School Board · Ridgeline, CA · Aug 11, 2026
Ridgeline Unified School District
The board placed a parcel tax renewal on the November ballot without a sunset clause, approved a facilities bond spending plan that shifts 22% of proceeds to administration, and adopted a new public-records fee schedule.
Packet
288 pp
5 minute read here
Resolutions
17
Adopted this meeting
Dollars moved
$9,750,000
Transparency
58/100
Public access to material terms
Flagged actions
What this costs you
Measure J — Parcel tax renewal, sunset clause removed
In plain English
The old tax expired on its own unless voters renewed it. The renewal makes it permanent — there is no future vote that automatically ends it.
How it was buried
Sunset language struck in redline on page 204; ballot summary does not mention it.
Impact: $298/parcel/yr, permanent rather than the previous 8-year term
Parcel Tax Watch — 268 residents affected by this same item are organizing. Next step: Request the independent citizens' oversight audit for FY24–FY26.Bond Program Spending Plan — 22% to administration & program management
In plain English
Roughly one dollar in five of the bond money that voters approved for buildings pays for people managing the buildings program, not the buildings.
How it was buried
Shown only as a pie chart percentage; no dollar figure in the staff report.
Impact: $2.1M of $9.75M diverted from classroom facilities
Public records request fee schedule — $0.75/page + staff time
In plain English
Getting documents just got expensive enough to discourage most residents from asking.
How it was buried
Consent Item 4h, titled 'Administrative Regulation Update'.
Impact: A 400-page packet request now costs residents ~$300 plus research fees
Open Meeting Defense — 156 residents affected by this same item are organizing. Next step: Demand separate roll-call votes on items over $250K.Financial watch
Spending anomalies
Bond administration · +144% vs. prior period
Admin share of bond proceeds is 2.4× the statewide median of 9%
Your follow-up plan
- 1.Request the bond oversight committee minutes and its most recent performance audit
- 2.Ask for the admin-to-construction ratio for each of the last three bond programs
- 3.Compare against neighboring districts' bond program admin percentages
Operations · +31% vs. prior period
Per-meal cost rose 31% while served-meal counts fell 9%
Your follow-up plan
- 1.Request the per-meal cost breakdown and the contract's escalator clause
- 2.Ask what triggered the volume decline and whether the minimum guarantee still applies
Equity check
Who got the floor
Minutes of public comment versus board discussion, per agenda item.
Measure J ballot language
Bond spending plan
Records fee schedule
Recognitions