League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Sonoma County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Measure G Bond Cloverdale Unified School District 55% Approval Required Pass: 2,096 / 55.6% Yes votes ...... 1,673 / 44.4% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure G

Arguments Against Measure G

Everyone knows the importance and value of having quality schools. From higher achieving students, to training for future jobs, to greater neighborhood safety, quality schools make a difference. While our teachers and staff do their best in educating our students, many classrooms and school facilities in the Cloverdale Unified School District are outdated and inadequate to provide students with the school facilities they need to succeed. Our students need your Yes vote on Measure G! While our facilities have been well maintained, our classrooms and facilities are outdated and do not meet 21st century education and technology standards. Measure G would allow the District to improve the quality of education provided to local students. Therefore, we must invest in our school so it meets today's safety, technological, and educational standards. If passed, Measure G will provide funding to make critical facility improvements at Cloverdale schools without increasing the original tax rate by: Improving energy efficiency by installing solar panels; Modernizing outdated classrooms, restrooms and school facilities; Increasing student access to computers and modern technology; Upgrading inadequate electrical systems; and replacing inefficient heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. MeasureG makes financial sense and protects taxpayers. MeasureG raises funds needed to improve our schools without increasing the original tax rate. By law, spending must be reviewed and annually audited by an independent citizens' oversight committee; and all bond funds must be spent locally and cannot be taken by the state. In addition, funds can only be spent to improve our local schools, not for teacher or administrator salaries. Measure G upgrades and renovates old and inadequate classrooms, improves the education of local students, and maintains the quality of our community. That's something we can all support. Please join us and vote Yes on Measure G! s/ William Jopson Business Owner CLOVERDALE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT s/ Claudia Frandsen, Superintendent s/ Sydney L. Sciaini Business owner s/ Dolph Green Incoming President,CloverdaleRotaryClub s/ Joe Palla Cloverdale Councilmember/Former Mayor Rebuttal to Arguments For The importance of education is not what's at issue here. The Sonoma County Taxpayers' Association supports public education, but we think taxpayers have a right to expect school officials to use taxpayer provided resources prudently and efficiently. This bond measure does neither. If bond proceeds fund energy efficiency installations that help reduce energy bills, and those savings are not used to repay the bonds, those savings will be used to create more money available for the school's general funds. Since 80% of general fund budgets typically pay for salaries, the bond proceeds will be used to support higher salaries. One of the stated uses of bond proceeds is technology upgrades and equipment. With the rapid pace of technological development most technology equipment has a short useful life before its out dated. Even being generous and assuming a five year life. The term of this bond is unstated, but it's likely to be 25-40 years. Taxpayers will be paying for these improvements long after they have been retired to the landfill. Issuance of bonds usually is sign of failure of the district to provide a financial plan to maintain and replace aging buildings. Prudent school officials will have set aside funds in a reserve so that they will have the money to upgrade building systems and replace things like roofs. Taxpayers should not reward those officials who have allocated their entire budget to higher salaries, failing to set aside reserves for predictable maintenance/replacement needs. SONOMA COUNTY TAXPAYERS' ASSOCIATION s/ Jack Atkin, President s/ Fred Levin, Executive Director

We suggest taxpayers start by asking why the Cloverdale Unified School District needs to borrow money and raise taxes to perform predictable maintenance and replacement of major building components. When a school district proposes a bond it's usually a sign of failure to plan adequately and to prudently manage the finances of the District. The fact that a roof and other major building components do not last forever should surprise no one. Providing for a sound roof, functioning heating system and other elements of the physical plant should be every bit as much a part of the annual budgeting as staff salaries and utility bills. Because roofs are not replaced every year, a portion of the replacement cost should be placed in a dedicated replacement reserve fund each year so that funds will be available when the need does arise. Without an adequately funded reserve only three things can happen, and they are all bad; the District must defer maintenance, take funds from educational programs for building maintenance or raise taxes (issue bonds). The Sonoma County Taxpayers' Association has been and continues to be a strong supporter of public education. However, taxpayers have a right to expect the officials who manage our public schools to be prudent managers of the taxpayer resources accorded them. A District that has not made adequate plans nor maintained a replacement reserve fund, and has to resort to raising taxes has not met this basic requirement for prudent management. This bond proposal is a red flag suggesting themanagement practices at the Cloverdale Unified School District need to be modified to regain taxpayers' confidence, before they ask for more of our money. We recommend a No vote on Measure G. SONOMACOUNTYTAXPAYERS' ASSOCIATION s/ Jack Atkin, President s/ Fred Levin, Executive Director Rebuttal to Arguments Against Updated and modern classrooms are critical to a quality education and maintaining a quality community. Cloverdale voters know what is best for our Cloverdale schools. Don't bemisled by the argument againstMeasureG, here are the real facts: Fact: The State requires us to keep a deferred maintenance fund to deal with "maintaining" facilities, which we have done every year. The State has drastically cut our funding by approximately 25% and the funds needed to improve our schools far surpass what we currently have. Fact: MeasureG only renews the tax rate voters approved with the last local school bond in 1999, without increasing property owners' taxes above the 1999 voter approved rate of $38.00 per $100,000. Fact: With so little development in our area, we do not collect the developer fee revenue that many neighboring districts enjoy. The District is out of viable options other than Measure G to secure needed funds for facility improvements. Fact: Not only will Measure G improve classrooms and facilities but improve energy efficiency by installing solar panels. Measure G will save on electricity costs, which will save programs and put money back into the classrooms. Fact: Measure G will improve the quality of education by modernizing, repairing, and renovating outdated classrooms and facilities. Having access to computers and modern technology as well as upgraded and modern schools, gives our local students the best chance to succeed. Join us and vote based on facts in supporting Measure G! CLOVERDALE UNFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT s/ Steve Barrow, Board President s/ Vickey Scaramella s/ Joseph J. Palla Cloverdale Councilmember/Former Mayor s/ Claudia Frandsen, Superintendent s/ William Jopson Business Owner Sonoma