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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
Contra Costa County, CA June 6, 2006 Election
Measure C
Bond Measure
Byron Union School District

55% Approval Required

Pass: 1,617 / 58.44% Yes votes ...... 1,150 / 41.56% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Jun 27 8:26am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (14/14)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement | Full Text

To improve the quality of education, shall Byron Union School District be authorized to renovate and modernize existing classrooms and school facilities, construct a library for school and community use, build additional classrooms to relieve overcrowding, make health and safety improvements and upgrade electrical systems to improve student access to computers and modern technology by issuing $19,700,000 in bonds within legal interest rates, with a citizens' oversight committee, annual audits and NO money for administrator or teacher salaries?

Impartial Analysis from the 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 nineteen-million-seven-hundred-thousand dollars ($19,700,000) 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 ballot measure states that the money raised would be used "to renovate and modernize existing classrooms and school facilities, construct a library for school and community use, build additional classrooms to relieve overcrowding, make health and safety improvements and upgrade electrical systems to improve student access to computers and modern technology." 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 and not for any other purpose, including not for teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

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 C Arguments Against Measure C
Our community's greatest assets are our schools. Yes on Measure "C" will allow our teachers to continue providing the children of Byron and Discovery Bay a quality education. The District's oldest school, Excelsior Middle School, was constructed in 1949 and was not designed to accommodate its current enrollment of 520 students. Today, 57 years later, we need to renovate, upgrade and expand outdated classrooms and facilities to accommodate needs of 21st century students. MEASURE "C" WILL MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO ALL SCHOOLS. IT WILL:
  • Improve student access to computers and modern technology throughout the District
  • Construct additional classrooms to accommodate student growth
  • Upgrade heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and replace windows to reduce operating costs
  • Construct new science and computer labs and a library media center at Excelsior Middle School
  • Make health and safety improvements including improving ADA accessibility MEASURE "C" MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE. Byron Union School District has negotiated a developer fee rate of more than twice the amount the state requires for new development. However, these developer fees are limited to one half the cost of construction of new schools, so it is impossible to collect sufficient fees to both construct new schools and to fix up our existing schools.

Measure "C" will renovate and modernize our existing schools now rather than later when repairs and upgrades will only cost more. BY LAW, TAXPAYER SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE. MEASURE "C" WILL:
  • Include guaranteed audits and establish a citizens' oversight committee to ensure proper spending
  • Require funds be used only to improve our schools + not for salaries. Measure "C" 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. VOTE YES ON MEASURE "C". Amanda J. Dove Kathryn M. Slightam
School Board Trustee
Christine Marchetti G. Lee Cummings Timber Point Byron Sanitary District Parent - Volunteer Board President Elaine T. Landro Discovery Bay Elementary School Parent

None filed.

Tax Rate Statement
An election will be held in the Byron Union School District (the "District") on June 6, 2006, to authorize the sale of up to $19,700,000 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 four 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 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 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 2018-19.
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 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 the 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: March 7, 2006

Thomas Meyer Superintendent Byron Union School District

Full Text of Measure C
FULL TEXT OF BOND MEASURE C

"To improve the quality of education, shall Byron Union School District be authorized to renovate and modernize existing classrooms and school facilities, construct a library for school and community use, build additional classrooms to relieve overcrowding, make health and safety improvements and upgrade electrical systems to improve student access to computers and modern technology by issuing $19,700,000 in bonds within legal interest rates, with a citizens' oversight committee, annual audits and NO money for administrator or teacher 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 $19,700,000 to said total cost. Other anticipated sources include developer fees, state aid matching funds, joint use funds, and other available funds.

Discovery Bay Elementary School

  • Upgrade electrical systems and the data network to improve student access to computers and modern technology
  • Repair classroom, classroom exteriors, fencing, athletic fields and playgrounds
  • Provide additional restrooms as required
  • Make ADA (handicapped accessibility) upgrades as required by law
  • Reorganize student support facilities
  • Construct a new storage facility Timber Point Elementary School
  • Construct four additional classrooms to relieve student overcrowding
  • Construct a new storage facility
  • Provide additional restrooms as required
  • Repair classrooms, classroom exteriors, parking lots and adjacent sidewalks
  • Increase student health and safety by repairing and adding additional fencing
  • Provide a portable stage
  • Upgrade electrical systems and the data network to improve student access to computers and modern technology Byron Intermediate/Excelsior Middle School
  • Construct nine additional classrooms to relieve student overcrowding
  • Construct a new library for school and community use
  • Construct a new storage facility and restrooms
  • Renovate the existing gym for drama and sports
  • Construct a new gym and cafeteria/multipurpose room
  • Reorganize student support facilities
  • Repair and renovate classrooms, classroom exteriors and parking lots, including making the school entrance road safer
  • Improve or replace existing science labs and construct one additional lab
  • Upgrade electrical systems and the data network and add an additional computer lab to improve student access to computers and modern technology
  • Make ADA (handicapped access) upgrades as required by law Districtwide
  • 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

Approval of Measure C does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Byron Union School District that are the subject of bonds under Measure C will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure C. 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: April 4, 2007 10:04 PDT
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