League of Women Voters of California
| ||||
|
||||
Measure H Elementary and Middle School Improvements Campbell Union School District Bond Issue; 55% approval required 8,772 / 66.7% Yes votes ...... 4,384 / 33.3% No votes
See Also:
Index of all Measures |
||||
|
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement | Full Text | ||||
To complete the repair, renovation, modernization and construction of neighborhood elementary and middle schools; upgrade aged electrical systems, bathrooms and plumbing; improve parking and traffic around elementary and middle schools; enhance libraries and technology capabilities; and improve accessibility for the disabled shall the Campbell Union School District issue bonds of $74,900,000 at interest rates within legal limits, with citizen's oversight and annual financial audits with no proceeds used for administrator salaries?
Proposition 39, approved by the voters in a statewide election November, 2000, amended the California Constitution to authorize the issuance of bonded indebtedness to acquire or improve real property, if approved by fifty-five percent of the votes cast by voters in an election. The Constitution permits the debt service on such bonds to be paid through the imposition of ad valorem property taxes on property located within the district. The maturity of any such bonds issued would not exceed 25 years for those bonds issued pursuant to the Education Code, and 40 years for those bonds issued pursuant to the Government Code, at a rate of interest within the legal limit. The tax rate is estimated not to exceed $30 per $100,000 of taxable property in the District as provided in the Tax Rate Statement. 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. With annual audits and citizen oversight, proceeds of the bonds would be used to upgrade classrooms and libraries to meet district standards, provide safety improvements, modernize lighting, roofs, windows, and plumbing, provide for energy efficiency and technology upgrades, removal of hazardous materials, e.g. asbestos, construct restrooms and gymnasiums, and to qualify for state matching funds. A 'yes' vote is a vote to authorize the issuance and sale of the general obligation bonds not to exceed the principal amount of $74,900,000 for the uses specified. A "no' vote is a vote not to authorize the issuance and sale of said bonds. Ann Miller Ravel, County Counsel By: Kathryn A. Berry, Deputy County Counsel
|
Official Information
|
Arguments For Measure H | Arguments Against Measure H | ||
To ensure that all Campbell Union School District elementary and middle school students have the same safe, up-to-date, and efficient learning environment, we're asking for your support. Your yes vote on this measure will help the district to continue with the repair, renovation, and maintenance plans for the schools that haven't been upgraded yet.
Campbell's elementary and middle schools are rolling right along. Student achievement is high and rising throughout the district, modernization and renovation are well underway, and independent audits continue to show that district finances are well-managed. In 1994, Campbell Union School District voters approved a bond election to begin renovation and upgrades at many of the schools in the district. The projects funded by the bond repaired and replaced many old classrooms and some old buildings. All projects funded by the 1994 bond came in on budget. The new and improved learning environments have helped us continue to raise test scores.
Here's what we need to do to keep on rolling: Your YES vote will help us accomplish all of these projects, continue to raise student achievement, and provide the same learning environment for all students in the district ... and keep it rolling right along! Thank you for supporting the children in our elementary and middle schools and providing for our community's future. Jim Beall, Member, County Board of Supervisors Matthew T. Dean, Parent & Campbell City Councilmember Ron Gonzales, Mayor of San Jose Betty C. Deal, Director, Campbell Chamber of Commerce Deborah Johnson, President Campbell Elementary Teachers Association
Why hasn't Campbell Union School District made the important repairs from the budget? If all budget expenditures during the last few 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, making repairs and upgrades wasteful? We should use the current budget to pay for teachers and make important repairs as needed. With whatever money is left, we should pay for whatever administration Campbell Union 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 Campbell Union School District accountable. While businesses are intent on cutting costs, don't let the school budget balloon out of control. VOTE NO ON MEASURE H! For more information visit http://www.VoteNOonH.org . H. Raymond Strong, Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County Elizabeth C. Brierly, MBA, Libertarian Candidate, State Board of Equalization Dennis Michael Umphress, Candidate for Congress, District 16 | When school boards put bond measures like Measure H 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 $74.9 million bond issue paying, for example, 5 percent simple interest for 25 years would mean $93.6 million in interest payments, plus $74.9 million in principle for a total of $168.5 million. As a consumer and taxpayer, you deserve to know the truth about these high costs. The annual interest payment of $3.745 million 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 $74,900,000 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: Vote FOR responsible and effective spending for education: Vote NO on Measure H. For more details, please visit our website at http://www.VoteNOonH.org/ . H. Raymond Strong, Chair, Ubertarian Party of Santa Clara County Dennis Michael Umphress, Candidate for Congress, 16th District Jeff Landauer, Candidate for Congress, 15th District Elizabeth C. Brierly, Business Analyst, MBA
Many of our students are studying in deteriorating buildings and leaky classrooms. Electrical systems at some schools can't handle modern computers, security systems and other technology. The Campbell Union School District needs funds for specific repairs and additions that are well-publicized. Withholding needed funds will only hurt the high quality of education in our schools. The School Board has an excellent record of fiscal responsibility. All projects funded by the last bond, passed in 1994, were completed on-budget. Independent audits confirm that district finances are sound. Passage of Measure H will help provide the same safe, up-to-date, and efficient learning environment for all Campbell Union School District students. State law requires all bond funds be used only for facility and classroom improvements. By law, no bond funds can be used for administrative salaries or district overhead expenses. An oversight committee, made up of private citizens, will oversee bond expenditures to ensure that every dollar is used appropriately, efficiently and only on projects that directly improve the quality of learning in our classrooms and safety of our students. Every dollar raised by Measure H will stay right here in our community to fix our schools. Please join our teachers, parents, neighbors and businesspeople in voting Yes on Measure H. Jim Beall, Member, Board of Supervisors Ron Gonzales, Mayor of San Jose Betty C. Deal, Director, Campbell Chamber of Commerce Matthew T. Dean, Parent/Campbell City Councilmember Deborah Rae Johnson, CETA President |
Tax Rate Statement from the School District |
As shown in the enclosed sample ballot, an election will be held in the Campbell Union School District of Santa Clara County to authorize the sale of $74,900,000 in general obligation bonds.
In compliance with Elections Code Section 9400 - 9404, the following information is submitted:
These figures are based on projections and estimates only and are not binding upon the District. The actual timing of the sale of bonds and the amount sold at any given time will be governed by the needs of the District, the debt limit at the time of sale, the condition of the bond market and other factors. The actual future assessed values will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined in the assessment and equalization process. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those presently estimated. Campbell Union School District |
Full Text of Measure H |
|