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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
San Joaquin County, CA November 7, 2006 Election
Measure L
Bond
Lodi Unified School District Community Facilities District 1

Bond Measure - 55% Approval Required

Pass: 9225 / 60.8% Yes votes ...... 5951 / 39.2% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Dec 5 10:30am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (91/91)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement | Full Text

"To improve the quality of education in north Stockton schools by improving safety systems at existing schools, constructing elementary, middle and high schools, providing additional classroom and science laboratory space and expanded access to technology, improving athletic facilities, and purchasing or leasing of school facilities and sites, shall the School Facilities Improvement District No. 1 of the Lodi Unified School District issue $114,000,000 in bonds, with a citizens' oversight committee, annual audits, and no money for administrative salaries?

Impartial Analysis from San Joaquin County Counsel
LODI UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT No. 1 BOND MEASURE

Approval of Measure L would allow the School Facilities Improvement District No. 1 of Lodi Unified School District (the "District") to incur bonded indebtedness up to a maximum amount of one hundred fourteen million dollars and no cents ($114,000,000.00). The issuance and sale of such general obligation bonds would be for improving safety systems at existing schools, building new elementary, middle and high schools, providing additional classroom and science laboratory space and technological access, improving athletic facilities and purchasing or leasing school facilities and sites within the north Stockton area of the District. 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 L are spent only for the purposes expressly stated in Measure L, and for no other purposes, Measure L would require the District to: (1) appoint an independent citizens' oversight committee; and (2) conduct annual independent performance and financial audits.

If Measure L 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 L 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 bond 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 L does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the District that are 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 L. 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 L requires approval by fifty-five percent (55%) of voters voting thereon.

 
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Arguments For Measure L
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE L

Lodi Unified School District is moving forward! In the past 5 years, we've built 348 new classrooms, 8 new schools and replaced dozens of worn out portable buildings.

The Concept 6 year-around schedule that shortchanged student achievement to crowd more students into school facilities has been replaced. As a result, children spend more time in class. Achievement scores are on the rise.

We've kept faith with the promises made in the Measure K School Bond.

Getting off Concept 6 was step one. We're ready for step two.

North Stockton needs 3 new elementary schools, a new middle school and an academy high school to keep up with our growing population. The alternative is to go back to a year-round schedule. Our kids' education would suffer.

It's time to bring Bear Creek High School and Morada and Delta Sierra Middle Schools up to modern standards. We need to build more science labs and modernize our older ones.

Bear Creek High School was built for 1800 students using a "bare bones" design and paid for with state hardship funds. It lacks adequate classroom and athletic facilities. Bear Creek High School students should have the same quality facilities as other Lodi Unified High Schools.

Security systems in North Stockton schools will be modernized. Improved fire detection systems and security cameras are needed to keep kids safe.

Your YES vote on Measure L will qualify Lodi Unified School District for $65 million dollars in state school construction funds + money that will go to other districts if Measure L fails to pass.

All bond funds will be spent to benefit North Stockton students. All expenditures will be carefully reviewed by an oversight committee of business and community leaders.

By law, bond funds cannot be used for staff or administrative salaries.

Parents and Teachers urge a YES vote on Measure L

Submitted by:

/s/ Sally Tsunekawa, President, Lodi Council PTA /s/ Anthony Lopes, President, Bear Creek Education

and Athletic Foundation
/s/ Tamara Jackson, Treasurer,
McNair Athletic Booster Club
/s/ Jason Johnson, Parents and Teachers for Measure L /s/ Lisa Lennon Wilkins, Parents and Teachers for Measure L

(No arguments against Measure L were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement from Lodi Superintendent
TAX RATE STATEMENT FOR MEASURE L

LODI UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT No. 1

An election will be held on November 7, 2006, in School Facilities Improvement District No. 1 (the "Improvement District No. 1"), located in a specified portion of the territory of the Lodi Unified School District (the "District") located in San Joaquin County, to authorize the sale of up to $114,000,000 in bonds of Improvement District No. 1 to finance school facilities as described in the proposition. If the bonds are approved, the District expects to sell the bonds of Improvement District No. 1 in several series over time. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made only upon the taxable property in Improvement District No. 1. 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 $0.05997 per $100 ($59.97 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2007-08.

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 $0.05992 per $100 ($59.92 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2011-12.

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 $0.0600 per $100 ($60.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2030-31.

These estimates would result in an average annual tax rate over the life of the bonds of $0.05995 per $100 of assessed valuation. Based on these tax rates, the estimated average annual tax over the term of the bonds would be $59.95 for $100,000 of assessed valuation for property in Improvement District No. 1.

Voters should note that the estimated tax rates are based on the assessed value of taxable property on the official tax rolls of the respective counties, 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 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.

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 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 Improvement District No. 1 as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: July 10, 2006

/s/ William Huyett

Superintendent
Lodi Unified School District

Full Text of Measure L
FULL TEXT OF MEASURE L

SCHOOL FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 OF THE LODI UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Upon the passage of Measure L, the School Facilities Improvement District No. 1 ("SFID No. 1") of the Lodi Unified School District (the "District") shall be authorized to issue bonds in the aggregate amount of $114,000,000, bearing interest at rates not exceeding the statutory limit, for the purpose of funding the following school facilities projects in the north Stockton area of the District:

· Construction of three elementary schools · Construction of one middle school · Construction of one academy high school · Improvements to Bear Creek High School, including, but not limited to, classrooms, science laboratories, expanded access to technology, aquatic facility, and other outdoor athletic facilities · Improvements to Morada Middle School and Delta Sierra Middle School, including, but not limited to, classrooms, science laboratories and expanded access to technology · Safety improvements at existing school facilities · Acquisition or lease of school facilities and sites, and planning for future school facilities

The bond proceeds shall only be used to improve the quality of education in north Stockton schools by improving safety systems at existing schools, constructing elementary, middle and high schools, providing additional classroom and science laboratory space and expanded access to technology, improving athletic facilities, and purchasing or leasing of school facilities and sites. Bond proceeds will not be used for teacher and administrator salaries, other school operating expenses, or any other purpose. The Board certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction, and information technology needs in developing the facilities list.

Approval of the District's bond measure does not guarantee that the proposed projects that are the subject of bonds under the measure will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the bond measure. The District's proposal for the 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.

Additionally, the District's Board of Education will appoint a citizen's oversight committee (the "Committee") having a minimum of seven members, subject to their availability, including at least one member active in a business organization representing the business community located within the District, one member active in a senior citizens' organization, one member active in a bona fide taxpayers' organization, one member the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the District, and one member both a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the District and active in a parent-teacher organization.

The District will deposit the proceeds of the bonds in a separate account. The District Board will have financial and performance audits performed annually to account for the bond funds and to assure that funds have only been expended on the specific projects authorized.


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