League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Contra Costa County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Measure A Parcel Tax Contra Costa Community College District 2/3 Approval Required Fail: 265916 / 66.16% Yes votes ...... 136029 / 33.84% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure A

Arguments Against Measure A

Vote YES on A to allow our local community colleges-- Diablo Valley College, Contra Costa College, Los Medanos College and educational centers in San Ramon and Brentwood--to keep providing essential access to affordable, high quality education for local students. Due to state budget cuts, many of the most important core academic classes are now overcrowded or unavailable. This makes it hard for students to get the classes they need to complete their degrees or move on to four-year schools and rewarding careers. Studies have shown that the longer it takes for community college students to complete their studies, the more likely it is that they will never finish. Strong core academics and high quality career training programs in healthcare, sciences, technology and public safety, prepare our community college graduates to transfer to universities or begin their careers in these critical fields. Our local economy depends upon the quality of our colleges! Vote YES on A so that local community college students have access to classes and get the counseling they need to stay in school. Maintain programs to prepare students for jobs and careers Improve core academic program in math, science and English Help students get into the classes they need Provide programs to prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges Maintain job retraining programs to help prepare adults for 21st-century jobs Attract and retain high quality faculty Every penny from Measure A will be spent here in Contra Costa County to support our community colleges. None of these funds can be taken away by the state A citizens' oversight committee will ensure funds are spent as promised Measure A will be in place for only 6 years and cannot be continued without voter approval Vote YES on A to protect high quality career training. YesForCCCDVCLMC.org. Claudia Hein, DVC Chemistry Dept Chair Mary Helen Rocha, City Councilmember/former mayor, Antioch Helen Benjamin, Chancellor Contra Costa Comm College Dist Ed Best, Former member Citizen's Oversight Cmttee CCCCD Rodney Wilson, Former Assoc Student Union President, Contra Costa College

None filed.

Full Text of Measure A

CONTRA COSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT 2012 Education Revenue Augmentation Act This Proposition may be known and referred to as the "Contra Costa Community College District 2012 Education Revenue Augmentation Act" or as "Measure A". FINDINGS The Governing Board of Contra Costa Community College District ("Governing Board") seeks to maintain its schools for the benefit of its community college students. The Contra Costa County community places a high value on maintaining and continuing to improve the academic performance and quality of education for community college students in the District. The local community colleges--Diablo Valley College, Contra Costa College, and Los Medanos College--and the college centers in San Ramon (Diablo Valley College) and Brentwood (Los Medanos College), prepare students to transfer to four-year universities; maintain job training in healthcare, technology, public safety, and other areas, and preserve student services. The District and community have consistently supported our local community colleges with local fund-raising efforts, including Measure A in 2002 and in 2006. The District and the colleges have made reductions of programs, services, and course offerings as a result of four years of state apportionment revenue reductions. The Governing Board believes that a special tax is necessary to maintain and enhance quality education for Contra Costa Community College District students. All funds generated from this special tax cannot be taken by the state. All expenditures of these funds would be monitored by an independent Citizens' Oversight committee. TERMS Upon approval of two-thirds of those voting on this Proposition, the District shall be authorized to levy a qualified special tax annually on each parcel of taxable real property in the District for six fiscal years commencing Monday, July 1, 2013. The qualified special tax shall be known and referred to as the "Contra Costa Community College District 2012 Education Revenue Augmentation Act". The amount of the Contra Costa Community College District 2012 Education Revenue Augmentation Act shall be $11 per year per parcel of taxable property. PURPOSES Proceeds of the Contra Costa Community College District 2012 Education Revenue Augmentation Act shall be authorized to be used to provide financial support to school programs directly benefitting students, as follows: support academic course offerings and instructional programs, including courses in healthcare, technology, and public safety; increase student access to academic support services; prepare students for university transfer; and support the District's maintenance and operations, including the purchase of instructional equipment, materials and supplies. No proceeds shall be spent on direct or indirect costs for administrative staff of the District. Proceeds shall be fairly and equitably distributed, as the Governing Board of the District shall determine. ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISIONS Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Governing Board shall establish an independent Citizens' Oversight Committee to review the Annual Audit and other records of how moneys raised under this Proposition have been spent in order to ensure that such moneys have been spent wisely and only for the purposes named in this Proposition. The Governing Board shall provide by resolution for the composition, duties, funding and other necessary information regarding the Committee's formation and operation. Annual Audit. Upon the levy and collection of the Contra Costa Community College District 2012 Education Revenue Augmentation Act tax, the Governing Board shall cause an account to be established for deposit of the proceeds, pursuant to Government Code Section 50075.1. For so long as any proceeds remain unexpended, the Chancellor or the chief financial officer of the District shall cause a report to be filed with the Governing Board no later than December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 2013, stating (1) the amount collected and expended in such year, and (2) the status of any projects or description of any programs funded. The costs of preparing the annual report may be paid from the proceeds of the parcel tax. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period, as said officer shall determine, and may be incorporated into or filed with the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Governing Board. Specific Purposes. All of the purposes named in this Proposition shall constitute the specific purposes of the Costa Community College District 2012 Education Revenue Augmentation Act, and proceeds of the tax shall be applied only for such purposes. LEVY AND COLLECTION The Contra Costa Community College District 2012 Education Revenue Augmentation Act shall be collected by the Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector at the same time and in the same manner and shall be subject to the same penalties as ad valorem property taxes collected by the Treasurer-Tax Collector. Unpaid taxes shall bear interest at the same rate as the rate for unpaid ad valorem property taxes until paid. "Parcel of taxable real property- shall be defined as any unit of real property in the District which receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector. "Parcel of taxable real property- shall exclude all parcels which are otherwise exempt from or on which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year. Taxpayers wishing to challenge the County Assessor's determination must do so under the procedures for correcting a misclassification of property pursuant to Section 4876.5 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code or other applicable procedures. Taxpayers seeking a refund of Contra Costa Community College District 2012 Education Revenue Augmentation Act paid shall follow the procedures applicable to property tax refunds pursuant to the California Revenue and Taxation Code. SEVERABILITY The Governing Board hereby declares, and the voters by approving this Proposition concur, that every section, paragraph, sentence and clause of this Proposition has independent value, and the Governing Board and the voters would have adopted each provision hereof regardless of every other provision hereof. Upon approval of this Proposition by the voters, should any part be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, all remaining parts hereof shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent allowed by law.