To improve the quality of Oakland schools and school facilities to better prepare students for college and jobs, to upgrade science labs, classrooms, computers and technology, improve student safety and security, repair bathrooms, electrical systems, plumbing and sewer lines, improve energy efficiency and earthquake safety, shall the Oakland Unified School District beauthorized to issue $475 million in bonds, with an independent citizens oversight committee and annual audits to guarantee funds are spent properlyto benefit Oakland children?
Measure J, an Oakland Unified School District ("District") bond measure, seeks voter approval to authorize the District to issue and sell bonds of up to four hundred seventy-five million dollars ($475,000,000.00) in aggregate principal amount. The primary purpose of the bonds is to finance school facilities projects as specified in the measure.
Pursuant to California Constitution Section 18 of Article XVI and Section 1 of Article XIIIA and California Education Code Section 15274, this measure will become effective upon the affirmative vote of at least 55% of the qualified electors voting on this measure.
California Education Code Section 15100 restricts the use of the proceeds from the bonds sale to construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of school facilities, and the acquisition of real property for school facilities. In addition, proceeds may only be used for the projects listed in the measure. This measure provides that its proceeds will fund projects outlined in the measure (reproduced in the sample ballot pamphlet) that include district-wide and site specific projects. The district-wide projects include, among others, repairing existing school sites, seismic retrofits, upgrading school facilities, and improving energy efficiency. The site-specific projects include similar improvements at specific schools throughout the district. Proceeds may not be used for any other purpose, such as administrator salaries.
If 55% of those who vote on the measure vote "yes", the District will be authorized to issue bonds of up to four hundred seventy-five million dollars ($475,000,000.00). Approval of this measure will authorize a levy on the assessed value of taxable property within the District by an amount needed to pay the principal and interest on these bonds in each year that the bonds are outstanding.
The Tax Rate Statement for Measure J in this sample ballot pamphlet reflects the District's best estimates, based upon currently available data and projections, of the property tax rates required to service the bonds. The best estimate of the maximum tax rate required to be levied to fund the bonds after the sale of the first series is no more than 3.9¢ (three and nine-tenths cents) per $100.00 (one hundred dollars), which is $39.00 (thirty-nine dollars) per $100,000.00 (one hundred thousand dollars), of the assessed valuation in fiscal year 2013-2014. The best estimate of the maximum tax rate required to be levied to fund the bonds after the sale of the last series is no more than 6¢ (six cents) per $100.00 (one hundred dollars), which is $60.00 (sixty dollars) per $100,000.00 (one hundred thousand dollars), of the assessed valuation in fiscal year 2019-2020.
An independent citizens' oversight committee will monitor the bond expenditures.
If 55% of those voting on this measure do not vote for approval, the measure will fail and the District will not be authorized to issue the bonds.
DONNA R. ZIEGLER
County Counsel
The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure J, which is printed in full in this sample ballot pamphlet. If you desire an additional copy of the measure, please call the Elections Official's office at (510) 272-6933 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you. You may also access the full text of the measure on the Alameda County website at the following address: http://www.acgov.org/rov/.
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Nonpartisan Information
- Summary and background information on this measure
- Scroll down to Measure j
Events
Ballot Measure Pros & Cons Presentation
- Date: Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Time: 6 - 7:30 PM
Place: Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 3
Sponsor: League of Women Voters of Oakland
- The public is invited to attend and hear unbiased, neutral presentations on Measures J., A1 and B1, as well as the 11 State Ballot Measures. Questions? Call the League at (510) 834-7640
News and Analysis
OaklandNorth
San Francisco Chronicle
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