League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Alameda County, CA May 6, 2014 Election
	Measure B Shall the Dublin Unified School District renew its expiring parcel tax? Dublin Unified School District Parcel tax - 2/3 Approval Required Certified Final Results Pass: 5200 / 79.6% Yes votes ...... 1330 / 20.4% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure B

Vote YES on Measure B to protect excellent education in Dublin schools--without increasing taxes. Measure B continues locally-controlled funding that stays in our Dublin schools. Our students receive a high-quality and well-rounded education in local schools. They continue to achieve high scores on statewide exams and are prepared to compete for the best colleges and 21st-century careers. In 2008, over 70% of Dublin Unified School District voters approved funding to protect essential academic programs and retain teachers. While funding for education is improving, state funding for Dublin schools will not be fully restored for at least another seven years. With our increasing enrollment, it is more critical than ever for Dublin Unified School District to maintain stable local funding. Now this funding is set to expire this year, which means our schools will lose millions of dollars and be forced to cut critical science, reading and technology programs. Measure B protects the essentials of an excellent education --without increasing taxes. Specifically, Measure B will: Maintain academic excellence in math, science, reading, writing and technology Create and expand educational academies in science, engineering, medicine and biotechnology Attract and retain highly qualified teachers Maintain school libraries and up‐to‐date instructional materials for students All Measure B funds will continue to be controlled locally--Sacramento cannot take a single penny. The independent Citizens' Oversight Committee will continue to ensure funds are spent as promised None of the money raised can be used for administrators' salaries Homeowners, aged 65 and older, will continue to be eligible to receive an exemption If passed, Measure B will expire in 5 years and could not be renewed without voter approval Join parents, teachers, local businesses and community leaders and vote YES on B. Argument in Favor of Measure B Signers 1. Tim Sbranti Mayor & Dublin High School Teacher 2. Janine Thalblum Dublin Rotary President & Parent 3. Janet Lockhart Supt. Dublin Schools Foundation (DPIE) Enrichment Academy 4. Jan Cohen Dublin Teacher 5. Edy Coleman Dublin Resident 37 years 2013 Mayor's Volunteer Award Winner (No arguments against Measure B were submitted)

Full Text of Measure B

Dublin Unified School District Student Achievement Measure INTRODUCTION Without increasing the existing tax rate and to maintain high quality education for all grades by sustaining academic achievement in math, science, reading, writing,and utilizing technology; supporting engineering/medicine/biotechnology academies; attracting/retaining highly qualified teachers; and maintaining school libraries, current instructional materials/technology, shall the Dublin Unified School District renew its expiring $96 parcel tax for five years, with a senior exemption, independent oversight, no money for administrators salaries and all funds staying in Dublin schools? PURPOSE To provide local revenue that cannot be taken by the state and to maintain exceptional public education in our schools, the Dublin Unified School District proposes to renew and extend its expiring qualified special parcel tax for a period of five (5) years, beginning July 1, 2014, at the rate of $96 per Parcel of Taxable Real Property within the Dublin Unified School District, with an annual exemption available for seniors and persons on Supplemental Security Income, upon application, and to implement accountability measures in connection with the special parcel tax to provide oversight and accountability to ensure that the funds are used to: a) Maintain academic achievement in math, science, reading, writing and utilizing technology support educational academies in science, engineering, medicine and biotechnology b) Attract and retain highly qualified teachers c) Maintain school library services d) Maintain current instructional materials and technology for students e) Provide ongoing teacher training in the latest instructional methods f) Maintain small class sizes g) Protect taxpayers' investment in education and ensure District accountability by providing for an independent community oversight committee and financial audits of revenues and expenditures. The Board of Trustees will not fund any program orreduction other than those listed above fromthe proceeds of the special parcel taxes. The Board of Trustees will utilize parcel tax proceeds for the purposes listed above, unless the Board of Trustees determines in any given year that changes in student population, fiscal constraints, or other changes in state or federal funding make doing so infeasible or inadvisable. PROCEDURES Subject to two-thirds approval of the voters, the renewed and extended parcel tax shall become effective as of July 1, 2014 and be collected by the Alameda County Tax Collector at the same time as and along with, and shall be subject to the same penalties as general ad valorem taxes collected by said tax collector. The tax and penalty shall bear interest at the same rate as the rate for unpaid ad valorem property taxes until paid. Any tax levied shall become a lien upon the properties against which taxes are assessed and collectible as herein provided. With respect to all general property tax matters within its jurisdiction, the Alameda County Tax Assessor or other appropriate County tax official ("County") shall make all final determinations of tax exemption or relief for any reason, and that decision shall be final and binding. With respect to matters specific to the levy of the special parcel tax, including the Senior Citizen Exemption as allowed below, the decisions of the District shall be final and binding. The procedures described herein, and any additional procedures established by the Board of Trustees, shall be the exclusive claims procedure for claimants seeking an exemption, refund, reduction, or re-computation of the special parcel tax. Whether any particular claim is to be resolved by the District or by the County shall be determined by the District, in coordination with the County as necessary. The District's Board of Trustees may adopt such additional or supplemental procedures as it deems necessary or convenient for the administration of the special parcel tax. OPTIONAL EXEMPTIONS AVAILABLE An optional exemption from the special parcel tax will be made available annually to each individual in the District who will attain 65 years of age prior to July 1 of the tax year, and who owns a beneficial interest in the parcel, and who uses that parcel as his or her principal place of residence, and who applies to the District on or before July 1, 2014, or July 1 of any succeeding tax year. Any application for such exemption must be renewed annually. An optional exemption from the special parcel tax will also be made available annually to each individual in the District receiving Supplemental Security Income, regardless of age, who owns a beneficial interest in the parcel, and who uses that parcel as his or her principal place of residence, and who applies to the District on or before July 1, 2014, or July 1 of any succeeding tax year. Any application for such exemption must be renewed annually. Any parcels that are contiguous to each other, used solely for one (1) owner-occupied single family residence, and held under identical ownership shall, upon approval of an application from the owners thereof submitted to the District on or before July 1, 2013, or July 1 of any succeeding year, be treated as a single parcel for purposes of the special parcel tax. Any one (1) approved application from a qualified applicant will provide such treatment for the remaining term of the special tax, so long as all of the parcels continue to be held under identical ownership and be owner-occupied. The District shall annually provide to the County Tax Collector or other appropriate County tax official a list of parcels that the District has approved for a Senior Citizen Exemption, Supplemental Security Income Exemption, or contiguous property designation. ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES In accordance with the requirements of California Government Code sections 50075.1 and 50075.3, the following accountability measures, among others, shall apply to the special parcel taxes levied in accordance with this Measure: (a) the specific purposes of the special parcel tax shall be those purposes identified above; (b) the proceeds of the special parcel tax shall be applied only to those specific purposes identified above; (c) a separate, special account shall be created into which the proceeds of the special parcel taxes must be deposited; and (d) an annual written report shall be made to the Board of Trustees of the District showing (i) the amount of funds collected and expended from the proceeds of the special taxes and (ii) the status of any projects, programs, or purposes required or authorized to be funded from the proceeds of the special taxes, as identified above. In addition to the accountability measures required by state law, an independent Community Oversight Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees to advise the Board on the expenditures funded by the measure in order to help ensure that said funds are spent for the purposes approved by the voters. The Community Oversight Committee will monitor the expenditures of these funds by the District and will report on an annual basis to the Board and community on how these funds have been spent. PROTECTION OF FUNDING Current law forbids any decrease in state or federal funding to the District because of the District's adoption of a parcel tax. However, if any such funds are reduced because of the adoption of this parcel tax, then the amount of the special parcel taxes will be reduced annually as necessary in order to restore such state or federal funding.