ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Joint Unified School District (AUSD) has successfully refinanced an existing bond, resulting in a savings of $2.8 million for the community. Refinancing a bond is similar to refinancing a home mortgage; just as homeowners can lower their monthly payments or reduce their interest rates through refinancing, the district has taken advantage of favorable market conditions and an excellent credit rating to lower the cost of its debt and save money for the community.