A cautionary tale: Promises made, promises broken

October 27, 2026

OPINION by BERKLEY BAKER

In their rebuttal in the voter information guide, Measure G-26 supporters claim that opponents “cannot name a single misspent dollar” and that concerns about unchecked bond spending are “simply untrue.”

The San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury offered a very different assessment in its Nov. 17, 2020, report, Paso Robles School District: A Cautionary Tale.

“This report looks at failures in leadership and management that precipitated the recent crisis,” the grand jury wrote. “The SLOGJ believes that nothing illustrates these failures better than the example of the Aquatic Complex Plan.”

Finding 7 stated: “The advisory council is negligent in their charge with overseeing their execution of Measure M bond funds and has not supplied an audit for two years, as required by the measure.”

Finding 8 stated: “The Board of Trustees did not use due diligence and failed in their fiduciary obligations to properly complete the aquatic complex, lacking a reasonable design, construction and financial plan before purchases were approved.”

Consider what taxpayers were promised—and what they received.

The original aquatic complex called for a 50-meter pool and a 25-meter pool. Measure M was to provide $5.7 million, with donations covering the remaining cost.

In Feb. 2018, the superintendent stated that the aquatic complex would cost $8.2 million, with completion promised by Jan. 2019. The groundbreaking took place in April 2018. In Aug. 2018, Italian-made stainless steel components for both pools arrived and were placed in storage.

The eventual result? One 38-meter pool, completed in March 2026, using $20.6 million in Measure M funds.

That is seven years later than promised and $14.9 million more in bond money than originally committed—for one smaller pool instead of two.

With proper management, the 38-meter pool could have been built for $8.2 million within the original 2018–2019 timeframe. Instead, taxpayers paid substantially more and waited seven additional years.

And what happened to the unused components purchased for the 25-meter pool? They were sold at a loss exceeding $200,000.

Taxpayers do not have to speculate about mismanagement. The grand jury documented failures of leadership, oversight, and financial planning. The completed project provides the rest of the story: years of delay, a reduced scope, and millions more in bond spending.

Before asking voters to approve another $205 million in borrowing, G-26 supporters should explain this record. Dismissing legitimate concerns does not answer them.

Berkley J. Baker is a local resident and former Paso Robles Joint Unified School District trustee.