League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Measure L Parcel Tax Cambrian School District parcel tax - 2/3 Approval Required Fail: 5,843 / 58.41% Yes votes ...... 4,160 / 41.59% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure L

Arguments Against Measure L

Vote YES on Measure L to support high-quality education and excellent teachers in our elementary schools. Our Cambrian Elementary School District provides a great education for elementary and middle school students in our community and is part of what makes our neighborhoods desirable places to live. With strong academic programs, including reading, writing, science, and math, as well as qualified teachers, our local schools are among the best in the state. Students consistently earn top scores on statewide exams and all Cambrian schools have received the prestigious California Distinguished School Award. However, the state is an unreliable partner when it comes to education funding and our Cambrian schools are experiencing up to $3.5 million in state cuts. Our schools have reduced expenses by millions to protect vital academic programs and retain many qualified teachers. Yet, with more state cuts likely on the way, our schools need a reliable, stable source of funding that cannot be taken away by the state. That is why we are asking you to vote YES on Measure L. Vote Yes on L: Protect strong core academic programs like reading, writing, science, and math Retain qualified and experienced teachers Provide updated technology, as well as classroom materials, like science equipment, to help teach 21st-century skills Keep class sizes as small as possible Continue accelerated academic programs, as well as tutoring programs Keep libraries open Measure L Provides Fiscal Protections Every dollar will stay here in Cambrian schools and cannot be taken away by the state Citizen oversight will ensure funds are spent wisely The measure will expire in six years and cannot be renewed without voter approval Funds cannot be used for administrators' salaries An exemption is available for senior citizen homeowners Please join parents, teachers, retirees, and local leaders - vote YES on Measure L! /s/ J. E. Gillis President, Cambrian District Teachers Association /s/ J. Bonfiglio Retired 30-year Resident /s/ Judy Chirco Vice Mayor of San Jose /s/ Richard Kramer Owner, Kramer Construction /s/ Brian Hogan President, Bagby Home and School Club Rebuttal to Arguments For The Cambrian School District is just one of 13 separate tax increases that will appear on County ballots on November 2. At a time when people are still losing their jobs (California has the nation's third highest unemployment) and housing foreclosures are at record levels, they want to add another tax!!! They just don't get it. They want to retain "quality teachers," yet California teachers are the second highest paid teachers in the nation, after New York. Will this tax increase be used to make them the highest paid of all states? And you won't believe the pension benefits. It's like nothing you'll ever see in the private sector. And those exorbitant pensions are starting to bankrupt cities and counties all across the nation. They say they're using "no funds for administrators' salaries," but all the other money is fungible--meaning that money now dedicated to teachers' salaries could be moved to administrative salaries if this tax increase is passed. It's a shell game and you shouldn't let them fool you into thinking otherwise. And don't be fooled by the phony "citizen oversight," because the School Board gets to hand-pick virtually all of the "oversight" members. It's the foxes watching the hen house. You can be FOR schools, FOR students, and AGAINST Measure L. Please vote NO on Measure L. For more information, visit http://www.SVTaxpayers.org /s/ Douglas A. McNea President Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association /s/ Brian S. Darby Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County

The Cambrian School District is just one of 13 separate tax increases that will appear on County ballots on November 2. At a time when people are still losing their jobs (California has the nation's third highest unemployment) and housing foreclosures are at record levels, they want to add another tax!!! They just don't get it. To paraphrase economist Milton Friedman, nothing is as permanent as a temporary tax. What do you think will happen after six years of this $96 per parcel tax? You guessed it: they'll be back for more. They want to retain "quality teachers," yet California teachers are the second highest paid teachers in the nation, after New York. Will this tax increase be used to make them the highest paid of all states? And you won't believe the pension benefits. It's like nothing you'll ever see in the private sector. And those exorbitant pensions are starting to bankrupt cities and counties all across the nation. Taxpayers have to live within their means. So should the Cambrian School District. This tax-and-spend frenzy has got to end. They say they're using "no funds for administrators' salaries," but all the other money is fungible--meaning that money now dedicated to teachers' salaries could be moved to administrative salaries if this tax increase is passed. It's a shell game and you shouldn't let them fool you into thinking otherwise. You can be FOR schools, FOR students, and AGAINST Measure L. Please vote NO on Measure L. For more information, visit http://www.SVTaxpayers.org /s/ Douglas A. McNea President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association /s/ Brian S. Darby Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County Rebuttal to Arguments Against If you flip through current and past Santa Clara County ballot books, you'll see similar arguments filed by the same opponents. If they lived in our neighborhoods, they'd understand that our community supports our schools because they are a part of what keeps our property values high and our neighborhoods strong. Our community has always supported our schools because we believe that high quality education is essential for local elementary and middle school students. That is why local Cambrian neighborhood leaders are voting Yes on Measure L. The fact is that Cambrian School District has managed money well, placing top priority on protecting vital academic programs and retaining qualified teachers. Our schools keep costs low by finding alternative funding sources wherever possible. Local schools have already made significant cuts to administrative costs and salaries in order to retain as many teachers as possible. Our school community is making sacrifices, with all staff and administrators agreeing to take furlough days and salary cuts. Yet we all know that even our well-managed local schools cannot fully support top-notch academic programs and high quality teachers in the face of the uncertain state funding that has created budget shortfalls in public education. Measure L is fiscally responsible and requires strict fiscal safeguards to ensure all funds support teachers and academics. More than ever, our schools need a stable source of funding that cannot be taken away by the state. Please join local Cambrian leaders and vote Yes on Measure L. /s/ Jayne Tyson Davilla Local Business Owner /s/ Eugene C. Toomey Retired 40-Year Cambrian Resident /s/ Sheba Dalaney CPA/Parent /s/ John Olsen Cambrian School District Parent /s/ Charlotte Peck Price Middle School Science Teacher

Full Text of Measure L

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE To maintain high academic achievement for local students by providing strong core academic programs like reading, writing, science and math, attracting and retaining quality teachers, supporting small class sizes, improving access to computers and technology, maintaining libraries, continuing a well-rounded education that includes art, physical education and other educational enrichment programs, the Cambrian Elementary School District (K-8) proposes to establish an education parcel tax for a period of 6 years, beginning July 1, 2011, at the rate of $96 per year, on each assessor's parcel located within the Cambrian Elementary School District, with an exemption available for senior citizens and persons on Supplemental Security Income, and to implement accountability measures in connection with the temporary levy to ensure the funds are used to: (a) protect strong core academic programs like reading, writing, science and math; (b) retain qualified and experienced teachers; (c) provide up-to-date technology, as well as essential classroom materials like science equipment to teach 21st century skills; (d) keep class sizes as small as possible; (e) continue accelerated academic programs in math, science, reading and writing for high-achieving students; (f) provide tutoring and academic support to help students keep up with their grade level; and (g) keep school libraries open. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL ANY OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE EDUCATION PARCEL TAX BE USED FOR ADMINISTRATORS' SALARIES. AMOUNT OF EDUCATION PARCEL TAX; PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT The education parcel tax shall be $96 (or less as provided below) per year for six (6) full years assessed against each parcel. The proceeds of the education parcel tax shall be deposited into a separate account created by the District. DEFINITION OF "PARCEL" For purposes of the special tax, the term "Parcel" means any parcel of land which lies wholly or partially within the boundaries of the Cambrian Elementary School District, that receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the Santa Clara County Assessor/Tax Collector's office. All property that is otherwise exempt from or upon which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall also be exempt from the education parcel tax in such year. For purposes of this special tax, any such "Parcels" which are (i) contiguous, (ii) used solely for owner-occupied, single-family residential purposes, and (iii) held under identical ownership may, by submitting an application of the owners thereof by June 15 of any year to the District be treated as a single "parcel" for purposes of the levy of this education parcel tax. EXEMPTION OF SENIORS AND SSI RECIPIENTS Pursuant to California Government Code Section 50079 (b), any owners of a Parcel used solely for owner-occupied, single-family residential purposes and who are either (a) 65 years of age or older or (b) persons receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age, may obtain an exemption from the education parcel tax by annually submitting an application, by June 15 of any year, to the District. With respect to all general property tax matters within its jurisdiction, the Santa Clara County Assessor/Tax Collector, or other appropriate County tax officials shall make all final determinations of tax exemption or relief for any reason, and that decision shall be final and binding. With respect to matters specific to the levy of the education parcel tax, including the Senior Citizen and SSI Exemptions and the classification of property for purposes of calculating the tax, the decisions of the District shall be final and binding. CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD RESULT IN THE REDUCTION OF THE TAX The collection of the education parcel tax is not intended to decrease or offset any increase in local, state or federal government sources that would otherwise be available to the Cambrian Elementary School District during the period of the education parcel tax. In the event that the levy and collection does have such an effect, the Cambrian Elementary School District may cease the levy or may reduce the education parcel tax to the extent that such action would restore the amount of the decrease or offset in other revenues. ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES In accordance with the requirements of California Government Code Sections 50075.1 and 50075.3, the following accountability measures, among others, shall apply to the education parcel tax levied in accordance with this Measure: (a) the specific purposes of the education parcel tax shall be those purposes identified above; (b) the proceeds of the education parcel tax shall be applied only to those specific purposes identified above; (c) a separate, special account shall be created into which the proceeds of the education parcel tax must be deposited; and (d) an annual written report shall be made to the Board of Trustees of the District showing (i) the amount of funds collected and expended from the proceeds of the education parcel tax and (ii) the status of any projects or programs required or authorized to be funded from the proceeds of the education parcel tax, as identified above. In addition to the above accountability measures, the District shall also appoint an oversight committee to review the expenditures of the education parcel tax to determine if such expenditures were made for the lawful purposes set forth herein.