See Also: Index of all Measures

Section 1 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution and Education Code section 15266 et seq. authorize an election to increase ad valorem real property taxes to pay bonded indebtedness for construction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including furnishing and equipping school facilities, or acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities, if approved by 55 percent of qualified electors.

If this measure is approved, the Lindsay Unified School District (“District”) will be authorized to incur debt by issuing general obligation bonds to provide financing for constructing and equipping a new high school gymnasium, library, athletic and vocational education facilities, and an elementary cafeteria/multipurpose room. Expenditure of bond revenues must be actively reviewed by an independent citizens’ oversight committee mandated by section 15278 of the Education Code.

If the measure is approved, the District will be authorized to increase ad valorem taxes on property located within the District’s boundaries to pay the bond principal, interest and associated costs. The maximum principal amount of the proposed bonds will not exceed twenty million, seven hundred thousand dollars ($20,700,000.00). The bonds cannot bear interest at a rate above the maximum legal limit. Pursuant to Government Code section 53508(f), the maximum duration of the bonds cannot exceed 40 years from the date of the bonds. The interest rate will be established at the time of sale and will depend on market rates at that time. The exact effect on tax rates cannot be determined until after the bonds are sold.

An independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee will actively review expenditure of bond revenues. An independent financial audit of the proceeds, and an independent performance audit of the specific projects will be performed annually. An annual report will be prepared, indicating the amount of funds collected and expended, and the status of any project listed in the measure.

This bond measure makes no change to existing law. Electors entitled to vote on this measure are the registered voters within the boundaries of the District. If the measure is not approved by at least 55 percent of the votes cast, the measure will fail and the bonds will not be issued.

s/ Channone Smith, Deputy County Counsel

Lindsay Unified School District

GreatSchools.Net

Today, we need to complete the construction of our comprehensive high school and our new elementary school to reduce overcrowding. We need to act locally to provide the match for $29 million dollars in State funds and build modern schools to ensure our students have the training and advanced educational opportunities to compete in the 21st Century. At the High School, we need to build vocational education facilities to improve career opportunities, a library to improve student access to information and technology, and new athletic facilities. We need to build a cafeteria/multipurpose room at the new Elementary School so that students have an indoor eating space and assembly area.

MEASURE "B" WILL:

• Complete construction of a comprehensive high school for all Lindsay students, and a new elementary school to reduce overcrowding

• Construct support facilities comparable to neighboring school districts, including a new high school library, gymnasium, athletic and vocational education facilities, and an elementary cafeteria/multipurpose room

TAXPAYER SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE. MEASURE “B” REQUIRES:

• Guaranteed audits and an independent oversight committee to ensure money is used only for voter approved school improvements and repairs and not used for salaries, administration, and overhead

• Complete our schools now, instead of later when it will only cost more

• Build a new high school to allow our existing facility to be converted to a larger middle school

s/ Robert H. Tienken, Retired Private Citizen

s/ Jim Williams, LUSD Board President

s/ Guy A. Wollenman, Farmer; Ag Business Manager

s/ Robert Hurtado, Parent, Health & Human Services Specialist

s/ Wendy Jay, LUSD teacher

(No arguments against Measure B were submitted)

1. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied 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 4.900 cents per $100 ($49.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2008-09.

2. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied 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 4.900 cents per $100 ($49.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2019-20.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 4.900 cents per $100 ($49.00 per $100,000).

Voters should note that the estimated tax rates are based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County’s official tax rolls, not on the property’s market value. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills to determine their property’s assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District’s projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those presently estimated, due to variations from these estimates in the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold and market interest rates at the time of each sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on the need for construction funds and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale. Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: October 8, 2007

The Lindsay Unified School District was established in 1890 and today serves a student population of approximately 3,992 in grades K-12. In 2002, Measure “C,” a $7.2 million bond measure, was approved by voters and was used to match $9 million in State Aid to complete many needed improvements throughout the District. Improvements included modernizing our schools, upgrading restrooms, repairing roofs, constructing new science and multi-use buildings, and new playgrounds.

Today, we need to complete the construction of a comprehensive high school for all Lindsay students and a new elementary school to reduce overcrowding. We need to construct support facilities comparable to our neighboring districts, including a new high school library and athletic and vocational education facilities, and a new elementary cafeteria/multipurpose room.

The students would benefit by having complete, comprehensive schools. Vocational education facilities would provide students with learning opportunities that lead to good jobs right after high school or through certificate programs. Students at the new elementary school would be provided with a cafeteria/multi-purpose room so that they can have indoor eating space and assembly area. We need to act locally to build modern schools to ensure our students have the training and advanced educational opportunities to compete in the 21st Century.

Building a new high school would allow our existing facility to be converted to a larger middle school, allowing for good use of taxpayer dollars. It is less expensive to build the proposed facilities now than in the future when they will only cost us more money. Safe and secure schools mean more focused and higher achieving students.

BONDS

To reduce overcrowding, and leverage approximately $29,000,000 in State funds to complete a new high school and elementary school, shall the Lindsay Unified School District be authorized to acquire, improve or build a new high school library, gymnasium, athletic and vocational education facilities, and an elementary cafeteria / multipurpose room by issuing up to $20,700,000 in general obligation bonds at legal interest rates, with a citizens’ oversight committee, annual audits, and no money for salaries or other routine school operating expenses?

SCHOOL FACILITIES PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED FROM BOND PROCEEDS

As required by the California Constitution, the proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be used only for the purposes authorized under Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, including construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities, as specifically set forth in this Exhibit A, and costs incident thereto, including the costs of the election, and not for any other purpose, including salaries and other routine school operating expenses.

The following list of specific school facilities projects is based on the District’s Facilities Master Plan. The scope of specific projects, the order of construction, and their completion is also contingent on final project costs and the availability of needed funds. Further, projects on the project list are of the type that issuing the authorized general obligation bonds as stated will not cause the State to reduce any financial hardship contribution that would otherwise be available to the District had these bonds not been authorized, issued, and or expended for their stated purpose.

New High School

• Build a gymnasium
• Build a library
• Build vocational technology facilities
• Build and upgrade athletic facilities
• Acquire leased facilities
• Furnish and equip school facilities to the extent permitted by law

• Build a cafeteria / multipurpose building
• Build a library / technology center
• Furnish and equip school facilities to the extent permitted by law
• Acquire leased facilities

ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES

If the bonds are approved, the Board of Trustees will implement the following accountability measures in accordance with State law:

(a) Use the bond proceeds only for the purposes authorized under Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, including construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities and related uses, as specifically set forth in this Exhibit A, and costs incident thereto, including the costs of the election, and not for any other purpose, including salaries and other routine school operating expenses;

(b) Conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the projects and uses listed in this Exhibit A;

(c) Conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the proceeds from the sale of the bonds until all of those proceeds have been expended for school facilities projects and uses listed in this Exhibit A; and

(d) Establish and appoint members to an independent citizens’ oversight committee to ensure the bonds are used only for the projects and uses listed in this Exhibit A.

STATE MATCHING FUNDS

California Education Code section 15122.5 requires the following statement to be included in this sample ballot:

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