San Diego Unified School District Measure M — San Diego Unified School District Repair, Student Safety, No Tax Rate Increase Measure

What it does

To repair/upgrade all public schools, help retain/attract teachers by: • Repairing deteriorating roofs, plumbing, restrooms; • Providing safe drinking water; • Removing asbestos, lead paint, mold; • Upgrading outdated career/vocational, science, technology, engineering classrooms; shall San Diego Unified School District’s measure authorizing $3,500,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, levying $32 per $100,000 of assessed value, providing $204,000,000 annually while bonds are outstanding, requiring public spending disclosure, audits, citizens oversight, be adopted?

A YES vote means

San Diego Unified could issue $3,500,000,000 in bonds to repair schools, provide safe drinking water, remove asbestos, lead paint and mold, and upgrade career and science classrooms, repaid by a property tax of $32 per $100,000 of assessed value (about $204,000,000 a year).

A NO vote means

San Diego Unified would not issue these $3,500,000,000 in bonds, and the related property tax would not be levied.

Needed to pass

A 55% supermajority: at least 55 out of every 100 YES and NO votes must be YES, so a measure can get a majority and still fail.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Example

The District's tax statement estimates an average of $32 a year per $100,000 of assessed value (not market value), and a highest rate of $59.18 per $100,000 in fiscal year 2036-37. Total repayment, principal and interest, is estimated at about $8.1 billion if all bonds are sold. These are non-binding estimates. (source)

Who would notice

Property owners in the San Diego Unified School District, who pay the tax, and students and staff at district and charter schools.

How it got here

The Board of Education for the San Diego Unified School District placed the measure on the ballot. It needs 55% yes votes.

It follows earlier District school bonds, most recently Measure YY in 2018. Board President Richard Barrera told NBC 7 that deferring maintenance leads to about $400 million a year in facility depreciation.

In the news

• San Diego school bonds on November ballot as districts seek billions for campus upgrades · NBC 7 San Diego, 2026-10-14

Written by SpectrumVote from 2 linked sources (1, 2). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

According to County Counsel's impartial analysis, the San Diego Unified Board of Education placed this $3,500,000,000 general obligation bond on the ballot; it needs 55% of the vote.

The District estimates an average tax rate of $32 per $100,000 of assessed value and a highest rate of about $59.18, collected through fiscal year 2062-63, with total debt service of approximately $8,100,000,000.

The analysis says $567,000,000 of the proceeds would be set aside for charter school projects, and the District states that the Proposition S (2008) tax rate limit does not apply to these bonds.

As state law requires, the District must form an independent citizens' oversight committee and conduct annual performance and financial audits; the tax rate statement is dated July 14, 2026.

Put on the ballot by San Diego Unified School District Board of Education.

From official source.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on San Diego County ballots

• Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Measure G — Fire Safety, Job Training, College Affordability, No Tax Rate Increase
• Mountain Empire Unified School District Measure L
• La Mesa-Spring Valley School District Measure AA — Classroom Repair & Upgrade Extension Measure

All San Diego County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on San Diego Unified School District Measure M mean?

San Diego Unified could issue $3,500,000,000 in bonds to repair schools, provide safe drinking water, remove asbestos, lead paint and mold, and upgrade career and science classrooms, repaid by a property tax of $32 per $100,000 of assessed value (about $204,000,000 a year).

What does a NO vote on San Diego Unified School District Measure M mean?

San Diego Unified would not issue these $3,500,000,000 in bonds, and the related property tax would not be levied.

Will my tax bill go up?

The measure is written so new bonds are issued only if the combined rate is projected to stay at or below the current Measure YY rate. NBC 7 describes it as extending the existing $32 per $100,000 rate. The estimates are not binding, and the tax would be collected through about 2062-63.

Can the money pay salaries?

No. Bond proceeds can only fund the listed facility projects, not teacher or administrator salaries or other operating expenses.

Was an argument against filed?

No argument against Measure M was filed with the Registrar of Voters.

What vote does it need?

55% of those voting on the measure.

How many votes does San Diego Unified School District Measure M need to pass?

A 55% supermajority: at least 55 out of every 100 YES and NO votes must be YES, so a measure can get a majority and still fail.

Should I vote yes or no on San Diego Unified School District Measure M?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.