League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Cruz County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Measure M Improve schools Pacific Elementary School District Bond - 55% Approval Required Pass: 292 / 78.07% Yes votes ...... 82 / 21.93% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure M

Everyone knows the importance and value of having quality schools. From higher achieving students, to greater neighborhood safety and improved property values, quality schools make a difference. While our teachers and staff do their best in educating our children, many classrooms and school facilities at Pacific Elementary School are outdated and inadequate to provide students with the facilities they need to succeed. This is why our students need your YES vote on Measure M! Although Pacific Elementary School has been well maintained over the years, aging classrooms and facilities must be upgraded since many do not meet 21st century standards. Many of the buildings our children use are between 30-60 years old! Measure M would allow the District to improve our school and the quality of education provided to local students. By investing in our school, we can meet today's safety, technological, and educational standards and better our community. Measure M will provide funding at Pacific Elementary School by: Replacing 34-year-old deteriorating roofs Increasing student access to computers and modern technology Renovating the 62-year-old multi-purpose building for school and community use Replacing an aging portable pre-school classroom that is now 49 years old Measure M makes financial sense and protects taxpayers. All funds must be spent locally and cannot be taken by the State. By law, spending must be reviewed and annually audited by an independent citizens' oversight committee. Funds can only be spent to improve Pacific Elementary School, not for teacher or administrator salaries. MeasureMupgrades and renovates old and inadequate school facilities, improves the education of local hildren, and maintains the quality of our community. That's something we can all support. Please join us and VOTE YES ON MEASURE M! s/ Don Crou Resident, Member Pacific School Site Council s/ Rebecca Herman Resident Artist s/ Jack Herman former Pacific Elementary School board trustee, handyman s/ Ruth E. Jacobsen LCSW, former board member, Professor SJSU s/ Eric Bitter Superintendent/Principal (No arguments against Measure M were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement

An election will be held in the Pacific Elementary School District (the "District") on November 6, 2012 to authorize the sale of $830,000 in general obligation bonds. The following information is submitted in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the California Elections Code. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to fund this 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 $.0300 per $100 ($30.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2013-14. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $.0300 per $100 ($30.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2013-14. The best estimate of the highest tax rate that would be required to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing this statement, is $.0300 per $100 ($30.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation. These estimates are based on projections derived from information obtained from official sources. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary depending on the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at each sale and actual increases in assessed valuations. The timing of the bond sales and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the needs of the District. Actual assessed valuations will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process. Dated: July 11, 2012 s/ Eric V. Bitter, Superintendent/Principal Pacific Elementary School District

Full Text of Measure M

This proposition may be known and referred to as the Pacific Elementary School District General Obligation Bond of 2012, or Measure M BOND AUTHORIZATION By approval of this proposition by at least 55 percent of the registered voters voting on the proposition, the Pacific Elementary School District (the "District") shall be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $830,000 in aggregate principal at interest rates below the legal limit, to provide financing for the specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List attached hereto as Exhibit A-1, subject to all the accountability requirements specified below. BOND PROJECT LIST The Bond Project List attached to this resolution as Exhibit A-1 shall be considered a part of the ballot proposition and shall be reproduced in any official document required to contain the full statement of the bond proposition. Approval of this Bond Measure (the "Measure") does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the District that are the subject of bonds under the Measure will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the Measure. If state matching funds become available, they will be used for and applied to the Bond Project List as per Exhibit A-1. The school district's proposal for the project or projects may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure. ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS The provisions in this section are specifically included in this proposition in order that the voters and taxpayers in the District may be assured that their money will be spent wisely to address specific facilities needs of the District all in compliance with the requirements of Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3), of the State Constitution and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at Education Code Sections 15264 and following.) Evaluation of Needs. The Board has prepared an updated facilities plan in order to evaluate and address all of the facilities needs of the District. The Board hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction, enrollment growth, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List contained in Exhibit A-1. Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Board shall establish an Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee pursuant to Education Code Section 15278 and following to ensure bond proceeds are expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1. The committee shall be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board. Performance Audits. The Board shall conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1. Financial Audits. The Board shall conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1. Special Bond Proceeds Account: Annual Report to Board. Upon approval of this proposition and the sale of any bonds approved, the Board shall take actions necessary to establish an account in which proceeds of the sale of bonds will be deposited. As long as any proceeds of the bonds remain unexpended, the Superintendent of the District shall cause a report to be filed with the Board annually stating (1) the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in that year, and (2) the status of any project funded or to be funded from bond proceeds. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period as the Superintendent shall determine and may be incorporated in the annual budget, audit, or another appropriate routine report to the Board. FURTHER SPECIFICATIONS No Administrator Salaries. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of school facilities including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities or acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses. The proceeds of the bonds will be deposited into a Building Fund to be held by the Santa Cruz County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code. EXHIBIT A-1 BOND PROJECT LIST The specific school facilities projects to be funded at Pacific School include, but shall not be limited to: Replace 34 year old deteriorating roofs Increase student access to computers and modern technology Renovate the 62 year old community center/multi-purpose building, currently leased for use as the Teen Center, for school and community use Replace aging portable pre-school classroom that is now 49 years old Miscellaneous District Projects Abate and remove hazardous materials identified prior or during construction. Address unforeseen conditions revealed by construction/modernization (such as plumbing or gas line breaks, dry rot, seismic, structural, etc.). Other improvements required to comply with existing building codes, including the Field Act, and access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Necessary site acquisition and preparation/restoration in connection with new construction, renovation or remodeling, or installation or removal of relocatable classrooms, including ingress and egress, removing, replacing, or installing irrigation, utility lines (such as gas lines, water lines, electrical lines, sewer lines, and communication lines), trees and landscaping, relocating fire access roads, and acquiring any necessary easements, licenses, or rights of way to the property. Rental or construction of storage facilities and other space on an interim basis, as needed to accommodate construction materials, equipment, and personnel, and interim classrooms (including relocatables) for students and school functions or other storage for classroom materials displaced during construction. For any project involving rehabilitation or renovation of a building or the major portion of a building, the District shall be authorized to proceed with new replacement construction instead, if the Board of Trustees determines that replacement and new construction is more economically practical than rehabilitation and renovation, considering the building's age, condition, expected remaining life, and other relevant factors. All work necessary and incidental to specific projects described above, including demolition of existing structures.