12894 / 50.78% Yes votes ...... 12500 / 49.22% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Expenditures of the money raised by the bonds will be subject to annual independent performance and financial audits as well as review by an independent citizen's oversight committee.

The maximum amount of the proposed bonded indebtedness is $98 million, and the maximum interest rate will not exceed the maximum interest rate permitted by law, and the maximum duration of the bonds is 40 years. The exact effect that the issue and sale of the bonds will have on tax rates cannot be determined until the bonds have been sold. Estimates of the tax rates are provided in the Tax Rate Statement.

A "yes" vote is a vote to authorize the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District to issue and sell the bonds.

A "no" vote is a vote not to authorize the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District to issue and sell the bonds.

This analysis is submitted by the Office of the Santa Barbara County Counsel pursuant to the requirements of Section 9500 and following of the Elections Code of the State of California.

s/ Clare H. Macdonald
Chief Assistant County Counsel

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure V2004. If you desire a copy of the measure, please call the elections official's office at (805) 568-2200 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.

Measure V will strengthen Santa Maria Joint Union High School District's ability to provide our children with a quality education by allowing the district to implement a comprehensive 10 year facilities plan.

This bond measure will also allow the district to repair and renovate aging and electrical and plumbing systems, provide modern computer and science labs and improve student safety.

By passing a bond measure this March, voters will also ensure that Santa Maria Joint Union High School District becomes eligible for millions in State Matching Funds.

Measure V is supported by a broad coalition of community members. Local teachers, business owners and parents support Measure V because it will provide the funds necessary to ensure that our school facilities continue to meet the needs of our students enabling them to become successful and contributing citizens to our community.

By law, not one penny of Measure V funds will be spent on staff salaries or administration. All funds must go toward renovating, repairing, constructing and equipping our school facilities. A Citizens' Oversight Committee will ensure that Measure V funds are used as promised through annual audits.

Please join us in voting Yes on Measure V.

s/ Victor D. Tognazzini + Agribusiness General Manager

s/ Tom Urbanske + Retired Fifth District Supervisor, Santa Barbara County

s/ Danny Macagni + Chief of Police, City of Santa Maria

s/ Gaylen Clark + Math Instructor, Santa Maria High School

s/ Bob Hatch + Chief Executive Officer, Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce

Passage of this measure would be a direct tax against all property owners in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District. Further, it would indirectly affect everyone, as landlords would have to pass this tax on to renters. During a time of economic downturn and tight budgets, people cannot afford an increase in taxes.

In 2000, the voters approved a bond measure for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District. This money has been largely wasted. The district tried to purchase 57.5 acres through Eminent Domain process, however, Mabel Dias refused to sell. A Santa Barbara County jury awarded Dias nearly $5 million for the property
---more than twice what the district originally offered her. Plus, the District had to pay over $1 million on lawyer fees and Court cost. I hate to see taxpayer money wasted. But in my view, that is exactly what would happen if voters approve a $98 Million bond issue to help build schools in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.

"A lot of seniors and a lot of low-income people, hear about something that will help the schools and kids," "They don't realize that it is a direct tax on their property. They don't realize that until they get their property tax bill in October." A ton of money can be poured into the schools and it's not going to help anything. Money is not the issue. It's mismanagement and poor budgeting. We voted for one bond issue, much of that bond has been wasted. We cannot approve a second bond to do the same thing.

It is time for the North Santa Barbara County taxpayer to stand up and send a message to the School District. VOTE "NO" ON MEASURE V2004.

The undersigned opponent/author of the argument against Ballot Measure V2004 at the Consolidated Presidential Primary Election for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District to be held on March 2, 2004, hereby state that such argument is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

s/ Melvin L. Phipps
Santa Barbara County Registered Voter

In the next 5 years, student population will increase to over 9,000. When the new Pioneer Valley High School + which was built with our previous bond measure-, opens its doors next year, it will already be above its capacity. Throughout the district there will still be 2,400 students in portables.

Simply put, we do not have the space to give our high school students the quality education they need to succeed in our highly competitive world.

The Santa Maria JUHSD has produced a comprehensive, "10 Year Master Plan" that will fully address our community's need for more high schools. The Plan calls for two more high schools to be built + in both the Northern and Southern areas of Santa Maria.

By law, not one penny of the bond can go for salaries or administration. An independent Taxpayers Oversight Committee will conduct annual audits to ensure that the bond is spent wisely.

Over one hundred years ago, our community came together to build Santa Maria High School. Many generations and tens of thousands of students have and continue to use Santa Maria JUHSD as a springboard to go on to college or start their career.

One hundred years later, it is now our turn to make a difference for our children and grandchildren. Let's pass Measure V and once and for all end the problem of severely overcrowded high schools in the Santa Maria community.

s/ Victor D. Tognazzini + Agribusiness General Manager

s/ Tom Urbanske + Retired Fifth District Supervisor, Santa Barbara County

s/ Danny Macagni + Chief of Police, City of Santa Maria

s/ Gaylen Clark + Math Instructor, Santa Maria High School

s/ Bob Hatch + Chief Executive Officer, Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce

Based upon the foregoing and projections of the District's assessed valuation, and assuming the entire debt service will be amortized through property taxation:

1. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds is 3.00 cents per 100 dollars ($30.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in the fiscal year 2004/05.

2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply is 3.00 cents per 100 dollars ($30.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation for the fiscal year 2010/11.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply is 3.00 cents per 100 dollars ($30.00 per $100,000) assessed valuation for the fiscal year 2004/05.

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.

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. Such projections and estimates may vary due to variations in timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at each bond sale, market interest rates at the time of each bond sale and actual assessed valuation over the term of repayment of the bonds. The actual date of the sales of said bonds and the amount sold on any given date will be governed by the needs of the District and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold, which in any event will not exceed the maximum permitted by law, will depend upon the bond market at the time of each sale. Actual assessed valuation in future years will depend upon the value of property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process. Hence, the actual tax rates and the years in which such rates are applicable may vary from those presently estimated above.

s/ Jeffrey Hearn
Superintendent Santa Maria Joint Union High School District

As required by the California Constitution, the proceeds from the sale of bonds will be used only for constructing, reconstructing, upgrading or replacing school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities, and not for any other purposes, including teacher and administrator salaries or other school operating expenses.

Priority Projects
The District intends to complete the following projects using bond proceeds up to $98 million. Generating said dollars from bond proceeds would qualify the district to receive up to a like amount of matching state funds for additional classroom facilities.

To provide adequate school facilities for all Santa Maria Joint Union High School students, the District will:
1. Reduce serious classroom overcrowding by building the additional high schools needed to provide the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District with the necessary classroom space according to the district's comprehensive 10 Year High School Facilities Master Plan; and allow the district to become eligible for millions in State Matching funds.
2. Bring relief to all parts of the district by building one high school in the Northern end of the district and one in the South.
3. Build an additional continuation high school in the North side of our community.
4. Upgrade outdated electrical systems at Santa Maria High to give our students access to modern technology.
5. Improve and expand student safety at Santa Maria and Righetti High Schools by repairing and renovating aging educational buildings and facilities.
6. Renovate classrooms and make needed repairs to aging electrical systems at Righetti High + increasing access to modern technology.
7. Make needed safety repairs at Righetti High by re-directing parking and easing traffic.
8. Continue to renovate, modernize, upgrade, equip and add the necessary educational and support furnishings, equipment and facilities.

The priority and timing of completion of the foregoing projects will be established by the Board of Trustees after review by the Citizen Oversight Committee.

The District's Board of Trustees has certified that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing the foregoing list.

The District's Board of Trustees will conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the funds have been expended only on the project list set forth above.

The District's Board of Trustees will conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the proceeds from the sale of the Bonds until all of those proceeds have been expended for the school facilities projects.

Pursuant to Section 15272 of the Education Code, the District's Board of Trustees will appoint an independent 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.