacant due to the resignation of Martha Vega. Applications are due Aug. 30.
Ken Wagman filed for Area 4 Santa Cruz to Bonny Doon and Manuel Bersamin filed for Area 5 Watsonville.
Three seats are open on La Selva Beach Recreation District, and Mark Buriss and Danielle Paviecic have filed.
In the Pajaro Valley Health District, which governs Watsonville Community Hospital, appointed incumbents Tony Nunez and Katherine Gabriel-Coz are seeking election along with Alexndra Friel. A fourth hopeful Jonathan Friel withdrew on Aug. 9.
In the Pajaro Valley Fire District, three seats are open, and incumbents Robert Erbe and David Martone filed, as did Jake Dellamonica.
In Scotts Valley, terms are up for three of the five City Council members and only one incumbent Donna Lind has filed. That has attracted six challengers, Steve Clark, Krista Jett, John Lewis, Dustin Lopez, Mercedes Molloy, Corky Roberson.
Terms are up for three of the five Scotts Valley Unified School District trustees. Incumbent Michael Shulman and appointed incumbent Mitali Hindia Weiglein face Gary Redemacher and Tuka Gafari.
Three seats are open on the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District board. Incumbent Daron Pisciotta faces Philip Hover-Smoot, Zachary Raney, Michael Weaver, and Ron Whittle.
Two seats are open on the Pajaro Dunes Geologic Hazard Abatement District board. Appointed incumbent John Cullen has filed.
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Candidates Win Seats Without Election in Uncontested Races
Quite a few offices will not appear on the Nov. 5 ballot because they were uncontested.
In the Central Fire District, the terms of incumbents in District 1, Live Oak, District 2, Capitola, and District 3, Aptos Hills, were up. The incumbents chose not to run, and in each district, only one candidate filed.
So there is no election, and the new board members are: District 1, Lani Faulkner, District 2, Jake Hess, and District 3, Don Littlefield.
In other races, incumbents filed to run again without opposition.
Those seats are filled without election.
That’s what happened on the Soquel Creek Water District board. Incumbent Tom LaHue and appointed incumbent Jennifer Balboni will remain in those seats.
Same for the Cabrillo College board. Incumbent Christina Cuevas was the only one to file in Area 3 Capitola and Soquel and incumbent Stephen Trujillo was the only one to file in Area 7 outside Watsonville.
Same for La Selva Beach Recreation District board. One seat was open and incumbent James Rhodes, the only candidate to file, will fill that seat.
Same for Central Water District. Two seats were open and incumbents John Benich and Robert Postle were the only candidates to file.
Same for the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency. Incumbent Stephen Rider was the only one to file in Division B and incumbent Robert Culbertson was the only to file in Division D.
Same for Pajaro Valley Fire District board. One seat for a short term was open, and appointed incumbent Ashley Moules was the only one to file.
County Board of Education
Three incumbents are the only ones to file and will get another term without an election.
Area 4 Live Oak to Soquel Hills: Edward Estrada.
Area 5 Soquel and Aptos: Rachel Williams
Area 6 Outside Watsonville: Ed Acosta.
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
In Trustee Area 2, which surrounds Lakeview Middle School, incumbent Georgia Acosta faces Carol Turley.
In Trustee Area 3, which extends into Monterey County, incumbent Oscar Soto faces Gabriel Joseph Medina.
In Trustee Area 6, which surrounds Calabasas Elementary School, incumbent Adam Bolanos accent over last o Scow faces Jessica Carrasco.
Kim De Serpa, who represents Area 1 Aptos is not up for election; she is running for District 2 county supervisor.