YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 15, No. 35
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Millions Chalking it up to found in Art, Wine & Jazz ECCFPD account
Vice Mayor Resigns
Brentwood Vice Mayor Steve Barr announces his resignation from city council. Page 4A
by Kyle Szymanski
A Grandin Event
Staff Writer
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District recently discovered a multimilliondollar sum of money. Dating back to late 2014 and early 2015, an account that was erroneously left behind when the district transferred its funds and financial operations from the county to the district has now grown to $6.2 million. “Most of the district’s funds remained in the county treasury accounts, despite the understanding that only two accounting funds would remain for the purpose of receiving property tax revenues,” said interim Fire Chief Brian Helmick, who took over the job in April. “The remaining accounting see ECCFPD page 30A
Photo by Tony Kukulich
L
iz Morrretta, a senior at Heritage High School, creates chalk art at the Art, Wine & Jazz Festival in downtown Brentwood last weekend. For more photos, see page 22A. To view a slideshow and video, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia.
Byron board discusses bond options by Aly Brown Staff Writer
The Byron Union School District (BUSD) Board is considering going out for a new school bond, and it recently held a community forum to gauge the public’s response. A handful of residents attended the Aug. 24 meeting, which included a presentation by an independent firm that assists school and community college districts throughout the state with planning, bond election, financial advisory and program management services. Emilio Flores, executive vice president with Caldwell Flores Winters Inc., and Jeremy Cogan,
“ There is no decision to pursue a bond yet,
but we’re trying to do our due diligence with planning.
”
David Turner, BUSD trustee assistant vice president, spoke on the benefits of a school bond and the process involved. “If this is something you want to pursue, you have to understand the time and energy that needs to go into it,” Flores said. The bond funds could potentially go toward improving classroom functionality and resources such as rolling white-
boards, moving desks and supply cabinets, in addition to addressing deferred maintenance at school sites in the district, which could include the replacement of old pipes, broken equipment or leaking roofs. One option for paying for the bond could be through a tax rate levied by the county. Such bonds are typically calculated by taking the annual payments
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September 1, 2017
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due to bondholders and dividing that amount by the total assessed value of the tax base within the district’s boundaries, according to Flores. The proportion of that obligation carried by each property owner is based on each individual parcel’s assessed value. “It is important to note that the assessed value generally differs from market value due to Proposition 13, so assessed value is typically much lower than market value,” he added. When asked by a community member why the district was considering the bond, BUSD Superintendent Debbie Gold said,
Autism advocate Temple Grandin draws hundreds to an event in East County. Page 6A
Solid Showing For Heritage
Heritage High School beats Tokay High School in exciting season opener. Page 1B
see Bond page 30A
Calendar............................... 7B Classifieds..........................26A Cop Logs............................... 6B Entertainment..................10A Food.....................................11A Health & Beauty...............18A Milestones.........................13A Pets......................................20A Sports.................................... 1B
BART Changes
Cleaner Air
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BART directors to vote on new policies to the agency’s small business program.
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Contra Costa County is taking steps to make the environment healthier, cleaner.