Signe Coe votes Monday outside the County of Santa Cruz building on Ocean Street in Santa Cruz. (Allison Garcia — Santa Cruz Local)

Last county update: 11/8/2024 4:30:00 PM

N – Live Oak School District bond – Majority to pass

LIVE OAK >> Measure N asked voters in Live Oak School District whether to approve $45 million in bonds to build below-market-rate housing for school employees. As of Friday afternoon, it fell short with 47.28% of the vote.

The results have halted plans to buy land for the homes, school district officials said. Results are expected to be updated this month, and the election must be certified by early December.

“We’re disappointed by the results, but not particularly surprised,” said Live Oak School Board President Kristin Pfotenhauer. “It’s been a hard year for the district and for schools in general regarding declining enrollment and declining funding.”

Following a budget crisis in the spring that saw the district narrowly avoid a state takeover, Live Oak School District leaders are attempting to close a budget gap of nearly $1 million. 

In the March 5 election, voters in Live Oak School District approved $44 million for school buildings and other facilities with Measure H. In the Nov. 5 election, Measure N asked voters to fund school district employee housing.

“I voted no out of concern that the school board would become construction project and rental managers on top of more important education issues,” said James Rosen, of Pleasure Point.

Some opponents of Measure N also feared that the proposed employee housing could displace the Elena Baskin Live Oak Senior Center at 1777 Capitola Road. Live Oak School District owns the property and rents it to two senior services nonprofits: Community Bridges’ Meals on Wheels program, and Senior Network Services. For years, the district has planned to build housing on the senior center site. 

During the campaign, Pfotenhauer said the school board is looking to purchase an alternative site for the housing and have no immediate plans to demolish the senior center. On Thursday, she said the bond’s presumed failure is likely to put a land purchase out of reach.

While the board could look for alternative ways to fund a workforce housing project, there are no plans to do so, she said. Instead, she expects the board will put another bond measure on the 2026 ballot to build homes for employees. “The problem is not going to go away,” she said.

While district leaders will still consider purchasing land for the project, the parcel they expected to buy “won’t be available in two years,” she said.

During the Measure N campaign, district leaders didn’t rule out the possibility of displacing the senior center.

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