"Shall the Evergreen Elementary School District incur a bonded indebtedness of $60,000,000 with an interest rate not to exceed the statutory limit for the purpose of raising money for the following real property improvements (which purposes are hereby united and shall be voted as one single proposition): (a) the construction or purcahse of buildings; (b) the acquisitioon of sitesl and (c) the permannent alteration, addition or improvement to buildings and sites including any off-site improvements related thereto?" COUNTY COUNSEL'S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE A The California Constitution authorizes districts to issue bonded indebtedness for the purpose of the acquisition or improvement of real property through the imposition of Ad Valorem property taxes upon approval of two-thirds of the votes cast by voters in an election. The Evergreen School District proposes to issue bonds not to exceed $60 million with maturity not to exceed twenty-five years with annual interest thereon not to exceed twelve percent. The bonds would be repaid through a property tax based upon the taxable value of real property and the improvements thereon. A "yes" vote is a vote to authorize the issuance and sale of the general obligation bonds not to exceed the principal amount of $60,000,000.00. The funds derived from the sale of the bonds would be expended to construct or purchase buildings; to acquire sites; and for the permanent alteration, addition or improvement to buildings and sites including any related off-site improvements. A "no" vote is a vote not to authorize the issuance and sale of said bonds. STEVEN M. WOODSIDE County Counsel By: BRIAN L. CARR Deputy County Counsel TAX RATE STATEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE EVERGREEN SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND MEASURE A TO BE SUBMITTED AT A SCHOOL BONDS ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 4, 1997 An election will be held in the Evergreen School District (the "District") on November 4, 1997, to authorize the sale of up to $60,000,000 in general obligation bonds. It is expected that bonds would be issued in series over time. The following tax rate information complies with Sections 9400 et seq. of the California Elections Code. Such information is based upon the best estimates and projections of assessed valuations presently available from official sources, upon experience within the District, and upon other demonstrable factors. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds is 4.07" per $100 of assessed valuation in the fiscal year 1999/00. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply is 4.79" per $100 of assessed valuation in the fiscal year 2007/08. The best estimate of the highest tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply is 5.78" per $100 of assessed valuation for the fiscal year 2015/16. The best estimate of the average tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue and an estimate of the years in which a tax rate would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue (the years over which the tax rate would be averaged) is 4.25" per $100 of assessed valuation for the fiscal years 1999/00 through 2030/31. Attention to 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. Such projections and estimates may vary due to the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at each bond sale, market interest rates at the time of each bond sale, and actual assessed valuation over the term of repayment of the bonds. The actual dates of the sale of bonds and the amount sold on any given date will be governed by the needs of the District and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold, which in any event will not exceed the maximum permitted by law, will depend upon the market for the bonds at the time of each sale. Actual assessed valuation in future years will depend upon the value of property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process. Hence, the actual tax rates and the years in which such rates are applicable may vary from those presently estimated above. JAMES F. SMITH Superintendent, Evergreen School District ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE A The children of the Evergreen Elementary School District need your vote for Measure A to fund essential renovations & improvements to local schools. The facts in support of this measure speak for themselves. The facts are: * Our schools are overcrowded! Student enrollment is increasing every year. * Our schools need basic renovations! Roofs leak, electrical and plumbing systems need upgrading, playground equipment and old heating, cooling and ventilation systems need replacing. * Good schools help increase residential property values. The Evergreen Elementary School District offers an outstanding academic program -- all 15 schools have been awarded the title of California Distinguished School for high academic performance and strong community ties. We must maintain the facilities needed to support these high standards! Voter approval of Measure A will: * Reduce overcrowding by funding construction of new classroom space at schools throughout the district. * Fund essential renovations to schools throughout the district, such as: replacing worn-out plumbing and bathroom fixtures; repairing leaky roofs; upgrading classroom heating, cooling, ventilation and electrical systems; adding classroom air conditioning, replacing playground equipment and turfs. * Fund the installation of the wires, switches & cables needed to connect classroom computers. * Fund the construction of 3 new elementary schools over the next 10 years to accommodate our growing student population. Voter approval of Measure A will not increase your property tax rate: Measure A is a valuable community investment at a reasonable cost. Voter approval of this bond will not increase the current local property tax rate approved by voters in 1989. Passing Measure A is by far the most cost-effective way to give our children and grandchildren the classrooms they deserve! VOTE YES ON MEASURE A! ALICE E. WOODY, Councilmember DALLAS A. CLARK, Chairman, Citizens for Evergreen Schools JON F. LARSON, Retired, IBM Program Manager LESLIE C. SUGIMOTO, D.D.S., Dentist DENISE A. VENTO, President, Evergreen Little League REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE A A quality education for our children is one of the most important gifts we can give them. Bonds do not provide an education. Instead of spending more money on construction and renovation, why not seek to improve the quality of education? That does not require tax increases. It has been shown over and over again that the two most important factors in quality education are parental involvement and good teachers, in that order. Everything else pales in comparison. Parental involvement is inexpensive, but requires active approaches. All parents want their children to do better. Perhaps community action can draw parents into stronger ties with their children. Perhaps new community leaders will arise from a renewed commitment to excellence. Get the ball rolling, and it will go a long way. Isn't that worth striving for? Involvement can provide so much more than mere money can ever do. No bonds required. Vote NO! on Measure A. MARK W.A. HINKLE, Chair, Libertarian Party of California CHARLES B. WALKER, Vice-Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara Cty ELIZABETH C. BRIERLY, Secretary, Libertarian Party of California MARIANNE E. PETERSEN, County Central Committee Member, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE A HERE WE GO AGAIN Measure A requests more money, but would that improve the quality of education in this district? Or would it simply prolong the status quo? Nearly half the state budget and half of your property taxes are spent on public education, yet many parents are concerned that the quality of public education may be going down while the costs keep rising. TOO MUCH BLOAT Much of the high cost is because money needed for teachers and classrooms can be siphoned off for expensive frills. Most private schools spend considerably less per student and have far fewer administrators, yet provide what many feel is a better education. YOUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER Lack of choice and lack of competition in the public school system is directly responsible for lowered quality. Parents should be able to choose the schools their children attend. Just as competition forces private industry to serve its customers better, the quality of public education will improve once schools must compete for students instead of having guaranteed enrollments. DON'T FEED BUREAUCRACY Less bureaucracy along with more choice and competition are essential to cutting costs and ensuring quality in our schools. We owe it to our children, our families, and ourselves to scrutinize funding requests to see if we are getting full value for our money. Providing funding with no guarantee of performance does not improve anything. BONDS COST MONEY Bonds are not free money. Your taxes, and your children's taxes, may be paying them off, with interest, for 30 years or more. Don't write the district a blank check. Demand real improvements to the educational system before buying into another tax. You are the customer. VOTE "NO!" ON MEASURE A. MARK W.A. HINKLE, Chair, Libertarian Party of California CHARLES B. WALKER, Vice-Chair, Libertarian Party of S.C. County ED WIMMERS, Campaigns Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County JON PETERSEN, Secretary, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County DONALD J.R. CORMIER Jr., Activity Chairman, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE A The funds generated by the Measure A school bond will make an excellent educational product even better! Fact: All 15 schools in the Evergreen Elementary School District have been honored as California Distinguished Schools, and 9 schools have been awarded National Blue Ribbon status by the U.S. Department of Education. No other district in the state has attained such a level of academic achievement! Fact: The Evergreen Elementary School District is fiscally conservative and stable. The district receives the second-lowest level of state funding per student in Santa Clara County, yet student test scores surpass state and county averages in reading, writing and math. Fact: The Evergreen Elementary School District is required by law to use bond funds for school construction and renovation only. Bond funds cannot be used for school district salaries or operating expenses. REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE A - Continued Fact: Measure A is an investment in our community's future that will not increase the property tax rate. Because the Evergreen area has been growing so fast, the school district will be able to sell bonds without increasing the current local property tax rate approved by voters in 1989. Fact: Providing a top-quality education for our children and grandchildren takes caring and involved parents, highly trained and qualified teachers, an excellent curriculum - and adequate, uncrowded school facilities! Measure A will provide the essential renovations and new classroom construction needed to continue providing Evergreen children with the top-quality education this community has come to expect! VOTE YES ON MEASURE A! DENISE A. VENTO, President Evergreen Little League LESLIE C. SUGIMOTO, Dentist JON F. LARSON, Retired, IBM Program Manager ALICE E. WOODY, Councilmember DALLAS A. CLARK, Chairman, Citizens for Evergreen Schools