League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
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Measure I Parcel Tax of 2008 Gravenstein Union School District 2/3 Approval Required
See Also:
Index of all Measures |
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Fail:
1,223 /
63.7% Yes votes ......
697 /
36.3% No votes
| Results as of Jul 31 1:37pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (7/7) |
| Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Full Text | ||||
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To continue to provide our students with courses in the arts and music, as well as technology instruction, all essential for student growth and development, shall the Gravenstein Union School District be authorized to levy a qualified special tax of $45 per year on each parcel of taxable real property in the District for no more than eight years, commencing July 1, 2009, after the expiration of the existing parcel tax, with annual audits and an exemption for seniors?
The District is proposing to levy a special tax of $45 per year on each parcel of taxable real property in the District, commencing on July 1, 2009, when the existing parcel tax expires. The tax would be levied for no more than eight years. Proceeds of the tax would be placed in a special fund and could only be used for the purposes set out in the measure, which include providing technology instruction and courses in the arts and music. Each year that tax funds remain unspent, an independent financial auditor will prepare and present a report to the Board of Trustees stating (1) the amount of funds received and expended during the prior year, and (2) the status of any projects or description of any programs funded by the tax. The report must be filed by December 31 of each year. The period covered by the report may be a fiscal or calendar year, or other appropriate annual period, as determined by the Superintendent. The tax would be applied to each unit of real property in the District that receives a separate tax bill for property taxes. Multiple parcels that are contiguous and are part of one economic unit under the same name and ownership and that do not receive separate tax bills would be charged as one parcel. 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 is 65 years of age or older. Persons claiming exemptions based on ownership by a senior citizen would need to apply to the District for this exemption by May 1 of the first year the exemption applies to them. If two-thirds of the voters in the Gravenstein Union 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.
STEVEN WOODSIDE
By: s/ Kathleen Larocque
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| Arguments For Measure I | Arguments Against Measure I |
| Please vote Yes on Measure I to help maintain strong music, art and technology
instruction in our local Gravenstein schools.
Despite limited state funding that ranks California 47th out of 50 states, the
Gravenstein Union School District provides an excellent education for all our students.
Gravenstein has topped West Sonoma County in reading and math test
scores for six straight years. Hillcrest Middle School students have led all of
Sonoma County for four of the last eight years. Their success helps keep our
schools thriving and property values strong. But our kids need your Yes vote on
Measure I to continue to excel.
Our Gravenstein schools have stretched scarce resources to the limit by eliminating
waste and focusing on classrooms and students. They're supported by two
dedicated parent foundations that contribute what they can to arts, foreign language
instruction and computers for our students. And since 2001, our schools
have relied on generous community support through a parcel tax. That money has
funded investments in our libraries, computer technology, and one of Sonoma
County's finest music and performing arts programs. But this community support
will end next year--unless you vote Yes on Measure I.
Measure I renews the current assessment with a small adjustment for inflation to
$45/year. It is limited to eight years. Seniors 65 and older qualify for an exemption,
and contiguous parcels are assessed only once.
Through careful management of limited state funds, and hard work by dedicated
teachers and staff, Gravenstein schools give our students an excellent basic education.
But they rely on additional funds from our parents and our community to
provide music, arts and technology instruction so our children can thrive in the 21st
Century.
Please support our kids by voting Yes on Measure I! Thank you very much.
s/ Dominico John Carinalli, Jr.
s/ Paula Cole
GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
GRAVENSTEIN SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL BOARD
| No argument was submitted against Measure I.
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| Full Text of Measure I |
| This Proposition may be known and referred to as the "GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008" or as Measure I.
Terms and Purposes. Upon approval of two-thirds of those voting on this measure, the District shall be authorized to levy a qualified special tax of $45 per year on each parcel of taxable real property in the District for no more than eight years, commencing July 1, 2009, after the expiration of the existing parcel tax. The qualified special tax shall be known and referred to as the "GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008." To the extent such funds are available; proceeds of the "GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008" shall be authorized to keep music and art programs and technology instruction available for all students. Senior Citizen Exemption. In order to provide tax relief to senior citizens in the community, any parcel owned and occupied by a person 65 years of age or older shall be exempt from the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008 upon proper application to the District. Anyone claiming an exemption must apply to the District on or before May 1, 2009 or May 1 of any succeeding assessment year. Any one application from a qualified applicant will provide an exemption for the parcel for the remaining term of the assessment so long as such applicant continues to qualify for the exemption.
Specific Purposes. All of the purposes named in the measure shall constitute the specific purposes of the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008, and proceeds of the tax shall be applied only for such purposes. Annual Audit. Upon the levy and collection of the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008, the Board of Trustees shall cause an account to be established for deposit of the proceeds. For so long as any proceeds of the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008 remain unexpended, the Superintendent or chief financial officer of the District shall cause its auditor to prepare a report to be filed with the Board of Trustees no later than December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 2008, stating (1) the amount of GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008 received and expended in such year, and (2) the status of any projects or description of any programs funded from proceeds of the tax. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period, as the Superintendent shall determine, and may be incorporated into or filed with the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Board of Trustees.
The GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008 shall be collected by the Sonoma County Treasurer-Tax Collector at the same time and manner and shall be subject to the same penalties as ad valorem property taxes collected by the Treasurer-Tax Collector. Unpaid taxes shall bear interest at the same rate as the rate for unpaid ad valorem property taxes until paid. The collection of GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008 shall not decrease the funds available from other sources of the District in any period from the effective date hereof. "Parcel of taxable real property" shall be defined as any unit of real property in the District which receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the Sonoma County Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office. All property which is otherwise exempt from or on which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall also be exempt from the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008 in such year. Parcels owned and occupied by persons 65 years of age or older are exempt from the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008 as described above. Multiple parcels, which are contiguous and are part of one economic unit under the same name and ownership, shall be charged as one parcel. The District shall annually provide a list of parcels which the District has approved for a Senior Citizen Exemption from the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008 as described above to the Sonoma County tax collection officials. The Sonoma County Assessor's determination of exemption or relief for any reason other than the Senior Exemption of any parcel from taxation shall be final and binding for the purposes of the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008. Taxpayers wishing to challenge the County Assessor's determination must do so under the procedures for correcting a misclassification of property pursuant to Section 4376.5 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code or other applicable procedures. Taxpayers seeking a refund of GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2008 paid shall follow the procedures applicable to property tax refunds pursuant to the California Revenue and Taxation Code.
The Board of Trustees hereby declares, and the voters by approving this measure concur, that every section and part of this measure has independent value, and the Board of Trustees and the voters would have adopted each provision hereof regardless of every other provision hereof. Upon approval of this measure by the voters, should any part be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, all remaining parts hereof shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent allowed by law. |
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Created: July 31, 2008 13:37 PDT
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