League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA June 8, 2010 Election
	Measure H School Parcel Tax Mount Pleasant Elementary School District Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 2,099 / 71.37% Yes votes ...... 842 / 28.63% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure H

Vote Yes on Measure H to continue improving student achievement in our local, neighborhood Mount Pleasant elementary and middle schools. With strong academic programs in math, science, reading and writing, tutoring programs, and qualified teachers who help all students, including those with special needs, local students are achieving strong scores on statewide exams. In fact, local student test scores are consistently above the state target for academic performance each year. Yet, state budget cuts are threatening our schools and student success. The state is simply an unreliable partner when it comes to funding public education in our community. That is why Measure H is important for the children in our neighborhoods. Measure H will provide stable, local funding for elementary and middle schools to support academics and teachers. Not one dime of Measure H can be taken away by the state. Vote Yes on Measure H to: Maintain reading, writing, math, science and tutoring programs Retain teachers, including those who are trained to support children with special needs Protect a well-rounded education, including technology, music and art Re-open school libraries Provide up-to-date textbooks and other instructional materials Keep class sizes small in kindergarten through third grades Measure H contains fiscal accountability provisions. All funds will stay in our local elementary and middle schools and can not be taken by the state No funds will be used for administrators' salaries Expires in 5 years and can not be renewed without voter approval A citizen oversight committee will ensure funds are used wisely to support student achievement Senior citizens can receive an exemption Our schools are part of our community and help keep our neighborhoods strong. That is why parents, teachers and community leaders are supporting Measure H--to continue student achievement. Please join us and vote Yes on Measure H. /s/ Isaiah N. White Retiree /s/ Charles G Dietz Mt. Pleasant Education Association /s/ Monica Perez Mt. Pleasant School District PTA Council President /s/ Norman Marlatt 50-year Resident /s/ Jim C. Cogan Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers, President (No arguments against Measure H were submitted)

Full Text of Measure H

MOUNT PLEASANT SCHOOLS QUALITY EDUCATION MEASURE H Mount Pleasant Elementary School District INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE To maintain important programs in reading, math and science, retain qualified teachers, including those who are trained to support children with special needs, provide tutoring programs, provide a well-rounded education, including technology, libraries, music and art, provide up-to-date textbooks and computer learning technology, and reduce class size, the Mount Pleasant Elementary School District (K-8) proposes to establish an education parcel tax for a period of 5 years, beginning July 1, 2010, at the rate of $95 per year, on each assessor's parcel located within the Mount Pleasant Elementary School District, with an exemption available for senior citizens and persons on Supplemental Security Income, and to implement accountability measures in connection with the temporary levy that are over and above those required by law, including the appointment of an independent citizen oversight committee to provide oversight and accountability to ensure the funds are used to: maintain important programs in reading, math and science; retain qualified teachers, including those who are trained to support children with special needs; provide tutoring programs; provide a well-rounded education, including technology, libraries, music and art; provide up-to-date textbooks and computer learning technology; and reduce class size. AMOUNT OF EDUCATION PARCEL TAX; PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT The education parcel tax shall be $95 (or less as provided below) per year for five (5) 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 the special tax, the term "Parcel" means any parcel of land, which lies wholly, or partially within the boundaries of the Mount Pleasant Elementary School District, that receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the Santa Clara 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. CONSOLIDATION FOR CONTIGUOUS PARCELS For purposes of this special tax, any such "Parcels" which are (i) contiguous, (ii) used solely for owner-occupied, single-family residential purposes, and (iii) held under identical ownership may, by annually submitting an application of the owners thereof by July 1 of any year to the Board of Trustees of the Mount Pleasant Elementary School be treated as a single "parcel" for purposes of the levy of this education parcel tax. EXEMPTION OF 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 for that fiscal year by annually submitting an application, by July 1 of any year, to the Board of Trustees of the Mount Pleasant Elementary School District. With respect to all general property tax matters within its jurisdiction, the Santa Clara County Assessor/Tax Collector, or other appropriate County tax officials shall make all final determinations of tax exemption or relief for any reason, and that decision shall be final and binding. With respect to matters specific to the levy of the education parcel tax, including the Senior Citizen and SSI Exemptions 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 sources that would otherwise be available to the Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant 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, an independent citizen oversight committee shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees to 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. The oversight committee will monitor the expenditures of these funds by the District and will report on an annual basis to the Board and community on how these funds have been spent.