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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
Contra Costa County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
Measure G
School Bond
Byron Union School District

55% Approval Required

2,756 / 54.5% Yes votes ...... 2,302 / 45.5% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Dec 15 1:28pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (19/19)
82.9% Voter Turnout (418,335/504,505)
Information shown below: Yes/No Meaning | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement | Full Text

To improve the quality of education, shall Byron Union School District construct additional classrooms; repair roofs and upgrade heating/air conditioning systems; improve student access to computers and technology; build new science labs and a library/media center; make health and safety improvements; and make the District eligible to receive State grants by issuing $14,299,707 in bonds at legal interest rates, with a citizens' oversight committee, annual audits, and NO money for administrator salaries?

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote of this measure means:
A "yes" vote is in favor of authorizing the bonded indebtedness.

A NO vote of this measure means:
A "no" vote is against authorizing the bonded indebtedness.

Impartial Analysis from County Counsel
Under California law, school districts are authorized to incur bonded indebtedness to construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, replace, furnish, and equip school facilities, or to acquire or lease real property for school facilities, if approved by the voters. By resolution, the Board of Trustees of the Byron Union School District has proposed that the District incur bonded indebtedness.

This ballot measure would authorize bonded indebtedness not to exceed fourteen-million-two-hundred-and-ninety-nine-thousand-seven-hundred-and-seven dollars ($14,299,707) with interest not to exceed the maximum legal rate. In exchange for money received from a holder of the bonds, the District will promise to pay to the holder interest for a certain period of time and to repay the loan on the expiration date. Bonds will have a maturity date (the date the District has to pay back the money it borrowed).

The money raised would be used for constructing additional classrooms, repairing roofs, upgrading heating/air conditioning systems, improving student access to computers and technology, building new science labs and a library/media center, making health and safety improvements, and making the District eligible to receive State grants. The specific projects are set forth in the Bond Project List attached to the resolution of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees evaluated safety, class size reduction, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List. The money raised would only be used for the listed projects.

The ballot measure also calls for the establishment of an independent citizens' oversight committee to ensure that the money raised is expended only on the listed projects. In addition, the Board of Trustees will be required to conduct an annual independent performance audit to ensure that the funds are expended only on the listed projects, and to conduct an annual independent financial audit of the money raised until it has been spent on the listed projects.

To pass, 55% of those voting on the measure must approve the measure.

A "yes" vote is in favor of authorizing the bonded indebtedness.

A "no" vote is against authorizing the bonded indebtedness.

 
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Arguments For Measure G Arguments Against Measure G
The Byron Union School District has provided a quality education for students in our community since 1955. In 2003, Excelsior Middle School was recognized as a California Exemplary School. To address today's needs, we should vote Yes on Measure "G" and expand and upgrade our local schools. Passing Measure "G" will allow us to continue providing the children of Byron and Discovery Bay a quality education and provide school facilities and technology for our students that will be comparable to those in other neighboring school districts.

MEASURE "G" IMPROVES SCHOOLS BY:

o Improving student access to computers and modern technology by upgrading and constructing computer labs

o Constructing and equipping new science and technology labs and a new library/media center at Excelsior Middle School

o Repairing or replacing leaky roofs, upgrading heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and replacing windows to improve energy efficiency and lower operating costs

BY LAW, TAXPAYER SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE. MEASURE "G" WILL:

o Include guaranteed audits and establish a citizens' oversight committee to ensure proper spending

o Require funds be used only to improve our schools + not for salaries or benefits

Measure "G" makes financial sense. It makes the District eligible to receive State grants and matching funds to help pay for needed school improvements. Good schools improve homeowner property values. Making improvements now instead of later is a cost effective investment in our community. As always, the District will continue to aggressively collect developer fees and seek State grants to help with new construction projects. Measure "G" will maintain our schools as a center point of our community, improve homeowner property values, and allow for the continued quality education of our children.

Preserve our quality of life. Support our local schools. YES ON MEASURE "G".

Cheryl Garvey 8-12-04 School Parent/Discovery Bay PTA President

Richard Pierce 8/12/04 Community Member/Pres., Discovery Bay Chamber of Commerce

Chet Loveland 12 Aug. 04 Community Citizen/Past Pres. Of Discovery Bay Yacht Club

Kathy Leighton 8-12-04 Prominent Resident/Local Historian/Byron MAC Board Member

Dennis Kutsuris 8-12-04 Parent/Retired Police Detective/Board Mbr., Byron Board of Trustees

None filed.

Tax Rate Statement from Superindent, Byron Union School District
An election will be held in the Byron Union School District (the "District") on November 2, 2004, to authorize the sale of up to $14,299,707 in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the proposition. If the bonds are approved, the District expects to sell the bonds in three series. 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.

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 2.294 cents per $100 ($22.94 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2005-06.

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 available at the time of filing of this statement, is 2.294 cents per $100 ($22.94 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2015-16.

3. 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 2.294 cents per $100 ($22.94 per $100,000) of assessed valuation. The tax rate is expected to remain the same in each year.

Voters should note that 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, including the legal limitations on bonds approved by a 55% vote. 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: July 20, 2004

Thomas Meyer, Ed. D. Superintendent Byron Union School District

Full Text of Measure G
To improve the quality of education, shall Byron Union School District construct additional classrooms; repair roofs and upgrade heating/air conditioning systems; improve student access to computers and technology, build new science labs and a library/media center; make health and safety improvements and make the District eligible to receive State grants by issuing $14,299,707 in bonds at legal interest rates, with a citizens' oversight committee, annual audits, and NO money for administrator salaries?

As required by the California Constitution, the proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be used only 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, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

BOND PROJECT LIST

The Byron Union School District intends to complete the following projects, using a combination of funding sources. It is anticipated that bond proceeds will contribute $14,299,707 to said total cost. Other anticipated sources include state aid matching funds and other available funds.

__ Repair or replace leaky roofs to reduce ongoing maintenance costs

__ Construct/provide additional classrooms at Excelsior Middle School

__ Improve student access to computers and modern technology throughout the District by upgrading and constructing computer labs and providing additional computers

__ Construct and equip new science and technology labs at Excelsior Middle School

__ Provide the students of Excelsior Middle School with a library/media center

__ Upgrade heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and replace windows to improve energy efficiency and lower operating costs

__ Make necessary health and safety improvements such as making ADA (handicapped accessibility) improvements and improving student drop-off areas

__ Refurbish the old gym at Excelsior Middle School for use by drama and sports

__ Build a new gym at Excelsior Middle School for school and community use since the current gym is inadequate

__ Modernize classrooms including upgrading and replacing flooring, walls, doors, fixtures, etc.

__ Upgrade playground equipment and playfields

__ Provide or purchase other school furniture and equipment as allowed by law

__ Address unforeseen conditions revealed by construction/modernization (e.g., plumbing or gas line breaks, dry rot, seismic, structural, etc.)

__ Renovate, expand, construct, and upgrade student support facilities, as needed

__ Necessary site preparation/restoration in connection with new construction, renovation or remodeling, or installation or removal of relocatable classrooms

The District's Board of Trustees has certified that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing the foregoing list.

The District's Board of Trustees will conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the funds have been expended only on the project list set forth above.

The District's Board of Trustees will conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the proceeds from the sale of the Bonds until all of those proceeds have been expended for the school facilities projects.

Pursuant to Section 15772 of the Education Code, the District's Board of Trustees will appoint a citizens' oversight committee and conduct annual independent audits to assure that funds are spent only on school and classroom improvements and for no other purposes.

Approval of Measure G does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Byron Union School District that are the subject of bonds under Measure G will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure G. 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.


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Created: December 15, 2004 13:29 PST
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