League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Sonoma County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Measure L Bond Piner-Olivet Union School District 55% Approval Required Pass: 3,006 / 55.4% Yes votes ...... 2,423 / 44.6% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure L

Arguments Against Measure L

In Piner-Olivet Union School District, we know that quality local schools are important. Good schools attract families, enhance local property values and add to our local economy. Educational success benefits our community and needs to be supported. Measure "L" will improve our local schools to maintain the desirability of our community, provide our children with the modern facilities they need, and reduce energy costs to put more money back in the classroom. Modern technology is increasingly important for our children's learning. Measure "L" will improve student access to computers. Relocatable classrooms have been installed over the years to address temporary enrollment needs, but they are now old and need to be replaced. Measure "L" will replace them with permanent classrooms. Piner-Olivet Charter School outperforms many schools in Santa Rosa with higher test scores and student performance. Measure "L" will expand existing charter schools to allow more students to continue to benefit from this academic success. Energy costs and repairs are increasing while State funding is decreasing. Measure "L" will provide renewable energy improvements to reduce annual operating costs and put more money in the classroom. The District has done a good job maintaining our schools, but as our schools age they require more repairs. Measure "L" will ensure an ongoing source of funding for major repairs and upgrades to protect our investment in our schools. Taxpayer safeguards are in place. Measure "L" requires annual performance and financial audits and an independent citizens' oversight committee to ensure funds are spent only on voter approved improvements. There is never a good time to wait to improve our schools. The time is now. Measure "L" will stimulate our local economy, provide needed school facilities, and promote the academic success of our children. Vote Yes on Measure "L"! POUSD BOARD OF TRUSTEES s/ Lisa Anderson, President PINER-OLIVET EDUCATION FOUNDATION s/ Kim I. Loyd, President s/ Gerri Goin Grandparent, Long Time Resident s/ Darrell Wofford Parent, Community member s/ Janae Franicevic Owner Sunce Winery, Parent 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, 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 Piner-Olivet 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 the management practices at the Piner-Olivet 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 L. SONOMA COUNTY TAXPAYERS' ASSOCIATION s/ Jack Atkin, President s/ Fred Levin, Executive Director Rebuttal to Arguments Against Don't be confused + Measure "L" is for Piner-Olivet schools and will benefit our children and our community. The State continues to cut our schools' budgets. Measure "L" will make improvements to classrooms and facilities that reduce annual operating costs and put more money in the classroom + where it belongs. Our investment in our schools needs to be protected. Measure "L" will provide an ongoing, local source of funding to cover needed repairs and critical upgrades. Our schools, including our charters, are successful. Measure "L" will expand opportunities for the academic success of our children. Relocatable facilities have served as temporary fixes to meet immediate enrollment needs, but now are costly and need to be replaced. Measure "L" will install the modern classrooms our children deserve. Computers and classroom technology are essential to providing our students with a quality 21st Century education. Measure "L" will ensure our students have the schools they need to have the best chance for academic success and be better prepared for college and good-paying jobs. An independent citizens' oversight committee will ensure every penny of Measure "L" is spent creating local jobs, stimulating our economy and improving Piner-Olivet schools. It is never a good time to wait to improve our schools. Good schools attract families, businesses and investment. To reduce operating costs and put more money into the classroom, provide our children with the facilities they need, and improve our schools and our community, vote Yes on Measure "L"! POUSD BOARD OF TRUSTEES s/ Lisa Anderson, President PINER-OLIVET EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION s/ Kim I. Loyd, President s/ Gerri Goin Grandparent, Longtime resident s/ Darrell Wofford Parent, Community Member s/ Janae Franicevic Owner Sunce Winery, Parent