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Neighborhood School Safety and Repair Measure. To replace earthquake damaged classrooms
at C.T. English Middle School; provide
drinkable water; construct, repair, acquire, furnish
computer/science labs, libraries, school facilities/sites; repair roofs,
floors, and water systems; qualify for State matching funds, shall Loma
Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District issue $4,965,000 of bonds at
legal interest rates, appoint a Citizens Oversight Committee, perform annual
audits and ensure that no bond money is used for administrator salaries or
other school operating expenses? |
Independent Home Study· Remove,
modernize existing portable classrooms and facilities · Add
bathrooms · Construct
retaining walls as necessary District Water System· Drill new well, install,
repair and maintain water system or
connect to nearest water system The allocation of bond proceeds and the timely
completion of the projects will be affected by the District’s ongoing
collection of developer fees, the receipt of State matching funds and the
final costs of each project. The
budget for each project is a rounded estimate and may be affected by factors
beyond the District’s control. IMPARTIAL
ANALYSIS BY COUNTY COUNSEL MEASURE
K The Board of Trustees of the Loma Prieta
Joint Union Elementary School District has ordered an election to submit to
the voters of the School District the question of whether bonds of the
District shall be issued and sold in the aggregate principal amount not to
exceed $4,965,000 for the purpose of raising money for school improvements
and equipment. A “yes” vote is a vote to authorize the
general obligation bonds to be issued and financed by ad valorem taxes levied
annually on real property in the School District. A “no” vote is a vote against issuing the proposed general obligation
bonds. As authorized by Proposition 39, which was
approved by the voters statewide on November 7, 2000, in order for this bond
measure to pass, it must be approved by at least fifty-five percent of the
voters voting on the measure. The proceeds of the sale of the bonds will
be used to qualify for State matching funds and to carry out the projects
described in the ballot proposition. Resolution No. 02-1X adopted by the Board
of Trustees of the Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District
provides that, if the bond measure passes, the Board will appoint a citizens’
oversight committee, and will cause to be conducted annual independent audits
to ensure that funds are spent on the school projects set forth in this
measure. The maximum number of years any bonds
issued pursuant to Section 15100 of the Education Code will run will not
exceed twenty-five years and the maximum number of years any bonds issued
pursuant to Section 53506 of the Government Code will run will not exceed
forty years. The Tax Rate Statement printed in the
ballot pamphlet provides information concerning projections of the increase
of the property tax rate on real property within the School District. Since the interest rate on the bonds is
determined when the bonds are sold, the exact amount of the tax increase can
only be determined after the bonds are sold. DANA
McRAE, COUNTY COUNSEL By Jane M. Scott,
Assistant County Counsel |
FULL TEXT
BALLOT MEASURE K
The following is the full proposition presented to the voters by the
Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District. Neighborhood
School Safety and Repair Measure. To replace earthquake damaged classrooms
at C.T. English Middle School; provide drinkable water; construct, repair,
acquire, furnish computer/science labs, libraries, school facilities/sites;
repair roofs, floors, and water systems; qualify for State matching funds,
shall Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District issue $4,965,000 of
bonds at legal interest rates, appoint a Citizens Oversight Committee,
perform annual audits and ensure that no bond money is used for administrator
salaries or other school operating expenses? The Board of Trustees of the Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary
School District has evaluated safety, class size reduction, and information
technology needs in developing the scope of school facilities projects to be
funded. Projects C.T. English Middle School·
Remove/relocate/demolish portable classrooms
which are inadequate or located on an earthquake fault line ·
Construct twelve classrooms, technology lab,
science lab, art room and new bathrooms and eating area ·
Upgrade classrooms, facilities, gym/community
center, utility systems, and modernize administrative office ·
Resurface play areas for safety and to replace
area lost to reconfiguration of buildings for earthquake safety ·
Construct multi-purpose room with cafeteria area,
fine arts classroom with a stage, computer lab, library, media center and
public bathrooms. ·
Repair or replace leaky roofs, reroof to match
the new structures, reroof community center ·
Install security lighting ·
Repaint facilities ·
Renovate floors Loma Prieta Elementary School ·
Install additional security fencing and lighting ·
Repair flooring ·
Repair and expand hot water system · Add
security gates around campus · Add bathrooms |
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VOTER
INFORMATION PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND
ARGUMENTS (whichever is applicable to
your ballot) Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors. |
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TAX RATE STATEMENT FOR BOND
MEASURE K An Election
will be held in Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School (the “District”) of
Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties on March 5, 2002 for the purpose of
authorizing the sale of $4,965,000 in general obligation bonds. The bonds will be payable from tax levies
made upon the taxable property in the District. In compliance with Elections Code Sections
9400-9404 the following information is submitted: 1. The
best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund
the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the bonds based
on the estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing this
statement, is 3.00 cents per 100 dollars assessed valuation for the year
2002-03. 2. The
best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund
the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the last sale of the bonds
and an estimate of the year in which the tax rate will apply, based on
estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing this statement
is 3.00 cents per 100 dollars assessed valuation for 2004-05. 3. The
best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to fund the
bond issue and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply, based
on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing this
statement, is 3.00 cents per 100 dollars assessed valuation in the year
2002-03. The estimates would result in an average
annual tax rate over the life of the bonds of 3.00 cents per $100 of assessed
valuation. Based on these tax rates,
the estimated average annual tax over the term of the bonds would be $30.00
per $100,000 of assessed valuations.
This would be equivalent to $2.50 per month. The actual tax rates and years in which
such rates are applicable may vary from those currently estimated, due to
variations from the official projections and estimates in the timing of the
bond sales, the amount sold at any time, the interest rates on the bonds and
the assessed values in the several future years during which the bonds are to
repaid. These estimates are based
upon projections and are not binding upon the District. The actual timing of the bond sales and
the amount of the bonds sold at any time will be governed by the needs of the
District and the then applicable debt limit. The actual interest rates on the bonds will be based on the
market tax-exempt interest rates at the time of the sale of the bonds. The actual assessed values during the
several future years will depend on the amount of the taxable property within
the District and the value of the property within the District and the value
of the property as determined in the assessment and equalization process. Dated: November
20, 2001 s/ Mary Ellen Lewis Superintendent Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District |
See following pages for arguments. |
44-520
VOTER
INFORMATION PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND
ARGUMENTS (whichever is applicable to
your ballot) Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors. |
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ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE KOn October 17, 1989, the largest earthquake in decades struck
California – and our community was caught in the middle. The Elementary
School was so damaged the state had to rebuild it. C.T. English Middle
School, originally built 30 years ago, was also badly damaged. Substantial
repairs were never done.
Four
entire classrooms still need to be removed, and replaced with new structures
safely off the fault line. Other classrooms are leaky, moldy and poorly lit.
Some bathrooms can’t even be used. Basic repairs to the roof and floors still
need to be made. And there is insufficient drinkable water at both schools
because ground water contamination has resulted in the loss of our primary
well. Measure K would raise
$4.9 million to pay for these necessary repairs. The money from a bond would
bring several benefits, including: · Provide
drinkable water to both schools · Fund
construction of a computer lab, science lab and updated library at C.T.
English · Allow
the district to apply for $1.3 million in matching funds from the State · Move
earthquake-damaged classrooms off the fault line ·
Make other necessary repairs to roofs, floors,
classrooms and bathrooms A
Bond Oversight Committee made up of private citizens will oversee the bond
expenditures to ensure that every dollar is used appropriately and
efficiently – and only on projects that directly improve the quality of
learning in the classroom. State
law requires that all bond funds must be used for facility and classroom
improvements. Absolutely none of the funds raised by Measure K can be used
for administrative salaries or district overhead. Every
dollar raised by Measure K will stay right here in our community to fix Loma
Prieta schools. Please
join local teachers, parents, and businesspeople in voting Yes on Measure K. s/ Kris Lee Denues,
Teacher s/ Phillippa
Siersema-Isacson (PIP), Parent s/ Charles M. Norman,
Senior Citizen s/ Lydia J. Dobyns,
Loma Prieta School Board Member s/ Scott E. Salsbury,
Scotty Const. & Design |
REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF
MEASURE K The
$4,965,000 the school district wants to borrow would have to be paid back
with interest. The money to pay off this debt comes from the tax payers.
Let’s get our priorities straight: helping the economy recover by reducing
taxes will serve our children better in the long run than raising taxes to
pay for new labs and an updated library. Jobs are more important than a new
roof. Why
hasn’t Loma Prieta School District repaired or replaced damaged classrooms
during the last 12 years from the budget? If all budget expenditures during
the last twelve years have been more important than the repairs and
replacements they want to make now, what makes them suddenly more important?
If families must move away because high taxes have put them out of work,
won’t enrollments decline even more? We
should use the current budget to pay for teachers and make repairs. With
whatever money is left, we should pay for whatever administration Loma Prieta
School District can afford. Make
your vote count. Remember, we don’t have the safeguard of requiring a
two-thirds vote to pass a school bond measure. It only takes 55%. Keep the
Loma Prieta School District accountable. While businesses are intent on
cutting costs, don’t let the school budget balloon out of control. VOTE NO ON MEASURE K! For more information
visit http://www.VoteNoOnK.org. s/ H. Raymond Strong, Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County s/
Elizabeth C. Brierly, MBA, Candidate, State Board of Equalization s/
Dennis Michael Umphress, Libertarian Candidate for Congress, 16th
District |
44-521
VOTER
INFORMATION PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND
ARGUMENTS (whichever is applicable to
your ballot) Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors. |
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ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE K When school boards put bond measures like Measure
K before the voters, they are saying they want to buy now on credit and pay
later. Often, like a credit card
debt, by the time they pay it off, whatever they bought will need replacing. A $4.965 million bond issue paying, for
example, 5 percent simple interest for 25 years would mean $6.206
million in interest payments, plus $4.965 million in
principle for a total of $11.171 million. As a consumer and taxpayer,
you deserve to know the truth about these high costs. The annual interest
payment of $248 thousand in the example is money that must be
collected in taxes but goes to pay off bond holders, and is NEVER used for
teacher salaries or classroom improvements. These interest payments are the
cost of deficit financing. You, the taxpayers, pay this cost whenever your
school board departs from the prudent and fiscally responsible practice of
paying NOW for what is needed NOW, and budgeting to save for what will be
needed in the future. Like the fiscally naive credit card holder, the school
board could be tempted to spend this large sum of $4,965,000 unwisely,
because it was viewed as easily obtained and they believe there will always
be more available. Don’t make it so easy. Vote NO on this enormous sum. What's
more important to you: 1. spending $248 thousand a year, for
example, on teachers salaries and better schools, or 2. spending $248 thousand a
year, for example, to provide interest income for bond holders? Vote FOR responsible and effective spending for education: Vote NO on
Measure K. For more details, please visit our website at http://www.VoteNOonK.org/. s/ H. Raymond Strong, Chair, Libertarian
Party of Santa Clara County s/ Dennis Michael Umphress, Candidate for
Congress, 16th District s/
Jeff Landauer, Candidate for Congress, 15th District s/
Elizabeth C. Brierly, Business Systems Analyst, MBA |
REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE K
The authors of the opposing
argument all live in San Jose, and are not familiar with our school district
and its unique circumstances. It’s likely that none of them have ever even
visited C.T. English Middle School or been to our community, since they
submitted the identical argument against every school bond measure in Santa
Clara County. A school bond is like a
home mortgage. Many families have mortgages because they couldn’t afford to
pay for their homes outright. Just like a mortgage, Measure K will raise
money for the Loma Prieta School District to complete necessary work right
now, and allow our students to enjoy the benefits of improved and safe
facilities today. The Loma Prieta School
District has determined how to solve problems created by the 1989 earthquake,
and accomplish other needed repairs and improvements. The district has
developed a detailed list of projects with the community, and identified over
$1 million of State matching funds – but additional funds are needed to
complete the work. Measure K asks voters to
replace and upgrade the earthquake-damaged facilities at C.T. English Middle
School, and repair the drinking water infrastructure at both schools. It will
also make additional badly-needed repairs and improvements, including a new
science lab, computer lab and modern library. If Measure K fails, damaged and
deteriorating facilities will remain in disrepair – and cost even more to
repair later. Please help support our
local Loma Prieta schools. Join us in voting YES on Measure K. s/
Kris Lee Denues, Teacher s/
Phillippa Siersema-Isacson (PIP), Parent s/
Charles M. Norman, Senior Citizen s/
Lydia J. Dobyns, Loma Prieta School Board Member s/
Scott E. Salsbury, Scotty Construction & Design |
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