League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Los Angeles County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Measure ES School Modernization, Academic Improvement, Earthquake/Fire Safety Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District School Bond - 55% Approval Required Pass: 29,874 / 68.06% Yes votes ...... 14,018 / 31.94% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure ES

Arguments Against Measure ES

YES on ES improves classroom learning in Santa Monica and Malibu public schools and keeps our kids safe. Our teachers are outstanding. Our schools are among the best in the country. However, deteriorating facilities need immediate repair, along with earthquake and fire safety upgrades. Aging classrooms are not equipped for 21st century instruction. State money is not available to address these needs. YES on ES allows us to meet modern academic standards and current school safety requirements. By funding modern classrooms, science labs, computers, and 21st century instructional technology, Yes on ES supports our kids in their college and career choices. By funding upgraded and safe schools, Yes on ES retains great teachers and protects the quality of instruction in core subjects like math, reading and science. This means better teaching, better learning, and greater student achievement. YES on ES allows us to repair and replace classrooms that are up to 100 years old to meet 21st century academic and safety needs. ES increases earthquake and fire safety of our schools to meet current standards, so kids are safe. ES repairs or replaces leaky roofs, worn-out floors, rusty plumbing, and faulty electrical, mechanical and energy systems. ES makes environmental improvements resulting in more sustainable schools. ES removes hazardous materials, asbestos and lead paint from older school sites. Every dollar raised by YES on ES will be used for our local schools. Not one cent can be taken away by the State. No money can be used to pay administrators' salaries. Independent audits will be conducted annually. An independent oversight committee of local citizens will monitor all expenditures to ensure funds are spent properly and effectively. YES on ES is supported by educators, parents, local business and community leaders, and senior citizens throughout Santa Monica and Malibu. Vote YES on ES! SHEILA J. KUEHL Former State Senator RICHARD BLOOM Mayor, City of Santa Monica BARRY SEID District Coordinator AARP Tax-Aide PATRICK CADY Retired Teacher, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District WENDY SIDLEY Commissioner, City of Malibu Public Works Commission Rebuttal to Arguments For Easy to understand reasons to VOTE NO on measure ES: 1. $10s of millions in previously approved bond funds remain unspent. 2. District made no assessment or needs list for this new money. 3. A school board member states the District is unprepared and questions the use of this money. 4. Statewide measures will provide new money for schools. 5. Malibu pays 35% and only receives 20% of this tax. 6. This measure will be the 7th education tax in a streak that dips into voter's pocketbooks every 2 years since 1998. Even A Liberal Says Enough: As a good liberal, I would still vote for vote for virtually any tax or bond if I believed the money would be used well and for their stated purpose. But I no longer have that faith. So this time, I'll vote "NO". Jonathan Dobrer Professor, American Jewish University DOUGLAS O' BRIEN Malibu Homeowner SCOTT KELSO Union Member CLARA BENREY School Teacher PHILIP HENDRICKS Retired Senior Citizen

"Voters should know that the local schools have $lOs of millions in unspent bond funds given by residents in recent elections. Further, prior to placing measure ES on the ballot the District made no assessment or needs list for this new money." Mathew Millen Past Chair, Santa Monica High School Bi-lingual advisory committee "I feel we can do this in 2014 either June or November and we will be better prepared. There are so many unanswered questions about what we would do." Ralph Mecher SMMUSD Board member "It's more prudent to wait and see what happens with the statewide tax measures with so much at stake for our students. It's potentially risky, and it's not a risk that's necessary we take because it's not money we need immediately." Rochelle Fanali "Malibu would be paying in excess of 31 percent of this bond, as we have done on each prior bond. We will get back a fraction of what is spent, as we have done, in aggregate, on all prior bonds." Craig Foster President, Advocates for Malibu Public Schools "I do not understand why Malibu residents would agree to pay 35% of another bond fund and receive only 20% of the benefit?" Steve Scheinkman CLARA BENREY School Teacher SCOTT KELSO Union Member ART CASILLAS Retired Senior Citizen DOUGLAS O'BRIEN Malibu Homeowner Rebuttal to Arguments Against Vote YES on MEASURE ES. Keeping our schools safe and up-to-date supports our children in their college and career choices. Providing modern classrooms, science labs, computers, and 21st century instructional technology means better learning and student achievement. Funds raised by Measure ES will be spent in our community. No funds can be taken by the State. Measure ES provides funds for: Increasing earthquake and fire safety to meet current standards; Repairing or replacing worn-out floors and roofs, leaking plumbing, and mechanical systems; Making environmental improvements; Removing hazardous materials, asbestos, and lead paint from older schools. Here are the facts: Benefits all schools: Every school was inspected and evaluated, with hundreds of teachers and parents identifying needs and priorities. Fairness: Every Malibu and Santa Monica school receives its fair share of money, guaranteeing that each community will be able to modernize and maintain its schools. Urgency: There is no State funding for continuing vital school safety and modernization projects in our District. Without local funding from Measure ES, we jeopardize our children's safety and futures. An independent citizens' oversight committee will ensure funds are spent properly and effectively. Measure ES improves classroom learning in Santa Monica and Malibu public schools and keeps our kids safe. Measure ES is supported by classroom teachers, parent groups, business leaders, police and firefighters, homeowners, renters, and senior citizens throughout Santa Monica and Malibu. Join them and vote YES on ES for career and academic improvements at our local schools. Learn more at http://www.bettersaferschools.com DENNY ZANE Former Santa Monica Mayor/Co-Founder Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights TOM LARMORE Past Chair, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce PAT CAIRNS Founding Board Member, Malibu Boys & Girls Club HARRY KEILEY President, Santa Monica Malibu Teachers Association REBECCA KENNERLY Chair, Community for Excellent Public Schools

Tax Rate Statement from SANDRA LYON, Superintendent, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District

An election will be held within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (the "District") on November 6, 2012, for the purpose of submitting to the electors of the District the question of incurring a bonded indebtedness in a principal amount of up to $385,000,000. If such bonds are authorized and sold, principal and interest on the bonds will be payable only 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. Such information is based upon the best estimates and projections presently available from official sources, upon experience within the District, and other demonstrable factors. Based upon the foregoing and projections of the District's assessed valuation, the following information is provided: 1. 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 first series of bonds, based on a projection of assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.03000 per $100 of assessed valuation (or $30.00 per $100,000 of assessed value) for fiscal year 2013-14. 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 a projection of assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.03000 per $100 of assessed valuation (or $30.00 per $100,000 of assessed value) for fiscal year 2020-21. 3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on a projection of assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.03000 per $100 of assessed valuation (or $30.00 per $100,000 of assessed value), which is projected to be the same in every fiscal year that the bonds remain outstanding. Voters should note the estimated tax rate is based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls, 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. 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 attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon 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 date 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 sale. Actual future assessed valuations 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.