League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Mateo County, CA March 2, 2010 Election
	Measure B Parcel Tax Burlingame School District 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 4,685 / 71.2% Yes votes ...... 1,899 / 28.8% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure B

Arguments Against Measure B

Vote Yes on Measure B to renew existing local funding for our excellent Burlingame elementary and middle schools without increasing taxes. Burlingame School District provides an exceptional education for the local students in our neighborhoods. Over half of the district's schools have been recognized as "Distinguished Schools" by the state. Due to top-notch teachers and strong academic programs, local students continue to excel year after year by achieving top scores on statewide exams. That is why voting Yes on Measure B is so important - it will continue our local tradition of academic excellence and student success by renewing local education funding that is due to expire next school year. Every penny of these funds goes directly to our neighborhood schools and cannot be taken away by the state. Voting Yes on Measure B will: maintain math and science programs support art and music programs in our schools protect school library services maintain small class sizes in first through third grades protect funding for books, classroom supplies, and instructional materials attract and retain qualified teachers Measure B is fiscally sound: it will not increase taxes by a single penny all funds go directly to Burlingame schools and cannot be taken away by the state no funds can be used for administrators' salaries a senior citizen exemption is available Measure B expires in 10 years and cannot be renwed without voter approval citizn oversight and annual audits ensure funds will be used wisely As the state continues to be an unreliable partner in education funding, our Burlingame schools need Measure B more than ever to protect the keys to student success --- strong academic programs, small class sizes, and great teachers. Please join hundreds of parents, teachers, and Burlingame neighbors and vote YES on Measure B to continue academic excellence in our community. /s/ Annette J. DeMaria, Burlingame Teacher /s/ Tim Auran, Local Business Owner /s/ Carol Yosuda-Terranes, Local Business Owner /s/ John S. Root, 30-year Burlingame resident /s/ Rona Blevins, Local Business Owner

Government's appetite for higher taxes and still higher spending never ends. Consider all the taxes we pay, most of them at record highs: Property Taxes (plus special assessments) School Bond Taxes (districts, county) Sales Taxes (county and state) Income Taxes (state and federal) Vehicle License fees and taxes Gas taxes (state and federal) Telecommunication taxes additional excise taxes on alchohol, tobacco, gasoline, tires, etc. If high taxes encouraged balanced budgets and responsible spending, California would be the best-run state in the nation! But the opposite is true --- Record revenue engendered bloated payrolls and unsustainable benefit schemes; outstripping our ability to pay for them. No amount of revenue can prevent politicians from spending more money than they take in. The state government's school districts are out of control: consuming almost half of the state budget and borrowing recklessly to spend even more. And, on top of all that, they have the gall to ask for higher parcel taxes, too? We couldn't stop Sacramento from raising sales and income taxes last year - but we can finally put an end to one long-standing "temporary" parcel tax. Now is our opportunity. Please vote No. This superfluous surtax is just plain greedy. /s/ Harland Harrison, Chair, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County /s/ John J. Jack Hickey

Full Text of Measure B

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE To maintain math, science, reading and writing programs, support art and music programs, support school library services, protect small class sizes in kindergarten through third grades, restore funding for classroom supplies and instructional materials, attract and retain qualified teachers, the Burlingame Elementary School District proposes to establish an education parcel tax for a period of ten years, beginning July 1, 2011, at the rate of $180 per year, on each assessor's parcel located within the Burlingame Elementary School District, with an exemption available for senior citizens and recipients of SSI for a disability, and to implement accountability measures in connection with the temporary levy to ensure the funds are used to: maintain math, science, reading and writing programs; support art and music programs; support school library services; protect small class sizes in kindergarten through third grades; restore funding for classroom supplies and instructional materials; attract and retain qualified teachers. AMOUNT OF EDUCATION PARCEL TAX; PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT The education parcel tax shall be $180 (or less as provided below per year for ten (10) full years assessed against each parcel. The proceeds of the education parcel tax shall be deposited into a separate account created by the District. DEFINITION OF "PARCEL" For purposes of this special tax, the term "Parcel" means any parcel of land which lies wholly or partially within the boundaries of the Burlingame Elementary School District, that receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the San Mateo County Assessor/Tax Collector. All property that is otherwise exempt from or upon which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall also be exempt from the education parcel tax in such year. EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS AND SSI RECIPIENTS Pursuant to California Government Code Section 50079 (b), any owners of a parcel used solely for owner-occupied, single family residential purposes and who are either (a) 65 years of age or older or (b) persons receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age, may obtain an exemption from the education parcel tax by annually submitting an application, by June 15 of each year, to the Board of Trustees of the Burlingame Elementary School District. With respect to all general property tax matters within its jurisdiction, the San Mateo County Assessor/Tax Collector, or other appropriate County officials, shall make all final determinations of tax exemption or relief for any reason, and the decision shall be final and binding. With respect to matters specific to the levy of the education parcel tax, including the Senior Citizen Exemption and the SSI Exemption and the classification of property for purposes of calculating the tax, the decisions of the District shall be final and binding. REDUCTION IN TAX IF RESULT IS LESS OTHER GOVERNMENT SUPPORT The collection of the education parcel tax is not intended to decrease or offset any increase in local, state, or federal government revenue sources that would otherwise be available to the Burlingame Elementary School District during the period of the education parcel tax. In the event that the levy and collection does have such an effect, the Burlingame Elementary School District shall cease the levy or shall reduce the education parcel tax to the extent that such action would restore the amount of the decrease or offset in other revenues. ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES In accordance with the requirements of California Government Code Sections 50075.1 and 50075.3, the following accountability measures, among others, shall apply to the education parcel tax levied in accordance with this measure: (a) the specific purposes of the education parcel tax shall be those purposes identified above; (b) the proceeds of the education parcel tax shall be applied only to those specific purposes identified above; (c) a separate, special account shall be created into which the proceeds of the education parcel tax must be deposited; and (d) an annual written report shall be made to the Board of Trustees of the District showing (i) the amount of funds collected and expended from the proceeds of the education parcel tax and (ii) the status of any projects or programs required or authorized to be funded from the proceeds of the education parcel tax as identified above. In addition to the accountability measures required by law, the District's Budget Advisory Committee shall advise the Board on the expenditures funded by the measure in order to ensure that said funds are spent for the purposes approved by the voters.