5,684 / 67.1% Yes votes ...... 2,783 / 32.9% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

The Centralia School District has proposed to the voters that general obligation bonds of the school district be issued in an amount up to $17,500,000 and that ad valorem taxes be levied upon taxable property in the district to repay the bonded indebtedness. The measure provides that proceeds from the sale of the bonds will generally be used to improve school facilities, including renovation and modernization of school buildings and facilities, repairing and replacing roofs, upgrading fire safety, security, communications, electrical, air and plumbing systems, improving classroom lighting, removal of hazardous materials and upgrading classroom technology.

The measure provides that a citizens' oversight committee will be established and the Board of Trustees will conduct annual independent audits to ensure that bond proceeds are properly expended. The measure further provides that bond proceeds will not be used for teacher and administrator salaries and will be used for school improvements and no other purpose.

The Board of Trustees of the Centralia School District has called the election for the purpose of submitting the measure to the voters within the school district. If 55% of the voters of the district voting on the measure vote yes, the school district may proceed to sell the bonds and levy the related taxes as estimated in the Tax Rate Statement. A no vote on this measure will disapprove the issuance of the bonds and the levy of the taxes for such bonded indebtedness.

Approval of Measure H does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Centralia School District that are the subject of bonds under Measure H will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure H. The school district's proposal for the project or projects may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.

Passage of Measure H will provide funding to meet the most critical facility needs at the District's nine schools.

MEASURE H MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE BY:

• Entitling the District to receive over $11,000,000 in matching funds from the State;
• Improving property values within our community;
• Making repairs now instead of later when they will only cost more.

MEASURE H WILL IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS BY:

• Making health and safety improvements including upgrading fire alarm, communication, and security systems and improving handicapped access for the disabled;
• Repairing and replacing deteriorating roofing and upgrading heating and ventilation systems;
• Upgrading electrical systems to improve student access to computers and modern technology;
• Replacing inadequate plumbing systems and renovating restrooms.

BY LAW, TAXPAYER SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE INCLUDING:

• A citizens' oversight committee to protect taxpayer funds;
• Annual independent audits on all expenditures;
• Guarantees that funds be used only to improve schools - not to pay teacher/administrative salaries.

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 2.4 cents per $100 ($24 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2003-04.

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 available at the time of filing of this statement, is 2.4 cents per $100 ($24 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2013-14.

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 2.4 cents per $100 ($24 per $100,000) of assessed valuation. The tax rate is expected to remain the same in each year.

Voters should note that the estimated tax rates are based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls, not on the property's market value. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

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 and market interest rates at the time of each sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The dates 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, including the legal limitations on bonds approved by a 55% vote. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale. Actual future assessed valuation 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.