Win-Win An Insider’s Guide to School Bonds

California has more than 1,000 school and community college (K-14) districts. When they need to build, repair or equip their campuses, these districts must ask voters to approve the issuance of general obligation (GO) bonds and raise property tax rates – a big ask. In this third edition of Win-Win: An Insider’s Guide to School Bonds, Dale Scott, a leading financial advisor for California public schools and community colleges, demystifies the complex, often-challenging process that gives step-by-step insights into developing, structuring and selling GO bonds. This updated and expanded edition includes a new section on financing teacher-staff housing with GO Bonds. The bold and innovative financing idea, believed to be the first of its kind, allows school districts and community colleges to attract and retain teachers and staff. The transaction was the winner of The Bond Buyer’s 2018 Small Issuer Deal of the Year. Drawing on three decades of work as an advisor to school and community college districts, Dale, a financial advisor, campaign manager and former Wall Street investment banker, walks readers through each step of the bond issuance process, answering the many questions he’s been asked over the years. Hard-hitting, detailed and humorous, Win-Win explores why voters approve some bond measures and reject others, explains how bond deals are put together, and offers tips on selecting the right team of professionals and avoiding scandals like those that have plagued poorly structured GO bond efforts. Written for district administrators, school board members, campaign volunteers, taxpayer organizations and concerned citizens, Win-Win is an upbeat guide on the complex processes of California school bonds, showing that when executed correctly, the teamwork needed to pass a school bond can have a transformative effect on both schools and people’s sense of their role in the community.