A Pasadena Unified School District bond measure held a strong lead, while a separate parcel tax measure narrowly held onto the threshold for passage, according to a Wednesday afternoon’s update from the Los Angeles County registrar’s office.

Measure R, a general obligatio bond, has firmly surpassed the required 55% approval threshold, but Measure EE, the parcel tax, was hovering around the two-thirds (68%) majority needed for passage, according to the first post-election night results released by the registrar at 4:30 p.m., on Wednesday.

The latest update followed the semi-official results released by the registrar’s early Wednesday, which included all of the ballots cast at vote centers on Election Day.

After that, the registrar’s office must tally vote-by-mail ballots that were cast by Election Day but had not yet arrived, as well as conditional and provisional ballots, before confirming the election results.

Voters within the Pasadena Unified School District boundaries casted their ballots on Tuesday, on two funding measures with direct implications for property-owners.

Here’s where the two measures stood, as of Wednesday afternoon.

Measure R

Measure R received nearly 63.88% of “yes” votes, while 36.12% voted no.

If approved, Measure R would raise $900 million for PUSD through levies on property owners. The measure proposes a rate of up to $60 per $100,000 of assessed property value per year, translating into roughly $57 million annually for the district. The bond’s repayment period is estimated to be between 20 to 25 years.

PUSD plans to direct these funds toward a comprehensive list of approved projects, including expanding Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) classrooms and labs, repairing leaky roofs and replacing aging portable classrooms.

One of the most ambitious projects funded by Measure R would be the construction of rental housing units dedicated to teachers and staff. This project will be located at the shuttered Roosevelt Elementary School campus. It aims to alleviate the affordable housing challenges faced by educators and support staff, a problem that has contributed to talent retention and declining student enrollment, district officials said.

While the money from the bond is typically restricted to facility improvements and cannot fund administrators’ salaries, pensions, or benefits, the parcel tax can be used to support wages for teachers and staff.

Measure EE

Measure EE received 67.84% of “yes” votes, while 32.16% opposed it.

If approved, Measure EE would impose a parcel tax of $90 per parcel to generate around $5 million annually for eight years. This parcel tax applies to residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial properties within the district. It will expire after eight years and cannot be renewed without voters’ approval.

Revenue from this measure would support expanding Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) classes; enhance career training and college readiness courses; provide competitive wages for teachers and staff, as well as fund the hiring of counselors and mental health professionals.

Seniors over the age of 65, as well as certain homeowners receiving Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance, may qualify for exemption from the parcel tax.

Both Measure R and EE received unanimous support from the seven-member Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education on May 23. But since their proposal, the measures have sparked both support and opposition among the PUSD community.

Supporters argue that these measures are essential for the PUSD’s future, especially in addressing the district’s declining enrollment.

They said all funds will be spent under the oversight of an independent citizens’ committee and a third-party auditor. They also said the funds will help the cash-strapped district, which announced the layoff of 200 staffers earlier this year, in maintaining educational quality, improving facilities, and ensuring sustainability without relying on federal and state money.

Opponents, however, believe the measures would impose unnecessary financial burden on homeowners and businesses without guaranteeing improved educational outcomes. They argue that PUSD has yet to fully use the tax revenues from measures passed in 2008 and 2020, and questioned the necessity of additional funding. Critics are particularly opposed to the plan of using Measure R funds for subsidized housing for district employees, arguing that “luxury apartments” for staff are an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars.

Proceeds from both measures can only be used on PUSD initiatives and are protected from state reallocation.