League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Fresno County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Measure E School Facilities Improvement West Hills School Facilities Improvement District 3 Needs 55% to pass Pass: 778 / 58.63% Yes votes ...... 549 / 41.37% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure E

Access to quality education and college facilities is critical to the future of our communities. Your YES vote on Measure E will better prepare local students for high demand jobs and future educational opportunities. Well-educated students: benefit our communities through increased safety, provide better trained workforces, and will be the leaders of tomorrow. While the current campus has had many improvements over the years, our work is not done. As enrollment increases, additional classrooms and facilities are needed. To improve access to educational and vocational training opportunities, student support facilities must be constructed. Passing Measure E will also bring our local tax dollars home. Our College has an opportunity to access approximately $70 million in State funds to help pay for improvements. It is a wise investment in our students, college, and community. Measure E will improve our College by: Partnering with other state and local agencies to construct and upgrade classrooms and student support facilities; Making health, safety, and security upgrades to the existing campus; Constructing a Student Campus Center including meeting spaces for activities, bookstore, cafeteria, and counseling; Providing educational centers in the communities of Avenal and Riverdale; Improving student access to computers and modern technology. Measure E makes financial sense and, by law, has taxpayer protections: Measure E will bring in up to $70.6 million in state funds; All spending will be annually audited and reviewed by an independent Funds can only be spent to improve and construct college facilities in the Lemoore/Avenal/Riverdale areas and cannot be used for administrative salaries. Measure E deserves our support. It will keep our tax dollars local and improve the quality of our college, our communities, and our property values. Please join us and VOTE YES ON MEASURE E! s/ Lynda Lahodny CEO, Lemoore Chamber of Commerce s/ Fred Harrell Owner, State Farm Insurance s/ James M. Brooks Retired Superintendent, Riverdale Unified s/ George E. Martin Lemoore City Council s/ Nicholas J. Ivans Pharmacist (No arguments against Measure E were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement

An election will be held in School Facilities Improvement District No. 3 (Lemoore Area) of the West Hills Community College District (the "District") on November 4, 2008 to authorize the sale of $31,000,000 in general obligation bonds. The following information is submitted in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the California Elections Code. 1. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $.0190 per $100 ($19.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2009-10. 2. The best estimate of the tax rate that 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 $.0190 per $100 ($19.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2021-22. 3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate that would be required to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing this statement, is $.0190 per $100 (19.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation. These estimates are based on projections derived from information obtained 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 bond sales and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined 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. s/ Ken Stoppenbrink Vice Chancellor of Business Services West Hills Community College District

Full Text of Measure E

BOND AUTHORIZATION By approval of this proposition by at least 55 percent of the registered voters voting on the proposition, the District will be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $31,000,000 in aggregated principal at interest rates below the legal limit and to provide financing for the specific facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List described below, subject to all the accountability requirements specified below. 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. Expenditures to address specific facilities needs of the District will be 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.) Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Board of Trustees shall establish an Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee under Education Code Section 15278 and following to ensure bond proceeds are expended only on the school facilities projects listed below. The committee will be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board of Trustees. Performance Audits. The Board of Trustees shall conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the facilities projects listed below. Financial Audits. The Board of Trustees shall conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the facilities projects listed below. 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 facilities including the furnishing and equipping of facilities or acquisition or lease of real property for facilities and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other District operating expenses. BOND PROJECT LIST The Bond Project List shown below is a part of the ballot proposition and must be reproduced in any official document required to contain the full statement of the bond proposition. Evaluation of Needs. As required by Article XIII A of the California Constitution, the Board of Trustees of the District has certified that it has evaluated safety, and information technology needs in developing the list of facilities projects shown below. Projects Subject to Available Funding. The following list of projects is subject to the availability of adequate funding to the District. Approval of the bond measure does not guarantee that the proposed projects in the District that are the subject of bonds under the measure will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the bond measure. The District's proposal for the projects does assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure. Partners and additional funding sources will be sought to leverage additional facility funds. Scope of Projects. Bond proceeds will be expended to modernize, replace, renovate, construct, equip, furnish and otherwise improve District facilities as described below. The specific facilities projects which are described below include all related and incidental costs, including costs of design, engineering, architect and other professional services, site preparation, utilities, landscaping and other incidental costs, and construction management. Bond proceeds may also be expended to acquire and install furniture, fixtures and equipment at any classrooms and other facilities of the District. The District may alter the scope and nature of any of the specific projects, which are described below as required by conditions that arise during the course of design and construction, including unforeseen conditions such as dry rot, mold and faulty engineering. RENOVATION AND REPAIR OF EXISTING FACILITIES Bond proceeds will be expended to modernize, replace, renovate, equip, rebuild and furnish the District's educational and joint-use facilities. Such projects may consist of the following: Make health, safety, and security upgrades, including increased lighting systems and video surveillance equipment to ensure adequate security Install instructional technology infrastructure to improve student access to computers and modern technology Make energy conservation improvements, including but not limited to installation of solar panels to reduce utility costs and be more environmentally responsible Make maintenance and infrastructure improvements throughout the campus ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FACILITIES Bond proceeds will also be expended to construct new classrooms, restrooms, teaching labs, and other educational and joint-use facilities, including site improvements, acquisition of land, furniture and equipment, and technology upgrades. Such projects may consist of the following: Construct a University Center to house the university classes for completing advanced college degrees Construct a Student Union building, including meeting spaces for activities, bookstore, cafeteria, and counseling Construct a Performing Arts Center for college and community use Provide a Learning Center in Avenal Provide Riverdale with educational facilities, including a Child Development Center Construct additional instructional buildings Construct or develop sport fields, recreation areas, and facilities for student and community use