League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Contra Costa County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Measure M Parcel Tax West Contra Costa Unified School District 2/3 Approval Required Fail: 35078 / 59.36% Yes votes ...... 24017 / 40.64% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure M

Arguments Against Measure M

The State of California can no longer be depended upon to adequately support our local schools. For years, politicians from outside of our community have chipped away at funding for class-size reduction, important after-school activities, and even support for core subjects such as reading, writing, and math. But Measure M will ensure that our community's schools will no longer be victimized by the unstable political environment of Sacramento. Measure M will fund critical in-class programs in our local schools ++ and the State cannot take that funding away! Measure M will enable our schools to provide: Smaller class sizes Safer classrooms and school campuses Well trained teachers committed to our schools Programs that prepare our students for college and the workforce Support for core subjects including reading, writing and math Measure M will provide in-class programmatic stability for our schools. This will allow our school principals, administrators, and teachers to create their long-range plans knowing that critical core subjects, educational basics, and college readiness programs won't be taken away due to statewide politics beyond our control. Measure M also requires taxpayer protections including: An exemption for qualified senior citizens A citizen oversight committee Independent financial audits By law, Measure M can only be used for our community's schools. Measure M stabilizes funding for our schools' most important in-class programs. Please join parents, school principals, business owners, and community leaders in voting YES on Measure M. Susan J. Wittenberg, Founder and Former Executive Director, West County Ed Fund Michele Lamons, Pinole Valley High School Educator Cathy Garza, Parent and Former Bayside Council PTA President McKinley Williams, Educator and El Sobrante Citizen Arthur J. Hatchett, Citizen of West Contra Costa Co., Executive Director at G.R.I.P. Rebuttal to Arguments For Your property tax bill (or that of your landlord) already includes assessments to pay the following for West Contra Unified School District: 1998 - $40,000,000 bond 2000 - $150,000,000 bond 2002 - $300,000,000 bond 2005 - $400,000,000 bond 2010 - $380,000,000 bond November 2008 parcel tax Maintenance and Recreation Assessment District (MRAD) - $78 per parcel There's no mention of these in the measure. Where are the disclosures? The last bond was just passed in June. Now they want more. Where and when will it end? You will pay for the bonds for 30 years and the amount you currently pay will increase even if no new assessments are added... and the interest attached to them does not go toward building a classroom or repairing a school How can our residents allow more increases? What of those on limited incomes? The School District promises an "exemption for qualified seniors" + only those who own their home and only if they file an application annually. But not only seniors are on tight budgets. The District has asked for funds to bridge the gap left by the withdrawal of State funding. But the District has long been in debt, and is still repaying bail-out funds loaned by the State to avoid bankruptcy. Almost 20 years later, has WCCUSD learned anything about budgeting? In this tough financial period, it's time to tell WCCUSD not now, not again. Vote NO on Measure M Alliance of Contra Costa Taxpayers, Kenneth E. Hambrick, Chairman Thomas Lynden, Business Owner/CPA Susan L. Pricco, Former Chair, WCCUSD Citizens Bond Oversight Greg Engargiola, Parent/Homeowner/Physicist Kris Gordon, Retired Superior Court Clerk

In June WCCUSD put a $380,000,000 bond measure on the ballot. Highly-paid consultants say that a bond is easier to pass because it only needs 55% of the votes. We knew then they would be back for a parcel tax when the bond passed, and here they are. It seems the School Board is spending more time and money on ballots and surveys than they are on budgeting. California's residents are struggling financially. WCCUSD has already 7 items on your property bill for taxes or assessments or bonds. The amount you pay will continue to rise as more bonds are issued. Why is the District not borrowing from their bond funds? The District's enrollment is declining. Isn't it logical that we should need less money, not more? We are already paying huge amounts to the District. Are the students doing better because of it? Exemptions for seniors? That applies to seniors who (1) own their home and (2) if they submit an annual application. Measure M funds are to be used in "local" schools? There's nothing to ensure that your dollars will be used in your neighborhood, or applied with any equity. Promises of an "oversight" committee give voters a false sense of security. WCCUSD Citizen's Bond Oversight Committee has no authority to impose changes or make decisions. The Board of Trustees has that sole power. The buck stops with them. As long as money flows, there will be no meaningful change. Demand better money management and accountability from your school district by withholding your support. Vote with us and say NO to Measure M. Alliance of Contra Costa Taxpayers, Kenneth E. Hambrick, Chairman Susan L. Pricco, Former Chair, WCCUSD Citizens Bond Oversight Dr. Greg Engargiola, PhD., Parent/Homeowner Rebuttal to Arguments Against It's no secret that the politics of Sacramento is hurting local school districts. In Sacramento, politics often gets in the way of what really needs to be done. Here in our own community we have no such luxury. If our children are to have real opportunities for college admittance and solid places in the modern work-force, then we cannot abandon our responsibilities as parents, teachers, principals, and elders of our community. And that is why we've all joined together in support of Measure M. Measure M guarantees funding for our local schools that cannot be taken away by the State. Measure M helps to maintain smaller class sizes, and pays for in-class safety and campus security. Measure M will fund classroom programs that focus on Reading, Writing, Math, and Science + the basics that so many other districts have been forced to cut. Measure M enables our schools to become more independent from the politics of Sacramento and the statewide budgeting process of which we have no control. Long-range planning and budgeting by our teachers and principals is routinely undermined by the impacts of Sacramento's out-of-control budget process. Measure M will give our District a greater ability to establish and implement long-range educational plans at a time when other districts and even the State cannot. Simply put, Measure M will better enable our principals and teachers to educate the children of our community. Please join us in Voting YES on Measure M. Patricia A. Player, Retired Teacher and Former School Board Member Michael M. Booker, Lieutenant-City of Richmond PD Genoveva Calloway, Mayor-City of San Pablo Laura A. Ramos, Bayside PTA President Don Lau, YMCA Executive