League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Sacramento County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Measure Q Bond Measure Sacramento City Unified School District 55% Approval Required Pass: 74,861 / 70.16% Yes votes ...... 31,847 / 29.84% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure Q

Arguments Against Measure Q

Measure Q is about one thing: Improving the Quality of Sacramento schools. While there have been significant improvements in the quality of our local schools over the past few years, the fact remains that many of our neighborhood schools are old, classrooms are inadequate, electrical systems are outdated. The average age of our local schools is 50 years. Schools built years ago need significant updating. Over the past year each school in the district was independently evaluated to determine the most critically-needed repairs and renovations.They found roofs needing repair, deteriorating plumbing and heating systems, inadequate lighting, wiring and electrical outlets in many classrooms. When repairs involve breaking through walls and ceilings, asbestos is often present, making even minor problems expensive to fix. Measure Q will provide funding to upgrade classrooms, computer systems, science labs in our local high schools and middle schools. Measure Q insures that students have the facilities needed to provide career training and classrooms for advanced courses in math, science and technology. Measure Q will renovate heating, ventilation and electrical systems saving energy and reducing costs providing funding for programs like art, music and libraries. Measure Q will repair roofs, floors, walkways, bathrooms, sewer lines and plumbing systems. All money raised by Measure Q will stay in our community to benefit local children and will help stimulate our local economy. No money can be taken by the state or used for other purposes. None of the money will be used to pay school administrators' salaries. Safe, Quality schools protect local property values. Sacramento's economic future and quality of our community are dependent on good schools. Business, labor, teachers, parents, principals, and community leaders are joining together to provide safe schools for our children. We urge all citizens to vote YES on both Measures Q and R. s/Deborah Ortiz, Los Rios Community College Trustee s/Anne Rudin, Former Mayor of Sacramento s/Phil Serna, Sacramento County Supevisor s/Greg Purcell, Principal, Sam Brannan Middle School s/Pia Wong, Professor of Education/Parent Rebuttal to Arguments For The politicians who run the City Schools want more of your money. Voters are being asked to approve a blank check to remedy failures to plan for and conduct routine maintenance and updates, and the refusal to employ sound fiscal policy in the District's construction contracts. With aging infrastructure, the need to fund repairs, maintenance, and upgrades is no surprise. However, rather than budgeting for facilities maintenance and repair on an ongoing basis, the District asks for a taxpayer bailout. The District owes $556 million on past borrowing and $552 million for unfunded employee benefits, and has deferred maintenance and routine facility updates. Through Measures Q and R the District seeks to borrow nearly half a billion dollars, but the cost to Sacramento taxpayers will ultimately be closer to and may well exceed one billion dollars. It's easy to like the idea of improving our schools+but it needs to be done responsibly, and another taxpayer bailout is not the answer. As important as the projects may seem, the District admits that its listing of projects is "not a guarantee that the project will be funded or completed." Given past failures to ensure that construction contracts were awarded under fair and open competition to those providing the best value at the best price, taxpayers can't afford another blank check for this School District. The District shouldn't continue to spend money it doesn't have and ask taxpayers to fund projects that cost more than they should. Vote NO on Measure Q. s/Stephen R. McCutcheon, Jr., Concerned Parent s/Eric Christen, Executive Director Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction s/Nicole Goehring, Government Affairs Director Associated Builders and Contractors, Northern California Chapter s/Terry Seabury, CEO Western Electrical Contractors Association s/Tracy Threlfall, Interim Executive Vice President Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association of California

Politicians don't get it, and Measure Q is an excellent example. Bureaucrats want you to pay more taxes in an economy worse than any since the Great Depression. And California is at the top of the unemployment rankings. The politicians who run Sacramento City schools want to borrow $346 million to build new facilities, while they still owe $556 million on past construction. This District has declining enrollment, but it rarely consolidates schools to save money. Instead, they cut teachers, counselors, music, sports, transportation, and otherwise preside over a decline in the quality of education our children receive. And shockingly, the State Department of Education says the District "may not meet its financial obligations" in the future. Worse, the District has refused to temper this request with reform that could save taxpayers considerable money. They could allow construction to be performed under fair and open competition, allowing all contractors to compete with each other for the project. Instead, the District shows every indication that they will rely on a contracting process, which, according to a recent study, costs taxpayers up to 15%, more than necessary and excludes many local workers from working on these construction projects. Meanwhile, this District is accused of illegal teacher layoffs. It fired its `Teacher of the Year.' It has an unfunded benefit obligation of $552 million, and despite declines in enrollment, will close only 2 schools out of 127 facilities. Maintenance on existing schools is deferred, and yet they ask taxpayers to fund this grandiose new spending, all while insisting that the construction be at a rate 15% higher than necessary. The District shouldn't continue to spend money it doesn't have and ask taxpayers to fund projects that cost more than they should. Vote NO on Measure Q. For more information, see http://www.fairandopencompetitionsacramento.com. s/Stephen R. McCutcheon, Jr., Concerned Parent s/Eric Christen, Executive Director Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction s/Nicole Goehring, Government Affairs Director Associated Builders and Contractors, Northern California Chapter s/Terry Seabury, CEO Western Electrical Contractors Association s/Tracy Threlfall, Interim Executive Vice President Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association of California Rebuttal to Arguments Against All but one of the opponents of Measures Q and R do not live in our community. They represent out-of-town special interests who threatened to oppose these measures to improve our schools unless the district signs contracts with them. They are not interested in our community, local children, local taxpayers or improving local schools. They are placing their own personal interests ahead of the education and interests of children. Passage of Measures Q and R will provide funds to renovate and repair our local schools. Measures Q and R will qualify our schools to receive additional state matching funds that will otherwise be given to other school districts in other areas of the state. Passing Measures Q and R will require an oversight committee to ensure funds are responsibly spent according to the very specific project plan. This plan, which was created with input from, parents, educators, students and classroom teachers, is available for your review on the SCUSD website. Measures Q and R will provide new classrooms to relieve overcrowding,upgrade outdated electrical systems, improve libraries for students and provide safe, up-to-date science labs. There are no frills, no extras, no fancy projects. Don't be misled. Without Measures Q and R, schools will deteriorate and repairs will cost more. Business leaders, parents, principals, civic leaders, and many teachers urge your support of Measures Q and R. Please vote Yes on both Measures Q and R. s/Curry Mayer, John F. Kennedy High School PTA President s/Dr. Richard Pan, Member, California State Assembly / Pediatrician s/Carrie Rose, McClatchy High School Parent s/Aubry Stone, President and CEO, California Black Chamber of Commerce

Full Text of Measure Q

Ballot Pamphlet with Full Text http://smartvoter.org/2012/11/06/ca/sac/measureq.pdf