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Smart Voter
Los Angeles County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
Measure E
El Camino Community College Improvement/Transfer/Job Training Measure
El Camino Community College District

School Bonds - 55% Approval Required

Pass: 129,939 / 68.26% Yes votes ...... 60,417 / 31.74% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Dec 2 2:20pm, 100.00% of Precincts Reporting (315/315)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement |

To prepare students for universities/transfer/jobs, including nursing, healthcare, fire-fighting and high-tech jobs, by expanding science labs, upgrading outdated electrical systems, wiring green energy for savings, building earthquake/fire-safe classrooms equipped with up-to-date technology, improving facilities for Veterans, acquiring, constructing, repairing facilities, sites/equipment, shall El Camino Community College District issue $350,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, requiring all funds remain local, financial audits, citizen's oversight, and NO money for pensions/administrators' salaries?

Impartial Analysis from
John F. Krattli,
County Counsel
Approval of Measure E would authorize the Board of Trustees ("Board") of the El Camino Community College District ("District"), to issue general obligation bonds, in an amount not to exceed $350,000,000.

Funds received from the sale of the bonds shall be used only for the specific purposes set forth in the Measure, including replacing old buildings and facilities for career training; increasing electrical service capacity; upgrading or replacing classrooms, science labs, libraries, computer systems, and support facilities; upgrading and replacing information technology infrastructure and network systems; upgrading and expanding telecommunications, internet and network connections; renovating restrooms; repairing and replacing electrical, lighting, plumbing, heating, ventilations systems, roofs, windows, walls, doors, and drinking fountains; constructing new classrooms, physical education facilities, student activities center, and support buildings; installing wiring and electrical systems; upgrading facilities to meet earthquake safety standards; repairing and replacing fire alarms, fire safety equipment, emergency communication, and security systems; and improving accessibility for the disabled. No funds may be used for faculty and administrator salaries, pensions and other college operating expenses.

Independent performance and financial audits will be performed annually to ensure that bond proceeds have been expended only for the projects identified in the Bond Project List. The Board shall appoint a Citizens' Oversight Committee in compliance with Education Code section 15278 no later than 60 days after the Board enters the election results in its minutes.

The bonds issued pursuant to the Education Code shall have a maturity not exceeding twenty five (25) years, and the bonds issued pursuant to the Government Code shall have a maturity not exceeding forty (40) years. The best estimate of the highest tax rate required to fund the bonds, based on the assessed valuations available at the time of the election, is $23.73 per $100,000 of the taxable property within the District.

This Measure requires a fifty-five percent (55%) vote for passage.

Contact FOR Measure E:
El Camino Yes on E
2305 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 503-9846

Contact AGAINST Measure E:
pending

  Official Information

El Camino Community College

FAQs on Measure E
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Arguments For Measure E Arguments Against Measure E
(El Camino College Improvement/Iransfer/Job Training Measure)

If you're concerned about the economy or whether someone you know can get a job or afford a quality college education, vote YES on E to help EI Camino College.

With the cost of the University of California and California State systems becoming increasingly expensive, students are relying more than ever on EI Camino College. UC/CSU systems are six times the cost of EI Camino College!

YES on E invests in our College so our South Bay students in EI Segundo, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance can continue to have access to the high-quality, affordable education and job training programs they need in today's tough job market.

Yes on E ensures that students can effectively prepare for transfer to 4-year universities by updating outdated classrooms, buildings and technology. Our South Bay students must be able to earn college credits, certifications, and job skills at a reasonable price!

YES on E improves educational resources for students who are veterans or active military so that they may receive the support needed to complete their education and enter the civilian workforce.

YES on E expands training space for nurses and firefighters and provides these emergency first-responders with modern, high-tech equipment and learning facilities.

YES on E makes college classrooms more energy efficient, more money goes directly into the classroom!

By law, Proposition E requires published financial audits and oversight by an Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee to ensure all funds are spent as promised to taxpayers. No money can be spent for pensions or administrators' salaries. Every penny of Measure E benefits our local communities - not a dime can be taken by Sacramento politicians!

Join our students, educators, veterans and public safety leaders in voting YES on E.
Join us: http://www.ElCaminoYesonE.com.

WILLIAM BEVERLY
President, EI Camino College Board of Trustees

DAVID J. WHITE
20-year Resident and Taxpayer

GEORGE NAKANO
Veteran, U.S. Air Force Reserves

REBEKKA ASHER
EI Camino College Student Body President 2011-12

MICHAEL ISHII
Police Captain

Rebuttal to Arguments For
Measure E imposes MORE BOND DEBT through WASTEFUL SPENDING on perfectly functional buildings.

The arguments made in favor of Measure E are PURPOSEFULLY MISLEADING to voters. Measure E funds can be used for CONSTRUCTION ONLY and are incapable of making education more affordable and accessible, nor can it provide students with the educational resources/courses which have been severely cut in recent years.

If we are concerned about the economy, jobs and education, we must address the PRESENT NEEDS of students. We NEED INSTRUCTION, NOT NEW STRUCTURES. Measure E (and its $395 million predecessor) funds "capital outlay" for construction only, not operating funds for instruction.

New buildings are a bad investment due to insufficient operating funds and the trend towards distance learning reducing the demand for classrooms.

Our VETERANS will NOT BENEFIT from new structures, as Measure E funds cannot be used to staff them.

Nurses and emergency responders receive hands-on training at off-campus facilities. Most of their training is funded through grants from outside agencies.

Actual bond-funded expenditures on firefighter training facilities have totaled $164 thousand + a tiny fraction of the $220 million in old Measure E funds spent to date.

The Oversight Committee did not assure that the $395 million bond authorized in 2002 was applied toward "urgently-needed" repairs. $180 million are still available from the 2002 authorization.

Residents of the El Camino District cannot afford $350 million PLUS INTEREST for new bond debt!

Vote NO on Measure E.

ANTONIE K. CHURG
Ph.D. Biophysicist, District Resident

MARILYN J. MONTENEGRO
LCSW, Social Worker, District Resident

ROBERT DEWITZ
ECC Student Organizer/Torrance Resident

MARTHA J. MADISON
Former Redondo Beach PTA Board Member

LESLIE D. MADISON
Retired Aerospace, District Resident

Measure E funds ONLY construction, NOT classroom instruction and faculty salaries, NOT job training and transfer of students to 4-year schools, as implied by the Measure E title. The bond does nothing to remedy the failure to deliver adequate instruction and adequate employment to our community:
  • At EI Camino, the number of available classes has been cut by 20%.
  • The academic counseling staff has been cut by 10%. Students wait in line for hours to try to get cleared for required classes.
  • More than half the students take 3-6 years to complete the 2-year degree.
  • Tuition at EI Camino and throughout California has doubled in the past three years.
  • EI Camino's Winter Session after 2013 is eliminated; "budget constraints" may eliminate Winter Session in 2013.

Residents of the EI Camino College District cannot afford $350 million for new bond debt on top of the $395 million they authorized for EI Camino in 2002. This $350 million project is another blank check for wasteful spending at a time when many are struggling financially:
  • The EI Camino Facilities Master Plan calls for a new gym, competition swimming pool, parking structure, administration building, and student activities center. These structures are utterly tangential to the stated purpose of the bond, to assure vocational training for emergency responders and nurses.
  • $180 million from the 2002 authorization of $395 million are still available. The "urgently" needed repairs in 2002 have not been completed. Instead we received a $105 million Math Business and Allied Health Science building that is still not finished.
  • Property taxpayers in the District already pay an 8-10% surcharge for K-12 and EI Camino bonds, e.g. a typical Torrance homeowner already pays almost $400/year for these bonds. Landlords will pass on added costs to renters.

Vote NO on Measure E.

ANTONIE K. CHURG
Ph.D. Biophysicist, District Resident

ENRIQUE DE LOS SANTOS JR.
Master, Human Relations, District Resident

MARILYN J. MONTENEGRO
LCSW Social Worker, District Resident

LESLIE D. MADISON
Retired Aerospace, District Resident

MARTHA J. MADISON
Former Redondo Beach PTA Board Member

Rebuttal to Arguments Against
Opponents clearly didn't read Measure E's official language or the facts. If you agree it's impossible to get a job in this economy, vote YES on E!

Fact: El Camino College has exercised strict accountability over taxpayer dollars, saving South Bay taxpayers $2,000,000. All taxpayer-funded projects were spent on-time, within budget and as promised to the community on essential educational needs.

Fact: The cost of other college systems is too expensive -- six times the cost of El Camino College! Local students rely more than ever on El Camino College -- they need to be able to earn college credits, certifications, and job skills at a reasonable price!

Yes on E ensures that students can effectively prepare for transfer to 4-year universities by updating outdated classrooms, buildings and technology.

YES on E invests in El Camino College so South Bay students in El Segundo, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance can continue to have access to the high-quality, affordable education and job training programs they need in today's tough job market.

YES on E enhances training facilities and programs for nurses and firefighters and provides these emergency first-responders with modern, high-tech equipment and learning facilities.

YES on E makes college classrooms more energy efficient, more money goes directly into the classroom!

Investing in El Camino College provides South Bay students with the high-quality education and job training programs they might not otherwise receive. Please join parents, students, veterans and civic leaders - Vote Yes on E!

JOHN FEATHERSTONE
Head Football Coach - Physical Educator

BROOKE MATSON
El Camino College Student

NILO MICHELIN
El Camino College Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee Member

CRAIG H. NEUMANN
Torrance Fire Captain - Retired

KELLIE JOHNSON
President of ACE Clearwater

Tax Rate Statement from THOMAS M. FALLO
Superintendent/President, EI Camino Community College District
An election will be held in El Camino Community College District (the "District") on November 6, 2012, for the purpose of submitting to the electors of the District the question of incurring a bonded indebtedness of the District in an aggregate principal amount of $350 million. If such bonds are authorized and sold, the principal thereof and interest thereon will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The information contained in numbered paragraphs 1 - 3 below is provided in compliance with Section 9400-9404 of the Elections Code of the State of California. The information is based upon the best estimates and projections presently available from official sources, upon experience within the District, and other demonstrable factors.

Based upon the foregoing and projections of the District's assessed valuation, and assuming the entire debt service will be paid through property taxation:

1. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 0.511¢ per $100 ($5.11 per $100,000) of assessed valuation for the year 2013-14.

2. The best estimate from official sources of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the last sale of the bonds and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is
0.647¢ per $100 ($6.47 per $100,000) of assessed valuation for the year 2022-23.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply, based on estimated assessed valuation available at the time of filing of this statement, is 2.373¢ per $100 ($23.73 per $100,000) of assessed valuation for the year 2042-43

4. In November 2002, the District's voters approved Measure E ("2002 Measure E"). The best estimate of the highest combined tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the all of the outstanding bonds of 2002 Measure E and all of the bonds approved by the voters as part of Measure E, based on estimated assessed valuation at the time of filing this statement, is 2.4¢ $100 ($24.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation.

Voters should note that the estimated tax rates are based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls, not on the property's market value. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exceptions.

Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District's projections and estimates only, which is not binding upon the District. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those presently estimated, due to variations from these estimates in the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold and market interest rates at the time of each sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on its need for construction funds and other factors, including the legal limitations on bonds approved by a 55% vote. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale.

Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: August 2, 2012


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Created: December 17, 2012 13:44 PST
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