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Aptos and Watsonville Area School Improvements. To improve Aptos High School by constructing, upgrading, equipping a performing arts
center, classrooms, cafeteria, athletic
facilities, parking/traffic safety improvements; to construct, improve, equip
Watsonville Area Schools, including libraries, athletic facilities,
cafeterias, classroom spaces, parking, high school facilities, shall Pajaro
Valley Unified School District issue $58,250,000 of bonds ($24,036,000 for
Aptos High School/$34,214,000 for Watsonville area schools) at legal rates,
with citizen oversight, annual audits and no money for administrators’
salaries? |
PROJECTSThe Board of Trustees of the Pajaro Valley Unified
School District has evaluated safety, class size reduction, and information
technology needs in developing the scope of school facility projects to be
funded, as outlined in the various master plans for each school site and the
BMR Bond Project Report, on file with the Public Information Office of the
District. NORTH ZONE (Aptos Area) ·
Implementation of the Master Plan for Aptos High
School, including a new performing arts center, classroom spaces, gym,
athletic fields and stadium upgrades, pool complex, facilities renovation,
including the old gym and multi-use cafeteria, and projects for the benefit
of Aptos High School………………..$24,036,000 CENTRAL AND SOUTH ZONES (Watsonville Area) ·
Improvements to Watsonville High School,
including site work, new gymnasium, pool complex, science building
renovations, athletic facilities, student center, parking and traffic safety
upgrades, including projects that benefit Watsonville High
School………$18,100,000 ·
Improvements to Mintie White Elementary School, including construction of a new multi-purpose
room with appropriate food service equipment and a
library……………………………………………$1,300,000 ·
Improvements to E.A. Hall Middle School,
including expansion of the existing gym………………..$1,300,000 ·
Phase II expansion improvement to a third high
school consisting of the construction of a permanent cafeteria, provided that
it is constructed within the area approved by the California State Department
of Education’s Division of Aeronautics. No bond money will be spent at the third high school unless the project is
located within the footprint approved by the Division of
Aeronautics………..…………………………...$2,500,000 DISTRICT-WIDE ·
Retirement
of interim funding for site acquisition and construction of classrooms,
bathrooms, libraries, and other instructional facilities………….………$11,000,000 The timing of the expenditure of bond proceeds
will be affected by the District’s receipt of State matching funds and the
final costs of each project. While
the budget for each project is an estimate and may be affected by factors
beyond the District’s control, the allocation of bond money between the North
Zone and the Central and South Zones may not be altered. |
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FULL
TEXT OF BALLOT MEASURE J PAJARO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT The following is the full proposition presented to
the voters by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. “Aptos and Watsonville Area School Improvements. To improve APTOS HIGH SCHOOL by
constructing, upgrading, equipping a performing arts center, classrooms,
cafeteria, athletic facilities, parking/traffic safety improvements; to
construct, improve, equip WATSONVILLE AREA SCHOOLS, including libraries,
athletic facilities, cafeterias, classroom spaces, parking, high school
facilities, shall Pajaro Valley Unified School District issue $58,250,000 of
bonds ($24,036,000 for Aptos High School/$34,214,000 for Watsonville area
schools) at legal rates, with citizen oversight, annual audits and no money
for administrators’ salaries?” The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Pajaro Valley Unified
School District (the “District”) has conducted numerous public meetings to
define the projects listed below. A volunteer Community Facilities Committee,
representing parents and community members from all the attendance areas in
the District, has worked exhaustively to agree on the proposed projects. In allocating the bond money, the District has established two areas
within the District. The north area
represents the attendance area of the Aptos Junior High School (the “North
Zone”). Bond monies allocated to the
North Zone may only be spent for facilities in the North Zone. The central and south areas represent all
the area of the District not included in the Aptos Junior High School
attendance area, generally, Watsonville area schools (the “Central and South
Zones”). Bond monies allocated to the
Central and South Zones may only be spent on projects in the Central and
South Zones. The Citizens Oversight Committee shall have the responsibility to ensure that this legally binding allocation of bond monies between the North Zone and the Central and South Zones is strictly enforced. |
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44-501
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 BOND MEASURE J (SECTION 9401 OF THE
ELECTIONS CODE) To: The
voters voting in the November 5, 2002 election on the question of the
issuance of $58,250,000 General Obligation Bonds of the Pajaro Valley Unified
School District: You are hereby notified in accordance with Section
9401 of the Elections Code of California of the following: 1.
The
best estimate from official sources of the tax rate which would be required
to be levied to fund principal and interest payments during the first fiscal
year after the first sale of bonds (Fiscal Year 2003-04), based on assessed
valuations available at the time of the election and taking into account
future growth, is the following: 2.
The
best estimate from official sources of the tax rate which would be required
to be levied to fund principal and interest payments during the first fiscal
year after the last sale of bonds and an estimate of the year in which that
rate will apply (Fiscal Year 2005-06), based on assessed valuations available
at the time of the election and taking into account future growth, is the
following: $.03289 per $100 of assessed valuation, which
equates to $32.89 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. Year after last sale of bonds: 2005-06. 3.
The
best estimate from official sources of the highest tax rate which would be
required to be levied to fund principal and interest payments on the bonds
and the year in which such rate would apply, based on assessed valuations
available at the time of the election and taking into account future growth,
is the following: $.03289 per $100 of assessed valuation, which
equates to $32.89 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. Year of highest tax rate: Tax
rate is projected to be the same every year. Submittal of the foregoing statement has been
approved by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. |
IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS BY COUNTY COUNSEL MEASURE J (Pajaro Valley
Unified School District General Obligation Bond Measure) The Board of
Trustees of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (“the School District”)
has ordered an election to submit to the voters of the School District a
measure to authorize the School District to incur a bonded indebtedness in an
aggregate principal amount not exceeding $58,250,000. 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 general obligation bonds. 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 purposes
for which the proceeds of the bonds will be used are the facilities and
improvements more specifically described in the full text of the ballot
proposition (printed in this ballot
pamphlet), and retirement of interim funding for site acquisition and
construction. The funds are not to be used for any other
purpose such as salaries or operating expenses. The Board of Trustees of the School
District has adopted a Resolution providing that, if the bond measure passes,
the Board will appoint a citizens oversight committee, cause annual
independent performance audits to be conducted to ensure that the funds are
spent only on the projects stated in the ballot proposition, and cause an
annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all proceeds
have been spent. The funds raised
through the bonds are to be allocated between two areas of the School
District, defined for purposes of this bond measure as the “North Zone”
encompassing the attendance area of the Aptos Junior High School and the
“Central and South Zones” encompassing all areas of the School District
outside the Aptos Junior High School attendance area. The citizens oversight committee would be
responsible for ensuring enforcement of the allocation of funds between the
two zones. The Resolution adopted by
the School District’s Board of
Trustees indicates that the expenditure of bond proceeds is intended to be in
amounts not to exceed (and in the allocation) $24,036,000 for Aptos High School (the North Zone), and $34,214,000 for
projects at Watsonville area schools (the Central and South Zones), including
retirement of previously issued financing for site acquisition and
construction, as more fully described in the full text of the ballot
proposition. The maximum
rate of interest paid on any bonds which are issued will be limited by State
law. The maturity of any bonds issued
will not exceed twenty-five years or forty years, depending on whether they
are issued pursuant to the Education Code or the Government Code. The tax rate on real property within the
School District will be increased in order to pay off the bonds. However, the exact amount of the tax
increase can only be determined after the bonds are sold as the interest rate
is determined at that time, and the percentage increase in the real property
tax rate may also vary from year to year. DANA McRAE, COUNTY COUNSEL By Jane M. Scott,
Assistant County Counsel
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44-502
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 J Our
neighborhood school buildings and grounds must be upgraded and improved – Vote
YES on J. A
volunteer committee of parents, business leaders, teachers, community
members, and construction experts worked for 18 months to develop a
no-frills, fiscally responsible bond plan, identifying projects that must be
addressed. ·
YES on J completes Aptos
High School; ·
YES on J upgrades
Watsonville High, Mintie White Elementary, and EA Hall Middle School; · YES
on J upgrades the third high school. Measure
J will: ·
Expand classroom/instructional space; ·
Improve libraries; ·
Replace inadequate, cramped cafeterias; ·
Improve student safety, parking and traffic flow;
and · Replace
outdated arts and physical education facilities. By
law, Measure J is subject to new, tough fiscal accountability regulations
required by the state. NO money can
be spent for PVUSD employee salaries or operating costs. A Citizens’ Bond Oversight committee MUST
be established to monitor and audit Measure J funds to ensure that they are
spent as shown in the plan contained in your voter handbook. NO district employees or vendors can serve
on the Bond Oversight Committee, which MUST include representatives from a
taxpayer’s association, senior organization, business group, and parent
organization, among others. Parents,
teachers, principals, and community members support Measure J. Help our students and invest in our future
– Vote YES on J. s/ Henry Mello, Retired
State Senator s/ Ann Soldo, Former
Mayor, City of Watsonville/Educator s/ Diane Siri, County
Superintendent of Schools s/ Tila Guerrero,
Business Owner s/ Karen Hibble,
Community Member |
REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE J Proceeds from Measure J won't address the real needs of PVUSD. Rather they will be used for individual trustees¹ pet projects, some of which are totally unnecessary. Most of the money will be used for parking lots, play fields, swimming pools, gymnasiums and $11 million debt repayment. Like
typical committees serving the District, the Community Facilities Committee
was not representative of the community. It was established by
administrators, appointed by administrators, and reached decisions favored by
administrators. Central Zone schools--Freedom, Calabasas, Amesti, Starlight, H. A. Hyde, Salsipuedes, Lakeview, Rolling Hills, Renaissance--get nothing from this bond, though nearly all rank at the bottom in academic performance statewide. $2.5 million for the new high school's cafeteria is allocated, but taxpayers have already paid for that with hardship funds. Measure J is a "quick fix" to bail PVUSD out of cost overruns from poor decisions and poor financial management. How
will your taxes be affected by the proposed secession movement, which may
divide the district? Will you pay for projects in another district while your
schools suffer? Using
a mortgage calculator, the $58,250,000.00 bond at an average 5% interest for
27 years creates $48,000,000.00 in debt service, increasing the cost to
taxpayers to $106,000,000.00. Don't
be fooled into thinking you are supporting education with this bond. It
defines the concept of "Pork Barrel Spending." If this bond
passes, what will taxpayers do when real needs are identified and another big
bond is proposed? VOTE NO ON MEASURE J. s/
Karell Reader, Youth Advocate s/
Ancie G. Griffin, Ret. Tax Payer s/
Dan Hernandez, South Zone Rep. |
44-503
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 J We urge voters to reject Measure J. Measure J does not allocate its proceeds fairly, it contradicts the intent of election law governing school bonds, and it rewards PVUSD officials for reckless business schemes and questionable practices. The
$58.25 million school bond ignores the intent of the proposition that permits
it; it violates the law by funding debt repayment; it divides monies unevenly
among Zones; and it seeks funding for facilities previously funded by the
State, all while the Pajaro Valley Unified School District is exploring the
option of dividing into separate districts. The
law allowing passage of a general obligation school bond at 55% was passed to
build classrooms to enable smaller class size, and so our children can learn
basic skills like reading and mathematics. This bond would inappropriately
allocate funds to build parking lots, play fields, swimming pools and
gymnasiums. $11
million, 19% of the bond's total, would be used to repay Certificates of
Participation, money borrowed at high interest rates, that was to be paid
back from state funds--state funds that the district did receive. This
loan was never presented to district voters as requiring a 30 year tax on
their property. Passing
Measure J will give district officials the green light to do this
again---borrow millions of dollars; over-spend by millions of dollars without
over-sight or voter approval; and then stick property owners with the debt in
future bond measures. Measure
J is 30 years of new taxes for a bond that spends money unwisely and
unfairly. Passing Measure J will reward the PVUSD for over-spending.
Furthermore, it doesn't make sense to pass a bond for a district that
may soon break apart. Measure
J is the wrong bond at the wrong time. Vote
NO on Measure J. s/
Ancie G. Griffin, Tax Payer s/
Karell Reader, Youth Advocate s/
Dan Hernandez, PVUSD Representative, South Zone |
REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT
AGAINST MEASURE J
The argument against Measure J is false and
misleading. Fact: This
bond was developed by parents and volunteers, not bureaucrats. Bond projects address urgent and critical
educational needs, not political agendas. Fact: Measure
J meets and exceeds the requirements of state law by including
additional fiscal protections, ensuring that funds will be spent as promised
to parents and taxpayers. Fact: Measure J funds only those school projects
determined to be ineligible for state funding now and in the future. Fact: By law, Measure J states and restricts
how bond funds will be spent, as explicitly described in your voter handbook.
Bond projects include finishing and repairing aging facilities in our high
schools, and improving elementary and middle schools. Fact: NO money can be spent on administrators’
salaries or bureaucracy. An
independent Citizens Oversight Committee, including finance/construction
experts and taxpayer, senior and business representatives, MUST monitor all
funds to ensure they’re used exclusively for projects stated in Measure J. Fact: A small portion of Measure J funds will be
spent to pay our local share of funding used to build Ann Soldo School,
acquire land for a new high school, and to modernize schools and classrooms
throughout our community. Remember – good schools help our children, keep neighborhoods safe, and improve property values. Don’t be fooled by false claims. Measure J not only helps our children, it is fiscally responsible. It is less expensive to make these critical repairs for students NOW than in the future. Vote YES on J. s/ Marc Monte,
Community Member s/ Tony Campos, Santa
Cruz County Supervisor/ Businessman s/ Jess Brown,
Community Member s/ Ray Belgard, former Santa Cruz County Supervisor s/ Jane Barr, former
PVUSD Trustee |
44-504