3739 / 83.98% Yes votes ...... 713 / 16.02% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

If there is a two-thirds (2/3) vote in favor of Measure C, the Arcata School District will be authorized to incur bonded indebtedness in the amount of $5.4 mission dollars for the following stated purposes:
(a) To repair and modernize aging facilities and infrastructure at all school sites including electrical and plumbing systems;
(b) To upgrade classrooms, restrooms and lunch facilities;
(c) To replace the deteriorating roof of the middle school;
(d) To comply with state and federal standards regarding needs of children with disabilities.

If the measure passes the Arcata School District will be authorized to levy an annual ad valorem property tax on property located within the Arcata School District boundaries to pay for the debt service (principal and interest) on the bonds.

The interest rate on the Bonds shall not exceed the statutory limit. The number of years the whole or any part of the bonds are to run shall not exceed the legal maximum allowable term. The exact effect on tax rates of the issue and sale of the Bonds cannot be determined until the Bonds have been sold. Estimated information regarding tax rates is provided in the Tax Rate Statement.

If the measure is not approved by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the qualified electors voting on the measure, the measure will fail.

A "yes" vote is a vote to authorize the School District to issue and sell the bonds.

A "no" vote is against authorizing the Arcata School District to issue and sell bonds.

The Arcata School District's three schools - Bloomfield, Sunset and Sunny Brae Middle School - are over 45 years old. Although the district has spent more than legally required on annual maintenance, the buildings have failing plumbing, leaky windows, inadequate electrical systems and other major problems.

A Facilities Review Committee of community leaders and business owners has toured our schools and studied the renovation and funding needs. They and a Bond Advisory Committee recommended a comprehensive modernization program to the school board. Measure C will raise $5.4 million to:

• Renovate classrooms, restrooms, and lunch facilities;
• Replace the deteriorating roof of the SBMS;
• Upgrade plumbing and electrical systems;
• Make all sites accessible to children with disabilities.

Measure C will cost the typical Arcata homeowner $47 a year, about $4 a month. Our district currently has no bond debt. By law, bond funds cannot be spent on administration or salaries. An independent Community Oversight Committee will help ensure that the project is well-managed.

Our district has excelled at providing quality education; two of our schools are California Distinguished Schools. Now, we need to pay attention to the physical learning environment of our children.

Measure C will benefit our entire community, helping to maintain property values and providing the continued security of living in a community with good schools.

Vote YES on Measure C. The cost is modest - the benefit to our children and our community is immense.

s/ Jeff Sutton, President
Arcata School District Board of Trustees

s/ Jackie Foote, Co-Chair
Yes on Measure C for Arcata Schools Committee

s/ Jennifer Hanan, Arcata City Council Member,
Member, Arcata School District Facilities Review Committee

s/ John Woolley, Supervisor, Third District;
Member, Arcata School District Facilities Review Committee

s/ Lois Arkley, Member
Arcata School District Facilities Review Committee

(No arguments against Measure C were submitted)

An election will be held in the Arcata Elementary School District (the "District") on November 3, 1998, to authorize the sale of up to $5,400,000 in general obligation bonds of the District to finance the acquisition and improvement of real property for school purposes. If such bonds are authorized and sold, the principal thereof and interest thereon 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 rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first year after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of this statement, is $0.0633 per $100 ($63.30 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in year 1999-2000.

2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first 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 $0.0639 per $100 ($63.90 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in year 2001-02.

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 this statement, is $0.0642 per $100 ($64.20 per $100,000.) of assessed valuation in year 2019-20.

4. The average tax rate over the repayment period of all of the bonds (1999-2000 through 2025-26) is estimated to be $0.0639 ($63.90 per $100,000 of assessed value).

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 at any given sale, market interest rates at the time of each bond sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds.

Dated: August 11, 1998
s/ David Hochman Superintendent