League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Humboldt County, CA June 8, 2010 Election
	Measure K School Bonds Blue Lake Union Elementary School District 55% Approval Required Pass: 528 / 64.3% Yes votes ...... 293 / 35.7% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure K

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE "K" Blue Lake School is the center of our community. Teachers and staff do an excellent job maintaining the quality of our school. However, classrooms and facilities are over 50 years old and in need of upgrades, modernization and repair. In addition, the State budget situation is likely to get worse and may take years to resolve. To provide our children with the opportunities they need in the 21st Century and the best chance for academic success, the School Board placed Measure "K" on the June 8, 2010 ballot. MEASURE "K" WILL: Provide renewable energy improvements, including solar, to reduce annual operating costs and put more money in the classroom + where it belongs Modernize and reconfigure the school library to improve student access to computers and modern technology Build a multi-purpose gym comparable to those at neighboring schools for student and community use, and serve as an emergency center in the event of an earthquake or other natural disaster Reduce annual operating costs and improve student safety and security, including modernizing the District's communication, telephone and security systems As taxpayers, we know that a good school attracts families, businesses, and investment. MEASURE "K" MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE. IT WILL: Improve property values and maintain the desirability of Blue Lake Spend every penny in Blue Lake, creating local jobs and improving Blue Lake School Make improvements that reduce annual operating costs Provide the local match for additional State or grant funds BY LAW, TAXPAYER SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE. MEASURE "K" REQUIRES: An independent citizens' oversight committee and guaranteed annual audits to ensure money is used only for voter approved school improvements and repairs and not used for salaries, administration or overhead Support Blue Lake School! On June 8th, vote YES on Measure "K"! /s/ Ronald R. Brunson, Retired Postmaster /s/ Sherry Dalziel, BLUES Trustee President /s/ Dana Hudson, Stardough's Café Owner /s/ Christina Masterson, Parent of BLUES Students /s/ Maureen Lawlor, Blue Lake Resident (No arguments against Measure K were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement from Blue Lake School District Superintendent

Tax Rate Statement MEASURE K An election will be held in the Blue Lake Union Elementary School District (the "District") on June 8, 2010 to authorize the sale of up to $2.0 million in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the Measure. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information is provided in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the Elections Code of the State of California. 1. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied 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 3.000 cents per $100 ($30.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2011-12. 2. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied 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 3.000 cents per $100 ($30.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2011-12. 3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 3.000 cents per $100 ($30.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation. Voters should note that the estimated tax rates are based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls, not on the property's market value. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions. Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District's projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those presently estimated, due to variations from these estimates in the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold and market interest rates at the time of each sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on the need for construction funds and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale. Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process. Dated: 2/25/2010 /s/ Paula Wyant-Kelso, Superintendent Blue Lake Union Elementary School District

Full Text of Measure K

BLUE LAKE UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT FULL TEXT OF MEASURE K This measure may be known and referred to as the "Blue Lake Union Elementary School District Improvement and Renewable Energy Measure" FINDINGS Blue Lake Union Elementary School District has one school serving approximately 175 students in grades K-6 in rural Humboldt County. Four full-time teachers and eight part-time teachers provide a student/teacher ratio of 17.4:1 in K-3 and 24.3:1 in 4-6; class size average is 21.5 students. The Board of Trustees of the District has evaluated the District's urgent and critical school needs, including school and student safety issues, enrollment trends, class size energy efficiency and computer technology in developing the scope of projects to be funded. In developing the scope of projects, parents, teachers, staff, students and community members have contributed to prioritize the most critical school site needs. This measure requires an independent citizens' over sight committee, and guaranteed annual audits to ensure the money is spent as promised, and no money will be spent on administrator's salaries. The District continues to seek all available outside sources of funding to improve our school buildings and technology, including local, state, and federal grants. However, these sources are not sufficient to meet our facilities needs. It is necessary to seek voter approval of a Bond measure in order to provide the local funding for the identified school facilities. BOND AUTHORIZATION By approval of this measure by at least fifty-five percent (55%) of the registered voters voting on this measure, the District shall be authorized to issue and sell Bonds in an amount of up to $2,000,000 in principal, with interest at or below the legal limit. The Bond proceeds shall be used to provide financing only for specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List attached hereto as Attachment A-1, subject to the accountability requirements specified below. TAX RATE The Board hereby states its intention to structure each Bond sale of this authorization so that the combined tax rate for general obligation Bonds of the District does not exceed the Proposition 39 limit per $100,000 of taxable value within the District, when assessed valuation is projected to increase in accordance with Article XIIIA of the California Constitution. BOND PROJECT LIST The Bond Project List attached to this resolution as Attachment 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 projects will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the Measure. The District's capital needs exceed the amount of Bonds the voters are being asked to authorize. The District will seek funds from other sources to advance the project list as far as possible. If matching funds from the State or any other source become available, they will be used for and applied to the Bond Project List. ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS The provisions in this section are specifically included in this Measure 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), which was adopted following the passage of Proposition 39. Evaluation of Needs. The Board of Trustees has prepared an updated facilities plan in order to identify all current and anticipated facilities needs of the District and determine which projects to finance from a local Bond and other sources at this time. The Board of Trustees hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction, enrollment growth, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List contained in Attachment A-1. Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Board of Trustees shall establish an Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Education Code, commencing with section 15278, to ensure Bond proceeds are expended only on the school facilities and on the projects listed in Attachment A-1. The Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee shall be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board of Trustees. The District shall, without expending Bond funds, provide the Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee with any necessary technical and administrative support in furtherance of its purpose, and sufficient resources to publicize the conclusions of the committee. Performance Audits. The Board of Trustees shall cause to be conducted an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the Bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Attachment A-1. Financial Audits. The Board of Trustees shall cause to be conducted an annual, independent financial audit of the Bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed in Attachment A-1. Special Bond Proceeds Account: Annual Report to Board of Trustees. Upon approval of this Measure and a subsequent sale of authorized Bonds, the Board of Trustees 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 shall cause a report to be filed with the Board of Trustees 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 of Trustees. 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 construction management by district personnel 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 fund to be held by the Humboldt County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code. ATTACHMENT A-1 BOND PROJECT LIST The District intends to undertake the following projects using a combination of funding sources. It is anticipated that Bond proceeds will contribute $2,000,000 to said total cost. As required by the California Constitution, the proceeds from the sale of Bonds will be used only to acquire or improve real property, and for furnishing and equipping school facilities and not for any other purposes, including teacher and administrator salaries or other school operating expenses. This Bond Project List assumes that additional funding, which could include State funds, or other funds of the District and/or other sources, may be available to the District. To the extent funds are available, the District intends to acquire, construct, modernize, and improve District facilities and technology access, including but not limited to the improvements described below. SCHOOL PROJECTS The specific school facilities projects to be funded are as follows: Blue Lake Elementary School:  Modernize and reconfigure the school library  Improve student access to computers and modern technology  Build a multipurpose gym  Provide renewable energy improvements, including solar  Modernize the District's communication, telephone and security systems  Repair and upgrade Blue Lake School  Furnish and equip schools to the extent permitted by law  Address unforeseen conditions revealed by construction/modernization (e.g., plumbing or gas line breaks, dry rot, seismic, structural, etc.)  Perform necessary site preparation/restoration in connection with new construction, renovation or remodeling The bond may be used to fund design, engineering and program management costs, as well as to make lease payments for leases, or to purchase authorized leased facilities. The bond may also be used to fund the cost of issuing the bonds, election costs, and the cost of obtaining and disseminating information, as authorized under State law.