League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
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Measure A Maintaining Excellence Act 2004 Tax Sonoma Valley Unified School District Special Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required 7,303 / 61.6% Yes votes ...... 4,545 / 38.4% No votes
See Also:
Index of all Measures |
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| Results as of Mar 3 12:37am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (47/47) |
| Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | | ||||
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In order to keep school libraries open, restore art and music programs, enhance high school vocational programs, provide expanded academic programs for college-bound students, attract and retain high quality teachers, and reduce class size, should the Sonoma Valley Unified School District be authorized to levy an annual parcel tax of $85 for five years, beginning July 1, 2004, with annual citizens' oversight by committee audits, exempting parcels owned and occupied by persons 65 years of age or more?
This measure proposes a special tax of $85 per year per parcel for each parcel of land within the District's boundaries. The tax would be based on the privilege of using the parcel, would begin on July 1, 2004, and would remain in effect for no more than five years. Proceeds of the tax could only be used for purposes set out in the measure, which include reducing class size, keeping school libraries open, restoring art and music programs, enhancing school vocational programs, and providing expanded academic programs for college-bound students, and retaining experienced teachers. If the tax is approved, the school board must create a special, separate account to be established for deposit of the proceeds of the tax. A citizens' oversight committee shall be appointed by the school board to review the budgeting of the special tax revenue, and to annually review an audit of the special tax funds and expenditures. The annual audit shall include a report of the amount received and expended from the tax for each year, and the status of any projects, and description of any programs, funded from the proceeds of the tax. The tax would be applied to each unit of real property in the District that receives a separate tax bill for property taxes. Parcels which are exempt from property tax, or on which no property tax is otherwise levied, are also exempt from this tax. The measure also exempts from the tax parcels owned or partially owned and occupied by a person who will be 65 years of age or older on or before May 1 of the year for which the tax is assessed. Persons claiming exemptions based on ownership by a senior citizen would need to apply to the District for this exemption the first year it applied to them. The measure describes what steps must be followed to appeal any decision regarding exemption, and apply for a refund of the tax, if appropriate. If two-thirds of the voters in the Sonoma Valley Unified School District who vote on this measure vote "yes," the measure will pass and the special tax will be levied. The tax would be collected in the same manner as regular property taxes starting with the 2004-2005 fiscal year.
STEVEN WOODSIDE, County Counsel
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| Arguments For Measure A | Arguments Against Measure A | ||
| Our schools are on the right track; we are raising test scores, improving communication and providing the foundation for our students to succeed in the new century. We have budgeted conservatively and lived within our means.
However, now we face uncertain times with regard to the state budget. We cannot let our Sonoma schools suffer as a result of Sacramento's problems. To continue on the right track we need to pass Measure A. Measure A is a modest investment that will help to keep our school libraries open, restore art and music programs, continue vocational education and strengthen support for our academic college-bound students. We need to keep our class size reduction programs for kindergarten through third grade. We need to make sure we can recruit and retain highly qualified teachers. Measure A provides tangible benefits to the entire community, not the least of which are higher property values. It's more important than ever for local Sonoma students to find a good job and be prepared for college. Measure A will improve the economic outlook for Sonoma Valley. Measure A guarantees accountability. All funds generated by Measure A will be accounted for by an Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee charged with the responsibility to make sure that every dollar benefits children. All monies will stay in Sonoma and will be used in classrooms--not for bureaucracy. Teachers, parents, local businesspeople and seniors support Measure A. We urge your support of Measure A. We thank you for your vote on March 2.
s/ Niels A Chew, President
s/ Adele S. Harrison, Founder
VALLEY OF THE MOON TEACHERS ASSN.
s/ Kathy Witkowicki
s/ Bill Cogbill
NO REBUTTAL TO
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE A WAS SUBMITTED | Wise counsel dictates that when you have dug yourself into a hole--stop digging. Facing a statewide financial crisis, it is time to stop spending and tighten our belts. As painful as this can sometimes be, there can be benefits. When we are forced to live within our means, we will choose to spend on those programs we collectively deem most valuable and delay programs of lesser value. We make no judgments about the merits of the programs proposed by the District, although we do suggest that the case for more spending has not been adequately made and there are no guarantees that the money raised from the parcel tax will be dedicated to the uses the District has indicated. We urge you to take a good look at your current property tax bill's special assessments and add the requested parcel tax. Then, ask yourself, is this the right time for the District to ask me for more money? We already paid our share of taxes, but where did the money go? The state's financial crisis has made it imperative for all areas of government to rethink how money is spent, especially education which represents nearly 40 percent of California's budget. We urge you to send a strong message to the District's board and management to rethink how existing funds will be spent by voting No on this Measure.
SONOMA COUNTY TAXPAYERS' ASSOCIATION
Measure A was put on the ballot by the local school board with input from local taxpayers. All monies from Measure A will go to support classrooms, and not one dime will go to administration. All Measure A proceeds will be kept in a separate fund and will be subject to an independent citizens' oversight committee. This measure ends in five years. Seniors may file exemptions, as is the case with all such measures. Measure A will keep school libraries open, provide out High School students with opportunities whether for college or career, keep our class sizes manageable, restore art and music programs and ensure we can recruit and retain highly qualified teachers. This will result in higher property values. Sheriff Cogbill states that every one-dollar invested in schools saves seven dollars in the criminal justice system. Measure A promises that local priorities for our schools will be met. Measure A allows us to sidestep Sacramento and take care of our own. Measure A is by us and for us. We appreciate your support for Measure A. On behalf of the children in our community, we respectfully ask for your vote on March 2.
s/ Gail Purtell
s/ Timothy J. Bowe, Executive Director
s/ Wendy Roberts Swanson
SONOMA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
s/ Evelyn Berger
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Created: May 4, 2004 14:47 PDT
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