By Eric Heinz
To the discontent of some Talega residents, the Capistrano Unified School District approved to maintain the tax schedule of the Mello-Roos Community Funded Districts for the area. The special tax, approved during the Aug. 12 regular board meeting, funds projects at San Clemente and San Juan Hills High School as well as neighboring middle and elementary schools.
The raise of two Talega CFDs was 2 percent for one and 1.29 percent for the other.
During a phone interview Aug. 13, Trustee Jim Reardon said because there was an “escalation” for bond repayments scheduled for this year, the obligations to the bonds are still 110 percent of the required annual payments—the CUSD target for CFD payments. Bonds for residents before the 2013 refinancing were 146 percent of the annual obligation.
The organization Talega Residents for Fair Taxation claims CUSD still has $6.2 million in refinance savings, which were implemented in 2006.
During the meeting, tax attorney and Talega resident Susie Hattan and resident Jason Ewell spoke in opposition to the raise.
The last date to change the rate method for the levees for this fiscal year is Jan. 1, 2016. To discuss project money CFDs collect, a community committee, comprised of the public, will meet once a week to discuss improvements and enhancements to school facilities, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. beginning Oct. 15 to Nov. 5 at the district office at 33122, Valle Road in San Juan. Anyone interested in participating can sign up at www.capousd.ca.schoolloop.com or email the district at communitycommittee@capousd.org or by mail to the district office. The latest people can sign up is 5 p.m. Sept. 30.
A slideshow of the bond refinancing can be found at www.capousd.ca.schoolloop.com.
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