California Taxpayers Action Network

Promoting and Protecting the Rights of California’s Residents and Taxpayers

CalTAN has filed Ballot Opposition Arguments
for the following June 7, 2015 School Bond Measures:

County

Contra Costa
Imperial
Kern
Kern
Lake
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Marin
Orange

Measure

B
K
D
E
U
E
GS
B
E

District

Brentwood Union

Central Union High

Wasco Union Elementary

Wasco Union Elementary

Kelseyville Unified

Santa Clarita CCD

Montebello Unified

Irvine Unified

Bond Amount

$158,000,000

$30,000,000

$9,700,000

$9,400,000

$24,000,000

$230,000,000

$300,000,000

$265,000,000

$319,000,000

This alleged criminal activity would have never occurred under competitive bidding

Conflict of Interest Opinion by Best Best & Krieger

EHA study shows LLB costs more than competitive bidding

"Cost of Magruder Middle School in Torrance is questioned." Daily Bulletin March 24, 2012

"Bankers Push School Bonds for C.A.S.H." Orange County Register February 22, 2013

"On Local School Bonds, Big Donors Often Win Big Contracts." Voice of San Diego February 19, 2013

"Money Makes the Monkey Dance." Voice of San Diego February 28, 2013

"About SD: School Bond Dollars and the Lease-Leaseback Method." NBC San Diego March 7, 2013

"Construction firms bankrolling Centinela Valley school board campaigns, receiving millions in contracts." Daily Breeze February 19, 2014

"Construction official arrested on bribery charges." San Diego Union Tribune July 3, 2014

"Construction official sentenced for contractor bribes" [PDF]

"Ex school boss pleads to federal charge." San Diego Union Tribune August 20, 2014

"O.C. schools skirt competitive bidding rules." Orange County Register August 31, 2014

"Court reverses decision on Fresno Unified's controversial contract to build Gaston school." Fresno Bee June 2, 2015

"Fresno court ruling disrupts building plans for schools." San Diego Union Tribune June 5, 2015

"Harris Construction agreed to consult for free on Gaston Middle project." Fresno Bee June 9, 2015

"Editorial: Hanson and board must fix construction contract problems." Fresno Bee June 10, 2015

"Fresno Unified superintendent speaks out about lease-leaseback deal." Fresno Bee June 11, 2015

"Fresno Unified asks state Supreme Court to review lease-leaseback case." Fresno Bee June 12, 2015

Fresno Bee June 18, 2015

Fresno Bee June 22, 2015

"Audit: Bond blunders led to shortfall." San Mateo Daily Journal July 2, 2015

Fresno Bee July 6, 2015

Sacramento Bee July 9, 2015

"No-bid practice for funding school projects found illegal." San Francisco Chronicle July 16, 2015

"Bill McEwen: Connecting the dots in Fresno Unified school construction contract controversy." Fresno Bee August 6, 2015

"New committee calls for Fresno Unified trustees, Hanson to resign." Fresno Bee August 10, 2015

"Valley Public Radio interview with Bill McEwen of the Fresno Bee on FUSD's School Construction Controversy." Valley Public Radio August 11, 2015

"New bill would protect school contractors' payments." Sacramento Bee August 19, 2015

"Editorial: School builders enlist California Legislature to protect their wallets." Fresno Bee August 20, 2015

"Bill protecting contractors in school district leaseback deals dies in committee." Fresno Bee August 25, 2015

"The $50 Million Henhouse." The North Coast Journal August 27, 2015

"Supreme Court Denies School Contract Case." The North Coast Journal August 27, 2015

"Fresno Unified Comes Under Federal Investigation." Fresno Bee August 28, 2015

"Dan Walters: A big mess 6 decades in making." Sacramento Bee August 30, 2015

"Fresno Unified's legal tangles with no-bid contracts puts California school districts on alert." Fresno Bee August 31, 2015

"Federal subpoena of Fresno Unified targets school district officials involved in no-bid contracts." Fresno Bee September 8, 2015

"Garcia Hernandez Sawhney & Bermudez article: Lease\Leaseback Transactions Under Fire."

"Fast Times at Rancho Santiago: Official's Passion for Golf Pays Dividends for Contractors." Voice of San Diego December 2, 2015

"Court of Appeal Revives Torrance Conflict of Interest Claim Against Balfour Beatty."Metropolitan News Enterprise April 13, 2016

"Dan Walters: New bill would protect school contractors in no-bid deals."Fresno Bee April 18, 2016

"Fresno Unified wants leaseback lawsuit dismissed."Fresno Bee April 19, 2016

"Fresno Unified's legal bill in leaseback case approaches half a million."Fresno Bee April 22, 2016

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