Some San Diego County school districts are achieving transparency in voter-approved bond spending, while others are barely meeting the standard. A new watchdog report from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association outlines who is clearly showing taxpayers where the money went and who is making residents dig through the digital weeds.
The 2025 School Bond Transparency Report Card graded 23 districts with active bonds in the 2024-25 fiscal year and reviewed more than $23.5 billion in voter-approved bond programs. Excluding the lowest-performing outliers, districts averaged a transparency score of approximately 90 percent, equivalent to an A-. The scorecard evaluated whether districts post oversight committee agendas and minutes, annual audits, project lists, and itemized expenditures online, according to the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.
Top scorers and districts that struggled
Several large systems landed at the top of the class. The report highlights A+ scores for Vista Unified, Miracosta Community College District, Grossmont Union High School District, and Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, as well as San Diego Unified and San Ysidro. At the other end of the spectrum, Borrego Springs received an F, and smaller neighborhoods, including Lemon Grove and the National School District, ended up near the bottom of the list. Chula Vista Elementary, graded A- in 2024, dropped to a D+ in this year’s review, as detailed by The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Districts respond
District leaders say they are working to close the gaps highlighted by the scorecard. Lemon Grove Superintendent Marianna Vinson told The San Diego Union-Tribune the district "is committed to transparency" and has implemented measures to strengthen reporting and audits. Chula Vista spokesperson Giovanna Castro said the district "values feedback" and is working to update bond-related pages after website launch issues. Officials for Borrego Springs and the National School District did not immediately return requests for comment, the paper reports.
Where the money is going
The report lands as districts continue to spend long-running bond proceeds on campus upgrades and construction. Grossmont Union’s bond program has financed new science buildings, AI-ready technology, upgraded sports and performing-arts facilities, and advanced career-technical education spaces, and the district approved a refinancing estimated to save taxpayers about $18.9 million, according to reporting by East County Magazine. The size of these projects and the overall bond pool reviewed help explain why watchdogs are advocating for clearer and more easily accessible spending documents.
What voters should watch for
For residents weighing future bond measures, the checklist is simple but telling: Can you easily find oversight committee minutes, the latest audits, a clear project list, and itemized expenditures on the district’s website? The association’s scorecard suggests many districts still have homework to do if they want voters to keep trusting local bond promises.
