Published October 1, 2026
BY RUBY IRANMANESH
On Nov. 3, voters of the Carmel Unified School District will decide whether to approve a $250 million bond proposal, titled Measure I, aimed at setting aside tax assessed money for district-wide facility projects.
Adopted by the CUSD Board of Education in June, the bond resolution—if approved by voters—would be used to improve schools within the district by updating old infrastructure and athletic facilities, replacing portables with permanent classrooms, improving accessibility, enhancing campus safety and upgrading electrical and sewer systems.
“We are bringing the bond forward now because our facilities continue to age while construction costs steadily rise,” says CUSD superintendent Sharon Ofek. “Ongoing repairs cannot replace major systems like roofs, plumbing and aging portables that have reached the end of their useful life. Delaying these projects only drives up long-term costs.”
Despite the bond’s goals of improving student safety and well-being, many community members are still reluctant to support the bond and express a desire for further clarity and information about the district’s long-term plan.
“I support substantial facilities investment,” says Art Fernandez, a candidate for the CUSD Governing Board in Trustee Area 2. “However, I do not believe the current proposal gives voters enough clarity about which projects are most urgent, what order they will be completed in and how this bond fits into a district’s long-term facilities strategy.”
A school bond would allow the district to borrow money for major facility projects. Over time, the borrowed money would be repaid through a dedicated property tax paid by property owners in the district.
The estimated tax rate would be up to $36 per $100,000 of assessed value, determined by the tax assessor of Monterey County. This rate was based on the amount of the bond, the number of taxpayers in the area and the period of time it would be paid off, typically 20 to 30 years. Essentially, property owners within CUSD would pay this additional tax as part of their annual property tax bill.
“The financial adviser recommended this specific type of bond because it qualifies us to apply for state matching funds,” says CUSD board president Matt Glazer. “But we don’t borrow that money all at once, so it’s unlikely that taxpayers would see the $36 value in any one snapshot in time.”
Unlike operating funds, which pay for salaries and day-to-day operations funded by existing property taxes collected by the county, bond funds would strictly be used for facility projects.
“The biggest misconception is that bond funds can be used for salaries or operational costs,” says Ofek. “State law strictly forbids this, ensuring every dollar goes exclusively to voter-approved facility projects with independent oversight.”
Although CUSD invests nearly $3 million annually in maintenance, the district claims that unfulfilled facility needs remain a pressing concern. Examples include roof leaks and worsening adobe walls in Carmel High School classrooms, aging pipes at Carmel River Elementary School and severely cracked asphalt at Tularcitos Elementary School.
“If the bond passes, the community will likely notice visible upgrades first in infrastructure projects, including restroom refurbishment, roof replacement and painting while larger projects are in the design process,” says Ofek.
Throughout all schools within the district, the oldest classrooms were built nearly 90 years ago, meaning that there are outdated electrical systems, plumbing and pipes. CUSD emphasizes that many of these buildings are becoming irreparable and require immediate replacements to minimize costly future repairs.
“I went to Carmel River, Middle and High School in the 1960s and ‘70s, and many of the facilities are exactly the same as they were when I was a kid,” says Carmel-local Graeme Robertson, a member of the Carmel High School Foundation’s board of directors and president of the Carmel Residents Association. “There’s an opportunity now to upgrade the facilities and bring them into the new century. Therefore, I support the bond.”
While the district has communicated several of their facility needs with the public, many CUSD voters are still unsure about the timeline and urgency of these projects.
“My question is, what absolutely has to be done now?” says CUSD parent Evelyn Dincer. “What presents a health, safety or infrastructure concern? What has reached the end of its useful life? And what can reasonably wait? Answer those questions clearly, put the critical needs first and then determine the appropriate size of the bond—not the other way around.”
Because athletic facility updates are included in the Facilities Master Plan, they will be included in the bond.
Graphic by RUBY IRANMANESH
“Urgent infrastructure projects, which may include athletic or PE facilities, will be the priority if the bond passes,” says Ofek.
Overall, the bond would fund projects listed in the CUSD Facilities Master Plan, which was established to define the district’s long-term goals for facility plans. The top priorities of the plan include updating plumbing, electrical systems, security fencing and cameras, classrooms and Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility.
“The Facilities Master Plan includes an extensive list of projects, including athletic facilities, and the bond reflects a range of the identified needs on that list,” says Ofek. “Given that needs and priorities change over time, the list should be viewed as a framework, not a guaranteed list of projects.”
Although the Facilities Master Plan was completed in June 2019, the funding process for these projects was paused in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2025, the board began the process of updating the plan to fit current necessities and, after finalizing updates in January, formally adopted a bond resolution for funding in June.
While this is the greatest bond measure proposed by CUSD, the district has had a couple of facility update bonds in the past. In 2000, the board proposed a $20 million bond to modernize district facilities, and it was approved by 82.1% of voters in May 2000 according to S&P Global. In 2005, the board proposed a facility upgrades bond once again for $21.5 million that was approved by 74% of voters in November 2005, according to Fitch Rates, making it the last successful school bond passed by the district. This bond funded the building of the CHS performing arts center, swimming pool and permanent classrooms to replace portables.
“I was around for the previous bonds, and they did a fairly good job addressing the deferred maintenance,” says Robertson. “However, these facilities constantly need to be upgraded and maintained, so I think now’s a good time to be doing it.”
If this bond is passed in November, a citizens oversight committee would be introduced to overlook voter-approved facility projects and spending. Apart from the committee, community members add that it would also be nice to have regular and transparent project updates from the board.
“Ultimately, this is about stewardship and trust for me,” says Dincer. “We hand our most precious responsibility—our children—into the care of our schools for the better part of every day. I want them to have excellent teachers, programs and facilities, and I am willing to invest in those things.”
