This is an archive of a past election.
See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/sba/ for current information.
LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund If you appreciate our service to voters, please consider helping us with a donation.
Smart Voter
Santa Barbara County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
Measure V2012
Funding for School Improvement
Buellton Union School District

School Bonds - 55% Approval Required

Pass: 746 / 55.22% Yes votes ...... 605 / 44.78% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Jun 5 11:28pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (5/5)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement |

To improve the quality of education; improve student access to computers and modern technology; make energy-efficiency improvements including installing solar panels to reduce electrical and utility costs; build new classrooms; and upgrade school cafeterias to full service; shall the Buellton Union School District issue $3,200,000 of bonds at legal interest rates, have an independent citizens' oversight committee to review all expenditures and ensure NO money is taken away by the state or used for administrative salaries?

Impartial Analysis from Gustavo E. Lavayen, Chief Deputy County Counsel
Article XIII A, Section 1(a) of the California Constitution limits the ad valorem tax on real property to not exceed one (1%) percent of the full cash value of such property. Article XIII A, Section 1(b) of the California Constitution provides an exception to this limitation for bonded indebtedness incurred by a school district approved by 55% of the voters in the school district voting on the proposition to issue bonds for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities.

This measure, if approved by 55% of the voters, would authorize the Buellton Union School District to authorize the sale of general obligation bonds on its behalf in a principal amount not to exceed $3,200,000 to provide financing for the specific school facilities projects listed in the Buellton Union School District's Bond Project List. The Bond Project List, as well as the full text of the measure, is printed in the ballot pamphlet. None of the proceeds from the sale of bonds may be used for salary or operating expenses.

The bonds and interest thereon would be payable from property taxes levied on taxable property in the District. These taxes would be in addition to the property taxes currently levied on taxpayers in the District. The amount of the increased taxes each year would depend upon the amount needed to pay the principal and interest on the bonds. The bond measure includes the following accountability requirements:

A. A requirement that the proceeds from the bond sale be used only for the above purposes and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

B. A list of the specific school facilities projects to be funded and certification that the school district board has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing that list.

C. A requirement that the school district board conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the funds have been spent only on the specific school facilities projects listed in the proposition.

D. A requirement that the school district board conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of such proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List.

This measure, if approved, will also establish a citizens' oversight committee to monitor expenditures and ensure bond proceeds are used only to fund the specific projects listed in the Bond Project List, as printed in the ballot pamphlet.

  Official Information

Buellton Union School District
This election is archived. Any links to sources outside of Smart Voter may no longer be active. No further links will be added to this page.
Links to sources outside of Smart Voter are provided for information only and do not imply endorsement.

Arguments For Measure V2012
Everyone knows the importance and value of having quality schools. From higher achieving students, to training for future jobs, to greater neighborhood safety, quality schools make a difference. However, because the state continues to reduce funding for public education, we need to do more to protect and maintain the quality of education in our local public schools.

Buellton teachers and staff do their best in educating our children, and over the last eight years the Buellton Union School District has made major facility improvements to enhance our children's educational environment. The District completed the construction of Oak Valley School. In addition, funds were used to modernize and renovate Jonata Middle School. Despite these improvements there are still classrooms and facilities that need renovations and upgrades. That is why Buellton students need your YES vote on Measure V2012!

If passed, Measure V2012 will improve our schools by:

  • Improving student access to computers and modern technology
  • Upgrading school cafeterias to provide healthier and more nutritious meals
  • Making energy efficiency improvements and installing solar panels
  • Building new classrooms.

Best of all, we can do this without increasing the tax rate local property owners are currently paying. Measure V2012 makes financial sense and has taxpayer safeguards.
  • All funds must be spent locally and cannot be taken by the state.
  • Measure V2012 does not increase the current annual tax rate property owners are paying.
  • By law, spending must be reviewed and annually audited by an independent citizens' oversight committee.
  • Funds can only be spent to improve Buellton schools, not for administrator or teacher salaries.

Measure V2012 upgrades and renovates inadequate classrooms and facilities, improves the education of local elementary children, and maintains the quality of our community without increasing our tax rate. That's something we can all support. Please join us and VOTE YES ON MEASURE V2012!

The undersigned authors of the argument in favor of measure V2012 at the primary election for the Buellton Union School District to be held on June 5, 2012 hereby state that such argument is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief.

/s/ Joyce A. Azevedo, President, BUSD Board of Trustees
/s/ Marya C. Maki, President, Jonata-Oak Valley PTSA
/s/ Casey Cypert
/s/ Dean Palius
/s/ Holly Sierra

(No arguments against Measure V2012 were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement from Tom Cooper, Superintendent, Buellton Union School District
An election will be held in the Buellton Union School District (the "District") on June 5, 2012, to authorize the sale of up to $3,200,000 in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the measure. If such bonds are authorized and sold, principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information is provided in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the Elections Code of the State of California. Such information is based upon the best estimates and projections presently available from official sources, upon experience within the District, and other demonstrable factors.

Based upon the foregoing and projections of the District's assessed valuation, and assuming the entire debt service will be paid through property taxation:

1. The best estimate of the tax rate 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 $0.00 per $100,000 of assessed value for the fiscal year 2012-2013.

2. The best estimate of the tax rate 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 at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.00 per $100,000 of assessed value for the fiscal year 2016-2017.

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 $30.00 per $100,000 of assessed value for fiscal year 2035-36 and thereafter in each year that the bonds are scheduled to be outstanding.

Voters should note the estimated tax rate is based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls, not on the property's market value. In addition, taxpayers eligible for a property tax exemption, such as the homeowner's exemption, will be taxed at a lower effective tax rate than described above. Certain taxpayers may also be eligible to postpone payment of taxes. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills and tax advisors to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

The attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon 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 date of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on 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 sale. Actual future assessed valuations 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.


Santa Barbara Home Page || Statewide Links || About Smart Voter || Feedback
Created: July 26, 2012 13:01 PDT
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://cavotes.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.