See Also: Index of all Measures

SPECIAL TAX CONTINUANCE AND INCREASE
MEASURE A

The District proposes that this expiring parcel tax be extended for an additional seven-year period ending in July of the year 2012 as well as increased to $98.00 per parcel. The district proposes to use the funds raised by this special tax to pay for various programs as described in the ballot measure, as the district has found that the state funding alone does not provide sufficient revenues to provide quality education for children in the district. Implementation costs pertaining to the proposed programs will be subject to approval by the Citizens Review Committee, and a senior citizen's exemption from the tax will be available to parcel owners 65 and older.

The continuation and increase in this special tax, which would be imposed upon the passage of this measure, would be an annual tax upon parcels of property commencing with the 2005-2006 tax year. The special tax would continue to be collected in the same manner as the county collects ad valorem taxes.

Measure A must receive approval by two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast by the voters voting upon the measure to be considered approved by the voters. Reference is made to Tahoe Truckee Unified School District Resolution No. 8-04/05 for complete terms of this measure.

A "yes" vote on Measure A means that each parcel located within the boundaries of the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District will be taxed at a rate of $98.00 per year for the 7 year period ending in the year 2012.

A "no" vote on the Measure A parcel tax means that the parcel tax will NOT be increased to $98.00 per year and extended to 2012.

s/ LOUIS B. GREEN County Counsel

California ranks below the national average in educational funding, placing in the bottom third of all states. Due to California's on-going budget crisis, educational funding has decreased significantly over the past three years in several key academic areas. As a result, many districts have been forced to eliminate all but the most basic programs.

Without adequate state funding, we must look locally to bridge the gap. In the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, Measure A is the difference between inadequate schools and providing a quality education for our students. Measure A has supported our local school district for sixteen years. In order to maintain and enhance the programs essential to our students' education, we must renew Measure A. Each parcel would be assessed $98 per year, to support the following programs:

• Classroom equipment and supplies
• Computer labs and curriculum
• Academic and college prep courses
• Vocational programs and equipment
• Music programs and equipment
• Class size reduction in 4th through 8th grades
• Elementary Physical Education
• Librarians and Books
• Counseling and Nursing
• Maintenance and Safety projects Our children get so much for so little. Without renewal, these programs will be eliminated or severely reduced.

Measure A is necessary to provide a well-rounded, quality education for the children of our district and is essential for maintaining a strong, vibrant, safe community.

Please join parents, teachers, community leaders and senior citizens and vote YES on Measure A.

s/ Erika L. Murphy Tahoe Truckee Educational Association (TTEA) President
s/ Dave Ferrari Sierra College Trustee, Co-founder North Lake Tahoe Boys and Girls Club, Business Owner
s/ Jan Ganong Parent, Special Education Teacher, Excellence in Education Foundation Board Member
s/ Jim Porter Parent and Attorney
s/ Roger Kahn Parent and Retired Business Owner

MEASURE A

RESOLUTION # 8-04/05 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

OF THE TAHOE TRUCKEE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

COUNTIES OF EL DORADO, NEVADA AND PLACER

WHEREAS, the California State Legislature has not provided adequate and necessary funding for the continued operation of certain programs and services of the schools of Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (Tahoe Truckee High, North Tahoe High, Sierra High, North Tahoe Middle, Alder Creek Middle, Tahoe Lake Elementary, Creekside Magnet, Kings Beach Elementary, Truckee Elementary, Glenshire Elementary, Donner Trail Elementary and Coldstream Alternative School); and

WHEREAS, the State does not provide sufficient revenues to maintain quality education within the District and reliance on State funding alone will result in the loss of critical education programs; and

WHEREAS, this Board believes that the special Measure A tax currently being levied should be adjusted and continued to maintain enhanced educational opportunities for the students of this district; and

WHEREAS, a thorough and developed public education program delivers many long-lasting benefits and advantages to all of the residents of our community; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Education (Board) of the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (District) is authorized to order special tax elections, after notice and hearing, pursuant to Government Code Section 50079; and

WHEREAS, this Resolution was presented at a duly noticed regular board meeting pursuant to Education Code Section 35144 and Government Code Section 54956 with notice having been given and with opportunity for public comment having been provided; and

WHEREAS, Section 4 of this Article XIIIA of California Constitution provides that special districts, by a two-thirds vote of the qualified electors of such district, may impose special taxes, and

WHEREAS, Section 4 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution provides that the appropriations limit of any entity of government may be changed by the electors of such entity, for a period of up to four years from the date of the vote making such change; and

WHEREAS, the Board and Measure A Citizen's Review Committee has concluded that the present revenues of the District are inadequate to meet the expenses of:

CLASSROOM SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT: The continued provision of instructional supplies, books, equipment and programs needed to allow the district to continue to fund at a level that keeps each school site in line with state curriculum standards.
REDUCED CLASS SIZE: Additional teachers will be provided to ensure that classroom size will be significantly below state maximum in grades 4 - 8.
INCREASE COURSE OFFERINGS: Increase the number of core academic course offerings at middle schools and high schools.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS: The continued enhancement of middle school and high school academic programs, such as college preparatory courses and academic electives, by providing qualified teachers and acquiring necessary instructional supplies and equipment.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: The continued enhancement of high school vocational education curricula by updating equipment, developing new programs, maintaining current programs and classes that address local vocational education needs.
MUSIC: The continued support of the elementary, middle and high school music programs with music teachers, equipment, equipment maintenance and supplies.
COMPUTER AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT AND CURRICULUM: Well planned, standardized and coordinated district technology curriculum to include: the maintenance and timely replacement of existing computer laboratories, additional classroom computers, continued development and implementation of computer literacy curriculum at each school which will be taught by qualified personnel.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: The continued support of elementary physical education programs and the acquisition of necessary equipment and supplies at all school sites.
MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY: Funding for replacement of school buses, which no longer meet state standards; and the maintenance of playgrounds and fields to ensure student safety.
LIBRARIES: The continued staffing of the TTHS and NTHS libraries with certificated librarians, the continued acquisition of library books and equipment for all school sites.
COUNSELING AND NURSING SERVICES: The continued employment of school counselors and special service personnel as needed; the continued employment of at least one full time nurse and the acquisition of necessary equipment, supplies, and testing material to enable screening, testing, and caring for pupils as required by state law.

WHEREAS, in the judgment of the Board, following notice and public hearing, it is advisable to seek to provide funding for all or part of these special purposes by means of a uniform flat rate parcel tax which includes an exemption from taxes for taxpayers 65 years of age or older who choose to apply for the exemption, as permitted by Government Code Section 50079 (b); and

WHEREAS, in the judgment of the Board, it is advisable to order the Placer County Superintendent of Schools and the El Dorado, Nevada and Placer Counties Registrar of the Voters to call and conduct an election on the questions of: whether the District shall levy a special tax within the District for a period of seven years, for the purposes of raising additional revenue for specific purposes for the District; and WHEREAS, Resolution #11-03/04 is hereby rescinded.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of Education of the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
1. The authority for the specifications of the election order is contained in Education Code Section 5322. Section 5322 requires that 88 days prior to the date set for the election, the Board by resolution deliver to the Placer County Superintendent of Schools and the officer conducting the election a resolution specifying the date and purpose of the election, the authority for ordering the election, the authority for the specifications of the election order, and the signature of the officer of the Board authorized by law to make the designations.
2. The date of the election shall be March 8, 2005.
3. The purpose of the election shall be for the voters in the District to vote on a proposition (in the form set forth in paragraph 10 of this resolution) posing the questions of whether two-thirds of the votes cast by the voters voting upon the proposition shall approve the levy of a special tax within the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District for a period of seven (7) years. Said election shall also provide for an exemption from the tax for parcel owners age 65 or older who choose to apply for the exemption, to be known as the "Senior Citizens Exemption".
4. The authority for ordering the election is contained in Government Code Sections 50079 and 50077.
5. This Resolution shall stand as the authority for the order of election and the specifications of election order to the Placer County Superintendent of Schools and the officers conducting the election.
6. The Secretary of the Board is hereby directed to send two certified copies of this Resolution to each of the following: El Dorado, Nevada, and Placer County Superintendents of Schools and the El Dorado, Nevada, and Placer County Clerks and/or Registrars of Voters so that this Resolution is received by them on or before Wednesday, December 1, 2004.
7. The County Superintendents of Schools are hereby requested to deliver the order of election by delivery of this Resolution and a formal notice of the election to the official in their county in charge of conducting elections no later than Tuesday, December 1, 2004.
8. The special tax shall be a school tax levied at a rate not to exceed ninety-eight dollars ($98.00) a year for each assessor's parcel within the District, as shown on the then current local assessment rolls prepared by the El Dorado, Nevada, and Placer County Assessors. The special tax shall be levied only in fiscal years 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011, and 2011/2012 upon approval thereof by this Board, and shall be collected and enforced in the same manner and subject to the same penalties and procedures prescribed by law for the collection of other taxes fixed and collected on said local Assessment Rolls and, by agreement with the appropriate counties, the special tax shall be collected by the counties on behalf of the District. The revenue derived from the special tax shall be expended solely (less implementation costs as agreed to by the Citizens Review Committee) for the following special purposes:

CLASSROOM SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT: The continued provision of instructional supplies, books, equipment and programs needed to allow the district to continue to fund at a level that keeps each school site in line with state curriculum standards.
REDUCED CLASS SIZE: Additional teachers will be provided to ensure that classroom size will be significantly below state maximum in grades 4 - 8.
INCREASE COURSE OFFERINGS: Increase the number of core academic course offerings at middle schools and high schools.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS: The continued enhancement of middle school and high school academic programs, such as college preparatory courses and academic electives, by providing qualified teachers and acquiring necessary instructional supplies and equipment.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: The continued enhancement of high school vocational education curricula by updating equipment, developing new programs, maintaining current programs and classes that address local vocational education needs.
MUSIC: The continued support of the elementary, middle and high school music programs with music teachers, equipment, equipment maintenance and supplies.
COMPUTER AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT AND CURRICULUM: Well planned, standardized and coordinated district technology curriculum to include: the maintenance and timely replacement of existing computer laboratories, additional classroom computers, continued development and implementation of computer literacy curriculum at each school which will be taught by qualified personnel.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: The continued support of elementary physical education programs and the acquisition of necessary equipment and supplies at all school sites.
MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY: Funding for replacement of school buses, which no longer meet state standards; and the maintenance of playgrounds and fields to ensure student safety.
LIBRARIES: The continued staffing of the TTHS and NTHS libraries with certificated librarians, the continued acquisition of library books and equipment for all school sites.
COUNSELING AND NURSING SERVICES: The continued employment of school counselors and special service personnel as needed; the continued employment of at least one full time nurse and the acquisition of necessary equipment, supplies, and testing material to enable screening, testing, and caring for pupils as required by state law.

MEASURE A

• Requesting impartial analysis by Placer County Counsel subject to approval of El Dorado and Nevada County Counsels
• Setting the last day to file arguments
• Preparing ballot layout and election materials
• Printing and mailing sample ballots and other election materials
• Printing official ballots
• Providing precinct supplies
• Appointing and training election officers
• Obtaining and renting polling places
• Preparing voter indexes
• Publishing list of election officers and polling places
• Mailing appointment notices for polling places and/or precinct boards
• Processing absentee ballots
• Providing voter count by precinct
• Canvassing the results of the election Whenever possible, the District's schools shall be used as polling places.
  16. The Board of Supervisors of Placer County is hereby requested to authorize the Clerk of Placer County to be responsible for conducting this election; the Boards of Supervisors of El Dorado and Nevada Counties are hereby requested to authorize the clerk or registrar of voters of their counties to cooperate with the Clerk of Placer County in conducting this election. The Boards of Supervisors of El Dorado, Placer, and Nevada Counties are also requested to authorize consolidation of this election with any other applicable election conducted on the same day this election.
  17. If any part of this resolution is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining parts of this resolution.