Voters in several Merced County school districts will decide Nov. 3 whether to approve five bond measures to fund school construction, repairs and facility upgrades.
In Le Grand, Measure A would cost approximately $25 annually for every $100,000 in assessed value, while Measure C in Los Banos would cost about $32. Measures W, X and Z within Merced Union High School District each estimate costs of about $29 per $100,000 in assessed value.
Not every Merced County voter will see all five measures on their ballot, and property owners would pay only for bonds approved in the district or area where their property is located.
If approved, the areas covered by each measure would repay the bonds through additional property taxes. Each requires at least 55% voter approval.
Property owners would pay based on their property’s assessed value, which may not match its current market value.
Measure A: Le Grand Union High School District
Measure A would authorize Le Grand Union High School District to issue up to $9.1 million in bonds.
The district says it would use the money to modernize classrooms, restrooms, and other school facilities; replace or repair leaking roofs; upgrade electrical systems; replace deteriorating plumbing; and make health and safety improvements.
The estimated tax is about $25 per $100,000 of assessed property value annually. If the district issues all $9.1 million in bonds, an impartial analysis by Merced County estimates taxpayers would ultimately repay about $21 million in principal and interest. If passed, the tax is expected to continue through fiscal year 2057-58.
Supporters say Measure A is needed to address aging and outdated infrastructure.
Jeannie Giampaoli, president of the Le Grand Union High School District board, and Le Grand resident Vickie Banaga signed the official ballot argument supporting the measure. In their argument, Giampaoli and Banaga also said the measure would make the district eligible for $5.8 million in state matching grants and keep tax rates similar to those voters previously approved.
The Republican Party of Merced County opposes Measure A, arguing that the district already carries debt from previous bond measures. The group also questions the district’s reliance on potential state matching funds and argues that enrollment has remained relatively flat over the past decade.
The group says the district has about $10.1 million in outstanding bond principal that will cost about $16.1 million to repay in principal and interest, citing the district’s 2025 audit. The debt includes bonds voters approved in 2001, 2014, and 2020.
Measure C: Los Banos Unified School District
Measure C would authorize Los Banos Unified School District to issue up to $99 million in bonds.
The district proposes using the money to repair and upgrade classrooms, science labs and career technical education facilities; replace deteriorating roofs, plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems; and build additional classrooms and facilities.
The estimated annual tax is $32 per $100,000 of assessed value.
If all bonds are issued, county election documents estimate approximately $178 million would ultimately be repaid in principal and interest. The tax is expected to continue through fiscal year 2059-60 if passed by voters.
Supporters argue some Los Banos schools are 50 to more than 100 years old and cite aging portable classrooms, roof leaks and the need for additional classrooms and career technical education facilities. Los Banos Unified Board Trustee Anthony Parreira, Merced College Board Trustee Joe G. Gutierrez, Los Banos City Treasurer Lucy M. Lawrence, Hans Younce with Morning Star Tomatoes, and Army veteran Baldo M. Salcido signed the official supporting argument.
The Republican Party of Merced County opposes Measure C, citing Los Banos Unified’s existing bond obligations and facilities funding and disputing the district’s overcrowding claim. The organization says the district has about $99.8 million in remaining bond principal and approximately $65 million available for facilities. It also points to declining enrollment during the past two school years.
Why does Merced Union have three measures?
Merced Union High School District divided its territory into three school facilities improvement districts, so voters will see one of three bond measures on their ballot, depending on where they live.
Measure W covers the Livingston High School area. Measure X covers the Atwater and Buhach Colony high school areas. Measure Z covers the Merced, Golden Valley and El Capitan high school areas.
That means a homeowner in the Merced Union High School District would not pay taxes for all three measures.
Together, W, X and Z would authorize $221.9 million in bonds, but each measure is a separate election covering a different geographic area.
Measure W: Livingston
Measure W would authorize $33.8 million in bonds for the area served by Livingston High School.
Projects on the ballot include classroom modernization, career technical education facilities, safety and security improvements, roof replacement, and plumbing and sewer repairs.
Homeowners in the area would see an estimated annual tax increase of $29 per $100,000 of assessed home value. The county estimates that, if all bonds are approved, the bonds would repay about $68.9 million in principal and interest through fiscal year 2060-61.
Supporters argue that Livingston High School, built in 1924, needs modernized facilities. They also cite improvements to the gymnasium, theater, band facilities and an aquatic center among potential projects
Retired educators Angelo and Nina Naldi, Livingston High Athletic Director Scott Winton, and Principal Nicole Rose signed the argument in support of the bonds.
The Republican Party of Merced County opposes Measure W, arguing the district already has outstanding bond debt and questioning the need for additional borrowing. The group says Livingston High enrolled 1,154 students in 2025-26, compared with an 18-year average of 1,170 and argues the school has unused classroom capacity.
The organization also argues that the new tax would be added to taxes used to repay existing Merced Union High School District bonds.
Measure X: Atwater and Buhach Colony
Measure X would authorize up to $59.1 million in bonds for the areas served by Atwater and Buhach Colony high schools.
The money, the district said, could modernize classrooms and other school facilities, improve safety and security, improve career technical education facilities, and repair roofs, plumbing, and sewer systems.
Supporters argue many classrooms and facilities at Atwater and Buhach Colony high schools no longer meet current standards. They also cite needing improvements to the gym, theaters and band rooms and other health and safety projects.
The district estimates an average annual tax rate of $29.43 per $100,000 of assessed value, with an estimated maximum of $30.
If the district issues all bonds, it estimates it will repay about $119.1 million in principal and interest.
Retired educators Kurt E. Kollman, Gary D. Parreira and Ralph Calderon signed the official ballot argument supporting Measure X.
The Republican Party of Merced County opposes the measure, citing the district’s existing bond obligations and arguing that Atwater and Buhach Colony high schools have sufficient classroom capacity for current enrollment.
The group says the two schools enrolled 3,728 students combined during the 2025-26 school year, compared with an 18-year average of 3,710. It estimates the schools are using about 87% of their classroom capacity.
Measure Z: Merced High, Golden Valley and El Capitan
Measure Z is the largest of the five proposals, authorizing $129 million for Merced, Golden Valley, and El Capitan high schools.
The measure would fund classroom modernization, safety and security upgrades, career technical education facilities, and roof and plumbing repairs.
The ballot estimates a levy of approximately $29 per $100,000 of assessed value.
If all bonds are issued, the county estimates it would repay approximately $281.8 million in principal and interest, with the final tax currently anticipated in fiscal year 2062-63.
Supporters of Measure Z say El Capitan, Merced, and Golden Valley high schools need repairs and modernization, and that some campuses lack the same student support facilities as others.
Business owner Abraham Santana, retired educators Kathleen M. Crookham and Pamela Merritt-Bennett, pediatrician Sima Asadi and medical assistant Moua Thao signed the official argument supporting Measure Z.
The Republican Party of Merced County also opposes Measure Z, citing the district’s existing bond debt and arguing that approval would add another property tax for homeowners in the area. The group also objects to provisions that would let the district seek a waiver of state limits on school district bond indebtedness.
How much would homeowners actually pay?
The tax estimates for the five measures are based on a property’s assessed value, not its market value.
That distinction matters. For example, a house that could sell today for $500,000 does not necessarily have an assessed value of $500,000. Property owners can find the assessed value used for taxation on their property tax bill.
Los Banos Unified’s official tax statement specifically cautions voters that assessed value and market price are not the same. Actual tax rates could differ from current estimates depending on future property values, bond sales and interest rates.
The measures would also be added to any property taxes homeowners already pay for previously approved school bonds. That means looking only at the new tax rate does not show a homeowner’s total school-bond tax burden.
What happens if the measures pass?
Approval does not give the districts unrestricted money for their operating budgets.
Bond proceeds must be used for facilities and other purposes voters authorize. The measures prohibit spending the proceeds on teacher or administrator salaries and require annual audits and independent citizens’ oversight.
Districts also do not receive the full amount from property owners at once. They sell bonds to fund projects and repay them over time with property-tax revenue.
That means the amount voters authorize and the amount taxpayers eventually repay differ. Repayment includes interest and can extend for decades.