5,686 / 67.3% Yes votes ...... 2,768 / 32.7% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

This measure proposes a special tax of $75 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 four years.

Proceeds of the tax could only be used for purposes set out in the measure, which include keeping school libraries open, restoring smaller class sizes to grades four to six, rehiring reading specialists, maintaining computer and technology programs, and providing other educational programs and materials.

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 Petaluma City (Elementary) 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
By: s/ Kathleen Larocque, Deputy County Counsel

The Petaluma Argus Courier

• School Parcel Tax Measures at a Glance - 2/21/04

• Schools see parcel taxes as saviors - 1/9/04

As we all know, the State has drastically cut funding to all school districts. Our local schools are left with two options: cut basic programs that we offer to our students or come up with a local plan to solve our funding problem.

Measure C is exactly that--a local plan to maintain excellence in Petaluma's schools.

Measure C will allow schools of the Petaluma Elementary School District to keep their libraries open and to restore music and art programs that have been cut over the past year.

Measure C will allow Petaluma's elementary schools to restore smaller class sizes in grades 4-6, restore reading specialist in the classroom, and maintain computer and technology programs that our kids need to excel in high school and college.

There are taxpayer safeguards within Measure C. An independent Citizens Oversight Committee will conduct annual audits to ensure Measure C funds are used wisely. Not one penny of Measure C will be used for administrative salaries.

And, senior citizens over the age of 65 can apply for an exemption to Measure C.

Please join local teachers, parents, nurses, business people, retirees and community leaders in voting Yes on Measure C.

Measure C is a local solution that will maintain excellence in Petaluma's elementary schools.

s/ William M. Hammerman
Retiree

s/ Michael Munroe
Parent

s/ Pamela Klarkowski
Nurse

s/ Elizabeth Marquardt
Certified Public Accountant

s/ Susan E. Cohen
3rd Grade Classroom Teacher

SONOMA COUNTY TAXPAYERS' ASSOCIATION

s/Spencer Flournoy, President
s/John B. Landis, Vice President
s/Jack Atkin, Treasurer
s/Jeanne I. Levin, Board Member
s/Fred H. Levin, Executive Director

Petaluma's elementary schools have undergone tremendous budget cuts. There is no "fat"--we are now eliminating the "basics."

Many core programs have been cut and many more are threatened if we do not find a local answer to our education-funding problem.

Measure C will allow our schools to keep their libraries open, restore reading specialists in the classrooms and give our children access to music and art programs that are so important to an early education.

Not one penny of Measure C will be used for administrative salaries--it will all go directly into our elementary schools.

And, our senior citizens can apply for an exemption to Measure C.

Petaluma is a terrific place to live and to raise a family. Slashing elementary school programs will put that at risk.

Please join our local classroom teachers, parents, businessspeople, senior citizens and community leaders in voting Yes on Measure C.

s/ William M. Hammerman
Retiree

s/ Michael Munroe
Parent

s/ Pamela Klarkowski
Nurse

s/ Elizabeth Marquardt
Certified Public Accountant

s/ Susan E. Cohen
3rd Grade Classroom Teacher