Fail: 2697 / 45.47% Yes votes ...... 3235 / 54.53% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

If fifty-five (55) percent or more of the votes cast on the measure are "Bonds-Yes", the measure will be approved, and the District will be authorized to incur a bonded indebtedness in the principal amount of up to $10,000,000.00.

The bonds would bear interest at a rate not exceeding the maximum allowable under state law: 12% per year. The actual interest would be determined when the bonds were offered for sale and could be less than the maximum allowable. The principal would be required to be repaid over a period of time not exceeding forty (40) years from the date of the bonds.

If the bond measure is approved and bonds are issued, taxes will be levied annually on the real property and the improvements thereon in the District, based on the taxable value of such property and improvements, in an amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds.

Proposition 13, approved in 1978, amended the California Constitution by adding Article 13A limiting ad valorem taxes on real property to 1% of the full cash value of the property. Article 13A was amended in 1986 by adding an exception providing that the 1% limitation does not apply to taxes used to pay interest and redemption charges on certain bonds. Taxes levied to pay the interest and principal of these District Bonds would be within this exception and not subject to the 1% limitation.

The funds derived from the sale of these bonds could be expended by the District only for the purposes specified in the ballot measure, including the specific bond project list reprinted in the voter information pamphlet: namely 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 or administrator salaries or other school operating expenses. These purposes are contained in the one measure and are to be voted upon as one single proposition.

If Measure A is approved, the District would be obligated to appoint a citizens' oversight committee and would be required to conduct annual independent financial and performance audits to ensure that the bond funds have been used only for the school facilities purposes listed in the full ballot text. s/Bruce S. Alpert, Butte County Counsel

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure A. If you desire a copy of the measure, please call the Elections Official's Office at 1-800-894-7761 or (530) 538-7761 and a copy will be mailed to you at no cost.

The need is clear. A recent independent report by Government Financial Strategies stated that the Oroville City Elementary School District has 140 middle school students more than current district-wide permanent facilities can properly accommodate. The same study concluded that already-approved residential housing developments will produce 250 additional middle school students into the district. Measure A will help meet the need for middle school facilities.

The students at Ishi Hills Middle School currently eat their lunches under an outdoor shelter because the school has no cafeteria. Student lunches are prepared at a satellite kitchen and transported to school in a van because the Ishi Hills Middle School lacks an on-site kitchen. The district needs to construct a cafeteria and kitchen similar to other schools. Measure A will provide the needed facilities.

Provides Community Joint-Use Facilities: Measure A will provide a basketball court, kitchen and cafeteria which will be available for use by numerous community organizations. The Oroville City Elementary School District plans to apply for funding from the state for these joint-use projects, requiring a local match. Measure A provides the local match.

Local Taxpayer Oversight: Measure A will provide $10,000,000 for the construction of additional facilities at Ishi Hills Middle School which will serve approximately 500 to 550 middle school students. These funds.may not be used for any other purpose. A "Community Oversight Committee" will be established to monitor and audit the use of the funds and annually report to the public on its findings.

Your "Yes" vote will ensure that Oroville City Elementary School District continues to provide quality school facilities for the children of Oroville!

Vote "Yes" for the children of Oroville! Vote "Yes" on Measure A!

s/Gordon Andoe, Mayor of Oroville
s/Roy C. Shannon, MD, Physician
s/Don Leforce, President, Bond Oversight Committee
s/Katharine White, OCESD School Board President

(No arguments against Measure A were submitted)

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 rolls 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 tax rate than described above. Certain taxpayers may also be eligible to postpone the 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 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 estimates are based upon the District's projections and are not 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 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: February 8, 2006

s/Donald L. Remley, Ed.D., Superintendent, Oroville City Elementary School District

The Board of Trustees of the Oroville City Elementary School District identified a need for additional school facilities to be constructed in order to accommodate the District's growing student body.

In November of 2002, voters authorized the Oroville City Elementary School District to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000 and the Oroville City Elementary School District used a portion of the proceeds of such bonds to construct Ishi Hills Middle School.

The Board has determined that it is advisable to complete the construction at Ishi Hills Middle School, including constructing, furnishing and equipping a new gymnasium and multipurpose building, a classroom building, and a school office building.

The Board has concluded that it is appropriate to provide funding for such projects by the issuance of general obligation bonds.

BOND AUTHORIZATION
By approval of this proposition by at least 55% of the registered voters voting on the proposition, the Oroville City Elementary School District shall be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $10,000,000 in aggregate principal amount to provide financing for the specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List attached hereto as Exhibit A, subject to all of the accountability safeguards specified below.

Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition shall 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.

ACCOUNTABILITY SAFEGUARDS
The provisions in this section are specifically included in this proposition in order that the Oroville City Elementary School District's voters and taxpayers may be assured that their money will be spent wisely to address specific facilities needs of the Oroville City Elementary School District, all in compliance with the requirements of Article XIII A, Section 1(b)(3) of the State Constitution, and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at Education Code Sections 15264 and following).
Evaluation of Needs. The Board of Trustees has prepared an updated facilities plan in order to evaluate and address all of the facilities needs of the Oroville City Elementary School District at each campus and facility, and to determine which projects to finance from a local bond at this time. The Board of Trustees hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List contained in Exhibit A.
Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Board of Trustees shall establish an independent Citizens' Oversight Committee (pursuant to Education Code Section 15278 and following), to ensure bond proceeds are spent only for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A. The committee shall be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board of Trustees.
Annual Performance Audits. The Board of Trustees shall conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A. Annual Financial Audits. The Board of Trustees shall conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A.
Special Bond Proceeds Account; Annual Report to Board. Upon approval of this proposition and the sale of any bonds approved, the Board of Trustees shall take actions necessary to establish an account in which proceeds of the sale of bonds will be deposited. As long as any proceeds of the bonds remain unexpended, the Superintendent of the District shall cause a report to be filed with the Board no later than December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 2007, stating: 1) the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in that year; and 2) the status of any project funded or to be funded from bond proceeds. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period as the Superintendent shall determine, and may be incorporated into the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Board.

BOND PROJECT LIST
The Bond Project List attached to this resolution as Exhibit A shall be considered a part of this ballot proposition, and shall be reproduced in any official document required to contain the full statement of the bond proposition.

The Bond Project List describes the specific projects the Oroville City Elementary School District proposes to finance with proceeds of the bonds. The listed construction projects, repairs, rehabilitation projects and upgrades will be completed as needed at a particular school site according to Board-established priorities. Each project is assumed to include its share of costs of the election and bond issuance, architectural, engineering, inspection and similar planning costs, construction management (whether performed by the District or by third parties), annual financial and performance audits, a customary contingency for unforeseen design and construction costs, and other costs incidental to and necessary for completion of the listed projects. The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized, construction bids are awarded, and projects are completed. Certain construction funds expected from non-bond sources have not yet been secured. Until all project costs and funding sources are known, the Board of Trustees cannot determine the amount of bond proceeds available to be spent on each project, nor guarantee that the bonds will provide sufficient funds to allow completion of all listed projects. Some projects may be subject to further government approvals by State officials and boards, and to local environmental review. For these reasons, inclusion of a project on the Bond Project List is not a guarantee that the project will be completed.

EXHIBIT A OROVILLE CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND PROJECT LIST

Ishi Hills Middle School Construction Completion: (2255 Foothill Boulevard)
Construct a gymnasium and multipurpose building, including facilities for 04-506 a cafeteria, full-service kitchen, basketball court, girls and boys shower and locker areas, girls and boys public restrooms, a music classroom, a theater stage, and a storage area.

Construct a classroom building, including space for four full-size classrooms and a meeting center area.

Construct a school office building, including space for secretarial stations, a nurse's office, adult public restrooms, a principal's office, a staff lounge, student counselor offices, and various conference rooms.

Develop school site for athletic purposes, including installation of playing fields and installation of an irrigation system, and related landscaping.

Furnish and equip gymnasium, multipurpose room facilities, classrooms and school offices, including purchase of desks, chairs, computers, and spectator bleachers for athletic facilities.

Construction Completion Project May Include:
Unforeseen conditions revealed by construction (e.g., plumbing or gas line breaks, dryrot, seismic, structural, etc.).
Necessary site preparation and restoration in connection with new construction, including ingress and egress, removing, replacing, or installing irrigation, utility lines, trees and landscaping, relocating fire access roads, and acquiring any necessary easements, licenses, or rights of way to the property.
Rental or construction of temporary classrooms (including relocatables) as needed to accommodate students displaced during construction.
Acquisition of any of the facilities on the Bond Project List through temporary lease or lease-purchase arrangements, or execute purchase option under a lease for any of these authorized facilities.