5,754 / 78.00% Yes votes ...... 1,623 / 22.00% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Approval of Measure M would authorize the South Pasadena Unified School District ("District") to issue up to $29,000,000 in general obligation bonds.

Funds received from the sale of the bonds would be used only for the construction, rehabilitation and equipping of District facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for District facilities. No funds may be used for teacher or administrator salaries, or other school operating expenses.

As required by law, the Board of Trustees of the Education ("Board of Education") has adopted a list of the specific school facilities projects to be funded by the sale of the bonds. The Board of Education will conduct annual, independent financial and performance audits to ensure that funds received from the sale of the bonds will have been expended only on the specific projects listed, and will appoint a citizen's oversight committee to inform the public on expenditures.

The bonds would be issued and sold at an interest rate not to exceed the maximum rate allowed by law, and would be repaid by a property tax levied upon real property located within the District over a period not to exceed forty (40) years. The tax rate levied as the result of approval of this Measure shall be no more than $60 per $100,000 of taxable property value within the District.

This Measure requires a fifty-five percent (55%) vote for passage.

In 1995, voters overwhelmingly approved Measure L to repair/rehabilitate our schools. The South Pasadena Unified School District was able to access state and federal money to increase funding available to our facilities, allowing the High School plans to include construction of 24 new classrooms and other facilities. In 1996, increased enrollment and the implementation of Class Size Reduction made it necessary to build 23 additional classrooms. Some South Pasadena Middle School funding was reallocated to complete these projects. Now, Measure M will allow the district to complete final repairs and upgrade neighborhood schools.

The classroom building at the Middle School was built over 35 years ago to accommodate 700 students. Today, more than 1,000 are enrolled. Measure M will provide funds to renovate aging and undersized classrooms, add science labs, repair old/worn-out electrical and plumbing systems, and repair bathrooms to comply with legal requirements. The gym, built in 1928, needs replacing. The auditorium, built in 1927, needs extensive renovation.

Measure M will fund a new heating, air-conditioning and ventilation system at Monterey Hills Elementary; auditorium renovation at Marengo Elementary; and the construction of a safe, healthy, outdoor lunch area at Arroyo Vista Elementary. At the High School, additional classrooms will be constructed and athletic facilities and fields will be improved to enhance safety.

All money raised by Measure M is tax-deductible and will stay in South Pasadena to directly benefit our children. An oversight committee will be appointed to ensure all money will be spent as voters intended.

Our schools are the reason many people move into our community, and they help to maintain and increase property values. Please vote YES on Measure M.

ERIC STEEN
AYSO Commissioner

GRANVILLE B. THURMAN
Retired Middle School Principal

ROBERT O. COOK
South Pasadena Taxpayers Association

SHIREEN CHANG
Community Member

SARA LEE SWAN
Library Volunteer

(No arguments against Measure M were submitted)

An election will be held in the South Pasadena Unified School District (the "District") on November 5, 2002, to authorize the sale of up to $29,000,000 in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the measure. If such bonds are authorized and sold, principal and interest on the bonds 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. 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, and assuming the entire debt service will be paid through property taxation:

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 $.05430 per $100 ($54.30 per $100,000) of assessed value for the fiscal year 2003-2004.

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 at the time of filing of this statement, is $.05430 per $100 ($54.30 per $100,000) of assessed value for the fiscal year 2007-2008.

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 $.05430 per $100 ($54.30 per $100,000) of assessed value in fiscal years 2004-2032.

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. 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.

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 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.

"Shall the South Pasadena Unified School District repair and equip South Pasadena Middle School; relieve overcrowding; improve student safety conditions; upgrade electrical wiring for technology; install efficient heating/cooling/fire safety systems; replace aging plumbing; modernize science labs; repair/construct/acquire/equip classrooms/facilities at the school sites, qualify for State matching funds by issuing $29,000,000 of bonds at legal rates; and appoint a Citizens Oversight Committee to ensure no money is used for administrators' salaries?"

The Board of Education of the South Pasadena Unified School District has evaluated safety, class size reduction, and information technology needs in developing the scope of school facility projects to be funded, as further outlined in the District's Facility Master Plan of 1994, amended from time to time, on file with the District Superintendent, including the following projects:

PROJECTS

South Pasadena Middle School
# Re-configure substandard existing classroom/lab space into regular classrooms with approximately 1,000 square feet each
# Replace 70 year old gymnasium and locker room with a larger facility that complies with current building and safety codes including American Disability Act legal requirements
# Replace the cafeteria/shop building with a new science complex, which includes:

# New science labs to enhance the instructional program
# Additional classrooms to reduce overcrowding and support program expansion
# Replacement facilities for the cafeteria, wood shop, and two computer labs currently located in the building

# Repair bathrooms to satisfy building and safety codes including American Disability Act legal requirements
# Restore auditorium
# Upgrade wiring to support technology in all teaching areas
# Replace old lighting fixtures with appropriate and energy efficient lighting systems

Other Projects:

# South Pasadena High School: Construct additional classrooms; complete exterior modifications to cafeteria building; improve athletic facilities/fields to enhance utility and safety; refurbish gymnasium; provide the handicap access legally required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

# Arroyo Vista Elementary School: Reconfigure and construct an outside eating area to provide a safe and healthy environment for students at lunch time, which can also be utilized for outside instructional activities.

# Marengo Elementary School: Refurbish and repair the multi-purpose room, which was constructed in 1948; install energy efficient heating, ventilation, cooling and lighting systems, as well as doors, energy efficient windows, interior finishes; provide handicapped access as legally required by the American Disability Act.

# Monterey Hills Elementary School: Replace 30 year-old outdated heating and cooling system with an energy efficient heating and cooling system.

Listed repairs, rehabilitation projects and upgrades will be completed as needed at a particular site. Each project is assumed to include its share of equipment, architectural, engineering, and similar planning costs, construction management, and a customary contingency for unforeseen design and construction costs. The allocation of bond proceeds will be affected by the District's receipt of State matching funds and the final costs of each project. The budget for each project is an estimate and may be affected by factors beyond the District's control. The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized, construction bids are awarded, and projects are completed.

The expenditure of bond money on these projects is subject to stringent financial accountability requirements. Performance and financial audits will be performed annually, and all bond expenditures will be monitored by an independent Citizens Oversight Committee to ensure that funds are spent as promised and specified.

No Administrator Salaries. Proceeds from the sale of the bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other operating expenses. By law, all funds can only be spent on repair and improvement projects.