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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
San Joaquin County, CA November 8, 2005 Election
Measure C
School Facilities
Stockton Unified School District

School Bond - 55% Majority

Pass: 18858 / 69.4% Yes votes ...... 8309 / 30.6% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Nov 30 8:44am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (120/120)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement | Full Text

To relieve overcrowding by building new schools and classrooms; reconfiguring schools to improve educational opportunities, student achievement and safety; repairing, replacing or upgrading fire alarm systems, leaky roofs, electrical systems, deteriorating school facilities, and damage caused by dry rot and termites; removing asbestos and other hazardous materials; and obtaining state matching funds; shall the Stockton Unified School District issue $120 million in general obligation bonds at legal rates with independent citizen oversight and no money for administrators?

Impartial Analysis from County Counsel
Approval of Measure C would allow the Stockton Unified School District (the "District") to incur bonded indebtedness up to a maximum amount of one hundred twenty million dollars and no cents ($120,000,000.00). The issuance and sale of such general obligation bonds would be for building new schools and classrooms; reconfiguring schools to improve educational opportunities, student achievement and safety; repairing, replacing or upgrading fire alarm systems, leaky roofs, electrical systems, deteriorating school facilities and damages caused by dry rot and termites; and removing asbestos and other hazardous materials. District facilities that would be the subject of the bond proceeds' expenditures include renovations and additions required to implement the approved District reconfiguration plan as approved by the Governing Board on May 10, 2005, acquisition of property for and construction of three (3) K-8 schools, a high school in southeast Stockton and a Model Alternative High School, modernization of ten (10) school sites, renovation of an existing school site to a high school emphasizing visual and performing arts and major maintenance projects at several campuses. Bond proceeds could also be used to qualify for State of California matching funds.

No funds derived from bond sales could be used for District administrators' salaries or for any purpose or project other than those expressly stated in the measure.

To assure that funds derived from bond sales authorized by Measure C are spent only for the purposes expressly stated in Measure C, and for no other purposes, Measure C would require the District to: (1) appoint an independent citizens' oversight committee; and (2) conduct annual independent performance and financial audits.

If Measure C is approved, and bonds are authorized and sold, the principal thereof and interest thereon shall be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. If Measure C is approved, the tax rate necessary for payment of principal and interest on any bonds sold will be largely dictated by the timing of the bonds sales, the amount sold at a given sale, market interest rates at the time of each sale (although in no event greater than the maximum bond net interest rate allowed by law), as well as actual assessed valuation of taxable property in the District over the term of repayment. A statement of the tax rate data required by Elections Code Section 9401 will be provided to all registered voters with the sample ballot for the bond election.

Approval of Measure C does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the District that is available for funding from the proceeds of bonds authorized and sold will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the bond sales authorized by Measure C. The District's proposal for such project or projects assumes the receipt of matching State of California funds that could be subject to appropriation by the State Legislature or to approval by a statewide bond measure.

Passage of Measure C requires approval by fifty-five percent (55%) of voters voting thereon.

  NOTE

See Medida C to see this measure in Spanish.
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Arguments For Measure C
Safe, clean schools are essential for our children and our quality of life. Stockton Unified schools have made great strides toward this goal. But we can do more.

Voters took the first step in improving Stockton Unified facilities by supporting Measure G. We built 5 new elementary schools and a new high school that opened in August.

We've made big strides. But there's still more to be done.

Of the 51 schools in Stockton Unified, 33 have old roofs that require replacement. Like replacing the roof on your home- It's a major expense.

Asbestos wrapped plumbing and lead based paint are health hazards that must be removed.

Old electrical wiring must be replaced to accommodate modern computers, outdated fire alarms and security fencing must be upgraded to ensure student safety.

Teachers, school board members, administrators and parents all agree. We need more classrooms.

Measure C will build 3 new elementary schools and convert existing middle schools t o K-8 schools to improve student achievement.

A new high school will be built in South Stockton and major modernization projects will be completed at ten schools including Edison, Franklin and Stagg. Stockton High School will be re-established at its original site.

Good schools are an asset to a community. Property values increase. New employers bring jobs to communities with good schools. Everyone benefits.

Your YES vote on Measure C will qualify Stockton Unified for $111 million dollars in state matching funds. Money that will go to other districts if Measure C fails.

By State law, no bond funds can be spent on administration or salaries.

Measure C requires annual audits and a citizen's oversight committee made up of business leaders and taxpayers to monitor spending + your tax dollars will be spent wisely.

Please vote YES on Measure C + more Classrooms for Stockton's children.

Submitted by:

Classrooms for Children

/s/ Edward Chavez

Mayor of Stockton
/s/ Mimi Eberhardt
Businesswoman
/s/ Rebecca Nabors
City Councilmember, District 6
/s/ Gloria Nomura
Teacher
/s/ Charles Bloch
Chairman, Citizen's Bond Oversight Committee

(No arguments against Measure C were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement
An election will be held in the Stockton Unified School District (the "District") on November 8, 2005, to authorize the sale of up to $120,000,000 in general obligation bonds of the District to relieve overcrowding by building new schools and classrooms; reconfiguring schools to improve educational opportunities, student achievement and safety; repairing, replacing or upgrading fire alarm systems, leaky roofs, electrical systems, deteriorating school facilities, and damage caused by dry rot and termites; removing asbestos and other hazardous materials; and obtaining state matching funds. If such bonds are authorized and sold, the principal thereof and interest thereon 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 rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first year after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of this statement, is $0.05977 per $100 ($59.77 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in year 2006-07.

    2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first year after the sale of the last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of this statement, is $0.05975 per $100 ($59.75 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in year 2008-09.

    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 this statement, is $0.05977 per $100 ($59.77 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in years 2006-07, 2015-16, and 2018-19.

The average tax rate over the repayment period of all of the bonds (2006-07 through 2032-33) is estimated to be $0.05911 ($59.11 per $100,000 of assessed value).

Voters should note that these estimated tax rates are based on the assessed value of taxable property in the District as shown on the official tax role of the county, 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 rate than described above. Certain taxpayers may also be eligible to postpone the payment of taxes. Property owners should consult their own tax bills and tax advisors to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

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 sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The estimates are based upon the District's projections and are binding upon the District. 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 annual 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: August 10, 2005

/s/ George E. Ridler

Superintendent
Stockton Unified School District

Full Text of Measure C
EXHIBIT A

Upon the passage of Measure C, the Stockton Unified School District shall be authorized to issue $120,000,000 in general obligation bonds the rate of interest thereon not to exceed the maximum rate allowable by law, for the purposes of relieving overcrowding by building new schools and classrooms; reconfiguring schools to improve educational opportunities, student achievement and safety; repairing, replacing or upgrading fire alarm systems, leaky roofs, electrical systems, deteriorating school facilities, and damage caused by dry rot and termites; removing asbestos and other hazardous materials; and obtaining state matching funds. The bond proceeds shall only be used for construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, replacement, furnishing, or equipping school facilities and not for teacher and administrator salaries, other school operating expenses, or any other purpose. To the extent possible, the bond proceeds shall be used on the following list of school facility projects:

  • Renovation and additions required to implement the approved District reconfiguration plan as approved by the Governing Board on May 10, 2005.
  • Acquisition of property and construction of three K-8 schools.
  • Acquisition of property and construction of a high school in South East Stockton.
  • Acquisition of property and construction of Model Alternative High School.
  • Modernization of 10 school sites.
  • Renovation of an existing school site to a high school emphasizing visual and performing arts.
  • Major Maintenance Projects: Roof replacements at 33 campuses, exterior painting at 28 campuses, and other site based projects (e.g. electrical, signal systems, fire alarms, fencing, irrigation).
Approval of the District's bond measure does not guarantee that the projects that are the subject of the measure will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the bond measure. The District's proposed projects may assume the receipt of state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approved at a statewide bond measure.

Additionally, the Stockton Unified School District shall establish a Citizen's Oversight Committee (the "Committee") and will appoint the members of the Committee to be made up a minimum of seven members comprised of at least the following: one member shall be active in a business organization representing the business community located within the District, one member shall be active in a senior citizens' organization, one member shall be the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the District, one member shall be both a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the District and active in a parent-teacher organization. The District shall also annually cause to be prepared financial and performance audits related to the expenditure of the bond proceeds to ensure funds have only been expended on the specific projects listed.


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Created: January 28, 2006 14:45 PST
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