1,839 / 73.4% Yes votes ...... 665 / 26.6% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

A 55% "yes" vote on this measure would authorize Las Lomitas Elementary School District to issue bonds in an amount up to $12 million for repair and renovation of school facilities.

A NO vote of this measure means:

A "no" vote would prevent Las Lomitas Elementary School District from issuing bonds of up to $12 million.

This measure would authorize the Las Lomitas Elementary School District to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $12 million. The bonds will have an interest rate not to exceed the legal maximum and shall mature in no more than 25 years or 40 years depending on the bond.

The Board of Trustees has listed the specified purposes of the bonds to be: to repair classrooms buildings including lighting, wall coverings, floorings and HVAC systems; upgrade computer labs and computers; provide science lab equipment; construct, furnish and equip school facilities; improve electrical wiring for technology; improve playgrounds, fields and landscaping; replace roofs; construct a gymnasium.

The measure requires the Las Lomitas Elementary School District to take certain steps to account for the proceeds from the sale of the bonds as set forth in Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3) of the California Constitution and Education Code sections 15264 et seq. The District Board must appoint a citizens' oversight committee and conduct annual independent audits to assure that funds are spent only on school and classroom improvements and for no other purposes.

A "yes" vote on this measure would authorize Las Lomitas Elementary School District to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $12 million to: repair classrooms buildings including lighting, wall coverings, floorings and HVAC systems; upgrade computer labs and computers; provide science lab equipment; construct, furnish and equip school facilities; improve electrical wiring for technology; improve playgrounds, fields and landscaping; replace roofs; construct a gymnasium.

A "no" vote would prevent Las Lomitas Elementary School District from issuing bonds of up to $12 million.

This measure passes if 55% of those voting on the measure vote "yes."

For information about the Las Lomitas Elementary School District

Both schools - Las Lomitas and La Entrada - were built more than 40 years ago. We must upgrade the schools so current students and future generations can be educated in clean, safe and accessible classrooms and facilities. Join us in support of Measure E to provide these very necessary funds.

Measure E provides funds to:

• Finish renovations of Las Lomitas and La Entrada schools including handicapped accessibility;
• Replace ineffective / inefficient heating, lighting, and electrical systems;
• Upgrade computer labs and computers;
• Fix leaky roofs;
• Renovate multi-purpose rooms at both schools;
• Improve the safety of playgrounds, equipment and fields;
• Construct gymnasium at La Entrada;
• Make energy conservation upgrades.

• Additional classrooms and facilities will ensure small class sizes - shown to improve the quality of education;
• Upgrades to computer and science labs will help better prepare students;
• Top-quality schools improve property values;
• Costs are tax deductible.

Measure E requires mandatory fiscal oversight. A Citizen's Oversight Committee will review and audit bond expenditures. The Committee will report annually. Every dollar will be accounted for and no funds will go for district salaries.

Measure E and its companion Measure D are both essential to ensure we provide the highest quality education for our young people. Join our broad coalition and vote Yes on Measures D and E.

/s/ Duncan L. Matteson
Businessman

/s/ Linda Craig
President, League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County

/s/ Steve Bellumori
Real Estate Broker

/s/ Joseph Davis M.D.
Senior Citizen

/s/ Mary Lee Wachtel
Las Lomitas School Board Member

Regular property taxes ($4.9 million)- not including parcel taxes - account for more than the district's entire budget of 8 years ago. Enough is enough! It's time to give home owners and renters a break. (Renters can NOT deduct the taxes they pay through their rent.)

After receiving almost $50 million during the last 8 years, the school's faculty should be happy with good wages, and the school's buildings should be in sparkling shape. If they're not, it's time to take a look at the management. The taxpayers have done their part.

- And there's not a thing on the district's wish list that can't be done with regular property taxes, careful spending, and a little bit of patience. The pupil/teacher ratio is only 16.8 to 1 now!

Note: Bond pushers always understate the yearly assessment by averaging tax rates from 25 years in the future. (Tax rates decline in future years in direct proportion to increases in assessed valuations.)

In practical terms, the average household would have to pay over $3,500 for this bond, over the next 25 years, no matter how you slice it.

/s/ John J. Hickey
Chair, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County

/s/ Christopher VA Schmidt
Retired Computer Professional

"I wish my parents had borrowed more money when I was a kid - and left their debts for me to pay off."

Of course not! - but many or most politicians seek to do exactly that with bonds: Borrow now and pay later. It's only "other people's money". But we do not need to borrow money to fund our schools.

Boatloads of Money: Combine the following:

• record property tax revenue from some of the most expensive real estate in America
• record sales tax revenue from one of the highest sales tax rates in America
• record state income tax revenue from the richest state taxpayers in America
• bonus money from the state lottery ...and what do you get? Boatloads of money.

This is a vote on decades of future interest payments, adding over $9 million to the original cost of the bond. No, thanks.

The Bottom Line: Principal and interest payments would total over $21 million. That's over $3,500 in new taxes per household, over the next 25 years - on top of what you pay now.

/s/ John J. Hickey
Chair, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County

/s/ Christopher VA Schmidt
Retired Computer Professional

The process of renovation and upgrade of district schools began over two years ago. Since then, construction costs have escalated tremendously - in some cases have doubled. Current taxes and bond revenue have fallen short of funds required to complete essential modernizations.

Measure E will provide funds to:

• Make our schools completely handicapped accessible, as required by Federal law;
• Replace old heating, lighting and electrical systems - some over 40 years old;
• Improve playground and field safety;
• Repair leaky classroom roofs;
• Make energy conservation upgrades and other improvements.

Only some of us have children in the local schools, but we all care about what happens here. The physical state of our schools is a reflection on the value we place on education. Better schools benefit all of us.

Please join local residents, local homeowners, local businesspeople in voting Yes on Measure E and companion Measure D. Both are essential and necessary to ensure we provide the highest quality education possible to our children.

/s/ Tod Spieker
Spieker Properties

/s/ Timothy E. Howard
Las Lomitas School Board

/s/ Ted Knapp
Stanford Coach

/s/ Jeanne M. Campbell
Senior Citizen

/s/ W. Craig Falkenhagen
Businessman