League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Joaquin County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Measure G School Bonds Ripon Unified School District 55% Approval Required Pass: 4280 / 57.71% Yes votes ...... 3136 / 42.29% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure G

Our schools are the center of our community. However, many of our students are housed in portable classrooms that are now old, expensive to maintain, and need replacement. We need to improve classrooms and support facilities so all students in Ripon have access to high quality educational facilities and are well prepared for college and the workforce. Measure "G" Will: Build new classrooms to replace outdated portables that were installed as temporary solutions and now need replacement Provide science labs and libraries with improved access to academic materials and learning, and expanded resources for student and teacher use Provide a local match to make the District eligible to receive $8 million in State grants Pay off debt, saving the District $6 million over time, money that can be better spent on retaining qualified teachers and protecting the quality of classroom instruction Measure "G" Is A Needed Investment The economy has been hit hard and times are tough. State Budget cuts have substantially impacted the Ripon Unified School District over the past three years. However, it's never a good time to cut back our children's education. A renewed investment in our schools will continue to help improve test scores, graduation rates, and the desirability of Ripon. Measure "G" Makes Financial Sense Quality schools will help protect and improve local property values Provide a funding source that the State cannot take away to ensure the quality of our schools, now and into the future Taxpayer Safeguards Are In Place. Measure "G" Requires: Annual financial and performance audits An independent citizens' oversight committee to ensure money is used only for voter approved projects No monies for administrative salaries We need to provide our children with the best opportunity for academic success and ensure local students have comparable classrooms and facilities to neighboring school districts. Vote YES on Measure "G"! Submitted by: Mike Fisher, Board President, Ripon Unified School District; Marge Imfeld, Real Estate Broker; Dave Phippen, Farmer/Grower; Larry J. Stewart, Local Business Owner; Joseph O'Leary, Retired Superintendent (No arguments against Measure G were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement from Louise Bennicoff Johnson, Superintendent of Schools, Ripon Unified School District

An election will be held in the Ripon Unified School District (the "District") on November 6, 2012, to authorize the sale of up to $25,236,190 in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the proposition. If the bonds are approved, the District expects to issue the Bonds in multiple series over time. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information is provided in compliance with Sections 9400 through 9404 of the California Elections Code. 1. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied 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 0.825 cents per $100 ($8.25 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2013-14. 2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied 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 0.825 cents per $100 ($8.25 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2017-18. 3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 5.765 cents per $100 ($57.65 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2027-28. This represents the expiring prior election bond tax rates (currently totaling $49.40 per $100,000), plus the 2012 election bond tax rate of $8.25 per $100,000, for a total of $57.65 per $100,000. Voters should note that 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, which could be more or less than the assessed value. In addition, taxpayers eligible for a property tax exemption, such as the homeowner's exemption, will be taxed at a lower effective tax rate than described above. Certain taxpayers may also be eligible to postpone payment of taxes. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills and tax advisors to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions. Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District's projections and estimates only, which are 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 need for construction funds and other factors. 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 equalizaion process. Dated August 9, 2012

Full Text of Measure G

This proposition may be known and referred to as the Ripon Unified School District General Obligation Bond of 2012, or Measure G. BOND AUTHORIZATION By approval of this proposition by at least 55 percent of the registered voters voting on the proposition, the District shall be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $25,236,190 in aggregated principal at interest rates below the legal limit, to provide finance 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 te 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 Proceedes Account Annual Report to Board: Upon approval of this proposition and the sale of any bonds approved, the Board shall take actions necessry to establish an account in which proceeds of the sale of bonds will be deosited. 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 San Joaquin County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code. EXHIBIT A-1 BOND PROJECT LIST The District intends to use the proceeds of the Bonds to finance some or all of the below-listed projects for joint school and community use, upon voter approval: Build new classrooms to replace portable facilities Construct and improve science labs and libraries Improve or construct necessary support facilities including multipurpose rooms and restrooms Enhance student safety including circulation and parking Provide the local match requirement for State grants to modernize and construct school facilities Furnish and equip school facilities Address unforeseen conditions revealed by construction/modernization (e.g., plumbing or gas line breaks, dry rot, seismic, structural, etc.) Perform necessary site preparation/restoration in connection with new construction, renovation, modernization, or remodeling Fund deferred maintenance projects and ongoing repairs