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Smart Voter
Los Angeles County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
Measure WP
Education Funding
Westside Union Elementary School District

Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required

Fail: 13,987 / 54.34% Yes votes ...... 11,753 / 45.66% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Dec 2 2:20pm, 100.00% of Precincts Reporting (49/49)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

To maintain academic programs including science, math, reading, writing, arts and music, fund computer technology, and help avoid increased class sizes with funds that cannot be taken by the State and spent elsewhere, shall Westside Union School District levy a $96.00 parcel tax for four years, so long as an independent citizens' oversight committee is required, all funds are spent on neighborhood schools, and no money is used for administrative salaries?

Impartial Analysis from John F. Krattli, County Counsel
Approval of Measure WP would authorize the Board of Trustees ("Board") of the Westside Union School District ("District") to levy a special parcel tax ("Tax") of $96 per year, for four years, on each parcel of taxable real property that receives a separate property tax bill in the District. For purposes of determining the tax, parcels which are contiguous, owned solely for owner-occupied, single family residence, and are identically owned, may be treated as a single parcel by submitting an annual application to the District. Any parcel classified by the Assessor as multi-family residential containing two to four units shall constitute two parcels, and those containing five or more units shall constitute five parcels for the purpose of collecting the Tax.

The Tax revenues shall only be applied for the purposes of funding core academic programs such as science, math, technology, reading, writing, arts, and music; avoiding increases in class size; and reducing the impact of budget cuts.

All property that would otherwise be exempt from property taxes will also be exempt from the Tax. The proceeds of the Tax shall only be applied to the specific purposes identified in the Measure and shall be deposited into a separate, special account. An annual written report shall be made to the Board showing the amount of funds collected and expended from the proceeds of the Tax, and the status of any projects required or authorized to be funded from the Tax. In addition, an independent Citizen's Oversight Committee will be appointed to ensure that the Tax proceeds are spent for their authorized purposes and will report expenditures on an annual basis.

The Taxes levied under this Measure shall be collected by the Treasurer and Tax Collector at the same time and manner, and subject to the same penalties, as general ad valorem property taxes.

This Measure requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote for passage.

 
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Arguments For Measure WP
Westside Union School District's elementary and middle schools are our community's most important asset and number one priority.

From higher achieving students to greater community safety to improved housing values, quality schools make a difference.

Today, without your help, this valuable community resource faces serious financial cutbacks, including the risk of slashing the number of school days and the further elimination of many essential academic programs.

Measure WP will provide our schools with a guaranteed source of critical local dollars for academic programs that, by law, must be spent on our local schools and CANNOT BE TAKEN BY THE STATE and spent elsewhere.

Measure WP will improve our children's classrooms and schools by:

Maintaining and protecting academic programs including science, technology, reading, writing, and math.

Supporting our high levels of student achievement.

Helping to prevent further increases in class sizes.

Increasing student access to technology and computers in the classroom.

Retaining highly qualified teachers and support staff.

Measure WP comes with strong TAXPAYER PROTECTIONS including:

Iron-clad restrictions that no funds can be used for administrator salaries, benefits or pensions.

Annual review by an independent citizens' oversight committee of all expenditures.

Legally required annual audits of all spending.

Legal guarantees that all funds be spent locally and cannot be taken by the State and used elsewhere.

Measure WP allows us to take the first step towards creating a local solution to maintain and protect the quality of education in Westside schools. Having strong schools helps protect housing values, creates a stronger local economy and leads to safer neighborhoods.

Remember, these are our COMMUNITY'S schools. They benefit all citizens and are a resource that we must protect.

Please join us in voting YES on Measure WP!

JOAN SODERGREN
Board of Trustees, Vice President

JAMES P. BIDDLE
Past President of the Quartz Hill Town Council

JEFFREY KNITTEL
Deputy Sheriff, Los Angeles County

KATHY OWEN
Parent Volunteer

ANUSHA PARAMESVARAN Realtor

(No arguments against Measure WP were submitted)


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Created: December 17, 2012 13:44 PST
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