13,257 / 67.05% Yes votes ...... 6,514 / 32.95% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Approval of Measure D would authorize the Downey Unified School District ("District") to issue up to $65,000,000 in general obligation bonds.

Funds received from the sale of the bonds would be used only for the construction, rehabilitation and equipping of District facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for District facilities. No funds may be used for teacher or administrator salaries, or other school operating expenses.

As required by law, the Board of Education of the District ("Board of Education") has adopted a list of the specific school facilities projects to be funded by the sale of the bonds. The Board of Education will conduct annual, independent financial and performance audits to ensure that funds received from the sale of the bonds will have been expended only on the specific projects listed, and will appoint a citizen's oversight committee to inform the public on expenditures.

The bonds would be issued and sold at an interest rate not to exceed the maximum rate allowed by law, and would be repaid by a property tax levied upon real property located within the District over a period not to exceed the maximum number of years allowed by law.

This Measure requires a fifty-five percent (55%) vote for passage.

NOTICE TO VOTERS

Approval of Measure D does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Downey Unified School District that are the subject of bonds under Measure D will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure D. The school district's proposal for the project or projects may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.

But, we have all witnessed how quickly the world can change. It has taught us that we must never grow complacent about the future and that we must never stop striving to improve our community and our country.

Measure D gives us the opportunity to continue on with the job of creating an educational environment in which we can all be proud.

Each one of our fourteen elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools will directly benefit from Measure D. Classrooms will be renovated, computer systems upgraded, infrastructures replaced, field areas improved, and campus security improved.

In doing so, we can all take pride in knowing that we have come together to solve our own problems. Measure D will invest our local tax dollars back into our own economy. It will be used only to improve our children's schools, not to pay for administrative salaries. And it will establish an independent citizens oversight committee to ensure that the funds are spent properly.

We believe that now is the time to invest in our community. Please join with us in supporting our schools by voting YES ON MEASURE D!

MARY STAUFFER, M.D.
Retired Physician, YMCA Board of Managers

DOMINICK DIMARIO
Past President, Downey Chamber of Commerce

DOUG ALDRIDGE
Pastor, Downey First Christian Church

CAROL PEARCE
Local Business Person, Member, Chamber of Commerce, Soroptimist Member

WILLIAM (TRACY) RILEY Retired Business Person, President, Sertoma

(No arguments against Measure D were submitted)

1. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $.01395 per $100 ($13.95 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2003-04.

2. The best estimate of the highest tax rate that would be required to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing this statement, is $.05970 per $100 ($59.70 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2009-10.

3. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $.05970 per $100 ($59.70 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2009-10.

4. The average tax rate that would be required to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $.03640 per $100 ($36.40 per $100,000) of assessed valuation.

These estimates are based on projections derived from information obtained from official sources. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary depending on the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at each sale and actual increases in assessed valuations. The timing of the bond sales and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the needs of the District. Actual assessed valuations will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: July 25, 2002