See Also: Index of all Measures

If this measure is approved, the Woodlake Union High School District (“District”) will be authorized to incur debt by issuing general obligation bonds to provide financing for, in part, construction of new classrooms, new restrooms, football stadium improvements, installation of a new track, performing arts building renovations, tennis court improvements, and baseball complex improvements. Proceeds may only be used for these stated purposes and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries, or other operating expenses. Expenditure of bond revenues must be actively reviewed by an independent citizens’ oversight committee mandated by section 15278 of the Education Code.

If this measure is approved, the District will be authorized to increase the ad valorem taxes on real property located within the District’s boundaries to payoff the bonds’ principal, interest and associated costs. The maximum principal amount of the proposed bonds will not exceed four million, five hundred thousand dollars (USD $4,500,000). The bonds cannot bear interest at a rate above the maximum legal limit. Pursuant to Government Code section 53508(f), the maximum duration of the bonds cannot exceed forty (40) years from the date of the bonds or the date of any series thereof. The interest rate will be established at the time of issuance and will depend on market conditions at that time. Therefore the exact effect on tax rates cannot be determined until the bonds are sold but the tax rate cannot exceed thirty dollars (USD $30) per year per one hundred thousand dollars (USD $100,000) of taxable property.

This measure makes no change to existing law. The electors entitled to vote on this measure are the registered voters within the boundaries of the District. If the measure is not approved by at least 55 percent of the votes cast, the measure will fail and the bonds cannot be issued.

By: Moses Diaz, Deputy County Counsel

Woodlake Union High School District

GreatSchools.Net

Passage of Measure C will fund new classrooms, new restroom facilities, football stadium improvements including a new all weather track, Performing Arts Building renovation, additional tennis courts and baseball/softball complex improvements.

The District has aggressively pursued all funding options, including State funds, developer impact fees and grants, but these funds alone are not sufficient to meet the facility needs of the District. The District needs local taxpayer support for Measure C to help fund these additional facilities and much needed improvements.

.MEASURE C WILL IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS BY:.

• Increasing the number of classrooms and restrooms available to our children thus improving the educational environment for all students.

• Providing improved athletic and recreational facilities that compliment our current facilities.

• Provide our children and community with second to none facilities that promote healthy activity and educational opportunities necessary to be successful in today’s world.

• Allowing the District to potentially qualify for $3 million in grants and State-Matching funds.

• Making upgrades and repairs to our schools now instead of later when the cost will be higher.

• Being used only to improve our children’s schools—not to pay for administrative salaries.

• A citizen’s oversight committee to protect taxpayer funds.

• Require annual independent audits on all Measure C expenditures.

INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CHILDREN: VOTE YES ON MEASURE C.

s/ Gregorio Gonzalez, Assitant Director, WFRC/Community Member

s/ Frank Ainley, Community Member

s/ Jami Beck, Community Member

s/ Carmita Pena, WUHS Head Counselor/Community Member

s/ Robert Groeber, Community Member

(No arguments against Measure C were submitted)

1. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year of the after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 3 cents per $100 ($30 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2008-09.

2. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing this statement , is 3 cents per $100 ($30 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2008-09.

3. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required 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 3 cents per $100 ($30 per $100,000) of assessed valuations in fiscal year 2008-09.

4. These estimates are based on projections derived from information obtained from official sources. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary depending on the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at each sale, and actual increases in assessed valuations. The timing of the bonds sales and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be governed by the needs of the District. Actual assessed valuations will depend upon the amount of value of taxable property within the District as determined in the assessment and equalization process.

Dated: October 10, 2007

FINDINGS

The Woodlake Union High School District (the “District”), which serves the communities of Woodlake, Three Rivers and Seville and unincorporated Tulare County, is a recognized leader in providing top quality education to Tulare County students.

The achievements have been accrued by the District as a result of the long history of visionary leadership from the Board of Trustees of the District (the “Board”), as well as from staff members, parents, and members of the District communities. During its long history, the District has benefited from a community which supports its educational institutions by establishing high standards for academic achievement while at the same time providing the means required to meet and surpass those expectations.

Woodlake Union High School, the oldest school in the District, has been serving students and the community for more than 90 years.

In order to provide our students with the same classrooms, school and athletic facilities as other California school districts, major repairs, upgrades, and construction are necessary to ensure these buildings and facilities will support the expectation of excellence for current and future generations.

The Board has prepared a facilities plan and identified significant repairs, upgrades, and construction needs that are more than the District is able to fund from currently available sources or annual revenues.

The District has sought, and continues to seek, all available outside sources of funding to improve our school buildings, including local, state, and federal grants and state bond funds. Historically, the state requires that local school districts provide local funds as a condition of receipt of state matching funds.

It is necessary to seek voter approval of a bond measure in order to provide the local funding for identified school facility upgrades, modernization and expansion projects to address student needs.

BOND AUTHORIZATION

By approval of this proposition by at least 55 percent of the registered voters voting on the proposition, the District shall be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $4,500,000 in aggregated principal at interest rates below the legal limit, to provide finance for the specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List attached hereto as Exhibit A-1, subject to all the accountability requirements specified below.

BOND PROJECT LIST

The Bond Project List attached to this resolution as Exhibit A-1 shall be considered a part of the ballot proposition and shall be reproduced in any official document required to contain the full statement of the bond proposition.

Approval of this Bond Measure (the "Measure") does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the District that are the subject of bonds under the Measure will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the Measure. If state matching funds become available, they will be used for and applied to the Bond Project List as per Exhibit A-1. The District’s proposal for the project or projects assumes the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.

ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS

The provisions in this section are specifically included in this proposition in order that the voters and taxpayers in the District may be assured that their money will be spent wisely to address specific facilities needs of the District all in compliance with the requirements of Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3), of the State Constitution and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at Education Code Sections 15264 and following.)

Evaluation of Needs. The Board, after a year long process involving staff members, parents, students, and community members has prepared an updated facilities plan in order to evaluate and address all of the facilities needs of the District and determine which projects to finance from a local bond at this time. The Board hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction enrollment growth, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List contained in Exhibit A-1.

Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee. The Board shall establish an Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee pursuant to Education Code Section 15278 and following to ensure bond proceeds are expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1. The committee shall be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board.

Performance Audits. The Board shall conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1.

Financial Audits. The Board shall conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1.

Special Bond Proceeds Account: Annual Report to Board. Upon approval of this proposition and the sale of any bonds approved, the Board shall take actions necessary to establish an account in which proceeds of the sale of bonds will be deposited. As long as any proceeds of the bonds remain unexpended, the Superintendent of the District shall cause a report to be filed with the Board annually stating (1) the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in that year, and (2) the status of any project funded or to be funded from bond proceeds. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period as the Superintendent shall determine and may be incorporated in the annual budget, audit, or another appropriate routine report to the Board.

FURTHER SPECIFICATIONS

No Administrator Salaries. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of school facilities including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities or acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

The proceeds of the bonds will be deposited into a Building Fund to be held by the Tulare County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code.

BOND PROJECT LIST

The District intends to complete the following projects, using a combination of funding sources. It is anticipated that bond proceeds will contribute $4,500,000 to said total cost. Other anticipated sources include state aid matching funds, joint use funds, developer fees and other available funds. The specific school facilities projects to be funded are set below:

• New Classrooms
• New Restroom Facilities
• Football stadium improvements
• Installation of new track
• Performing Arts Building Renovation
• Tennis court improvements
• Baseball complex improvements