See Also: Index of all Measures

If this measure is approved, the Exeter Union Elementary School District (“District”) will be authorized to incur debt by issuing general obligation bonds to provide financing for constructing and equipping a new multipurpose building at Wilson Middle School that would include a gymnasium, performance area, restrooms, lobby, classrooms, weight room, administrative offices, student health and services center, and storage areas, rehabilitate old administrative buildings into classrooms, and expand the student health and services center at Lincoln Elementary school.

If the measure is approved, the District will be authorized to increase ad valorem taxes on property located within the District’s boundaries to pay the bond principal, interest and associated costs. The maximum principal amount of the proposed bonds will not exceed six million, four hundred thousand dollars ($6,400,000). The bonds cannot bear interest at a rate above the maximum limit. The interest rate will be established at the time of sale and will depend on the market rates at that time, but will not exceed twelve percent (12%). The exact effect on tax rates cannot be determined until after the bonds are sold. Pursuant to Government Code section 53508(f), the maximum duration of the bonds cannot exceed 40 years from the date of the bonds.

An independent Citizen’s Oversight Committee will actively review expenditure of bond revenues. An independent financial audit of the proceeds, and an independent performance audit of the specific projects will be performed annually. An annual report will be prepared, indicating the amount of funds collected and expended, and the status of any project listed in the measure.

This bond makes no change to existing law. 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 will not be issued.

By: Channone Smith, Deputy County Counsel

Measure D will provide funds to:

• Construct additional classrooms at Wilson Middle School to accommodate growing enrollment

• Construct additional student health and student services facilities at Lincoln School to meet current curriculum requirements

• Construct a student and administrative services center and a gym at Wilson Middle School to provide students and our community with a building to play sports, hold assemblies and meetings

• Make necessary student/staff safety improvements and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act

Taxpayer Accountability

A Citizens Oversight Committee will ensure Measure D funds will be used ONLY for the work spelled out in the ballot. By law, no funds can be spent on salaries. Bond funds will be audited annually by an independent certified public accounting (C.P.A.) firm.

State Grants

The Exeter School district qualifies for $3.6 million in state grants. Local voters must pass Measure D in order for EUSD to receive these state funds. This is a chance to return our tax dollars into the community! If voters do not approve Measure D, OUR $3.6 million will go to other school districts like Los Angeles Unified that have passed school bonds.

Join parents, business owners, homeowners, community leaders, ranchers and senior cities: on February 5, vote to repair and upgrade our schools, construct additional classrooms, and allow our district to obtain $3.6 million in state grants.

Vote YES on Measure D!

s/ Margarita Reed, CSEA Chapter 15, Exeter President

s/ Felix Ortiz, Parent/Citizen

s/ Edward W. Macaulay, Mayor City of Exeter

s/ Mark Hellwig, Exeter Elementary Board of Trustee

s/ Diana Lemus, President – Exeter Elementary Teachers Association

(No arguments against Measure D 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 sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 2.87 cents per $100 ($28.70 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 2.91 cents per $100 ($29.10 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2025-26.

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 2.87 cents per $100 ($28.70 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2008-09.

4. Based on the District’s estimate of when bonds will be sold, the interest rates prevailing at the time of such bond sales, and the projected growth in assessed valuation, the best estimate of the average tax rate which would be required to fund this bond issue is 2.89 cents per $100 ($28.90 per $100,000) of assessed valuation.

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 the bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at each sale, and actual increases in assessed valuations. The timing of bond 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 and value of taxable property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: November 1, 2007

FINDINGS

The Exeter Union Elementary School District (the “District”), which serves the community of Exeter and a portion of 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 even to surpass those expectations.

Wilson Middle School, the oldest District school, has been serving students and the community for more than 68 years.

In order to provide our local students with the same classrooms and school facilities as other California school districts, major repairs, upgrades, and classroom construction are necessary to ensure these buildings will remain functional for future generations.

The Board has prepared a facilities plan and identified significant repairs, upgrades, and classroom construction needs due to increased enrollment 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 repairs, modernization projects, and growth needs to address student enrollment.

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 $6,400,000 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 at each school site throughout district, 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 expanded 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.

The specific school facilities projects to be funded are as follows:

Construct a new multipurpose building at Wilson Middle School to include:

- gymnasium
- performance area
- restrooms
- lobby
- classrooms (2)
- weight room
- administrative offices
- student health and services center
- storage areas

Convert old administrative building into classrooms and instructional areas at Wilson Middle School.

Expand and upgrade student health and services center at Lincoln School.