First, let me remind everyone that I personally own this server, in fact some of the hardware is actually at my house. I am posting this entry as an individual who happens to know a lot about the measure and how it was formed.

MDUSD is asking voters to continue measure C, not to create a new measure. The update will include new projects as has been stated, however, totals posted in the paper are sums of the existing & the new collectively. MDUSD is not about to turn $348MM into 1.8b of debt as the paper implies. The 1.8b is the total of the previous measure and the new measure combined. It seems convenient for the papers to sensationalize the numbers by skipping certain details. They are technically correct because it is all together Measure C, but they neglect to clarify it is the sum total.

Another thing, if PG&E rates only increase 3.3% a year for the next 40 years, the solar portion of the bond will save $198MM above the investment cost vs paying PG&E. As you know, PG&E almost always goes up by 5.5% or more. This year it went up closer to 6.5%. If PG&E rates increase by 5.5% a year for the next 40 years, solar will save $329MM.

As the MDUSD is trying to get $346MM, the return on the solar would almost pay for the principle of the bond and the difference would be the $17MM and interest on the whole amount. This is pretty good use of our money. The MDUSD is a necessary entity that we will have to support anyway, this measure takes a big bite out of our burden as tax payers.

An added benefit is the immediate injection of funds to the district general fund through the solar incentives. This money will act like a booster shot to help preserve jobs and services. Although there is no guarantee. What we do know is, without it, the cuts will continue and get deeper than with the funds.

This measure will not increase our payments as tax payers, it simply adds to the duration of the original measure. Please consider these points when you cast your vote. And please, vote.