League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	Measure K Renew Parcel Tax Mount Pleasant School District 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 1896 / 77.36% Yes votes ...... 555 / 22.64% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure K

Arguments Against Measure K

Vote Yes on K to maintain the keys to local elementary and middle school student success in core academic programs in reading, writing, math and science, without increasing taxes by a single penny. In 2010, local voters in our neighborhood Mt.PleasantElementary SchoolDistrict approved stable local funding to retain qualified teachers, support academic programs and promote student achievement. Now this funding is set to expire unless voters choose to renew it by voting Yes on Measure K. Measure K supports all students in our schools by improving academic programs, protecting tutoring programs that keep children on the right track, and preserving smaller class sizes to give all students the individual attention they need to excel. Measure K doesn't increase taxes--it simply renews critical, voter- approved funding for our schools. The state can't take a single penny. Vote Yes on K to improve education in our neighborhood schools by: Protecting reading, writing, math and science programs Retaining qualified teachers Providing access to 21st-century technology and computer training Preserving tutoring programs for students with special needs and at- risk youth Keeping school libraries open Measure K includes fiscal accountability provisions. All funds stay in local schools and cannot be taken by the state Independent citizen oversight will continue to ensure all funds are spent as promised No funds can be used for administrators' salaries Homeowners, aged 65 and older, can continue to receive an exemption Measure K expires in 7 years and cannot be renewed without voter approval Measure K does not increase taxes--it simply renews existing local school funding at current rates Good schools benefit all of us by keeping our community strong and safe, whether or not we have children attending school. Support student achievement in Mt. Pleasant schools--vote Yes on K. /s/ Paul A. Torres Long Time District Resident /s/ Rubie Golart 50 Year District Resident /s/ Christiane Clark District Resident and Member of Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Association /s/ Manuel R. Martinez Member Citizens Oversight Committee /s/ Manny Barbara V.P., Silicon Valley Education Foundation Rebuttal to Arguments For Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District used 2010's state government budget crisis to persuade us to pass the existing $95 parcel tax, a burden they promised would end in 2015. And in 2012, they asked for, and got, a $25,000,000 bond issue. Will the taxes never end? And why are they using district funds to pay for this election in June, instead of in November when the voter turnout is much higher? Does that seem un-democratic to you? Homeowners and renters already feel the pinch of the economic downturn and inflation. With Santa Clara County's official unemployment rate at 6.3% (up from 5.8% in December, 2013), but with the real rate -- counting people who have stopped looking for work -- far higher, Measure K will increase everyone's housing cost, hurting the unemployed the worst. Consider this: Student enrollment: 2,540 in year 2012-13; 2,613 in 2011-12: Down 2.79% Number of teachers: 114 in year 2011-12; 121 in 2010-11: Down 5.78% Administrators: 10 in year 2011-12; 7 in 2010-11: Up 42.86% (Latest figures available; Education Data Partnership, www.Ed-Data.K12.ca.us) With fewer teachers, shouldn't expenses be down? Doesn't matter: the District wants more money. More money, while number of both students and teachers are both declining, but administration personnel? It's up more than 40%. Teach the Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District board to be financially responsible: Vote NO on Measure K. For more information, please visit: http://www.SVTaxpayers.org/2014-06-mt-pleasant-elementary-sd-parcel-tax /s/ Mark W.A. Hinkle President: Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association /s/ Edward Leo Wimmers Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County

Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District used 2010's state government budget crisis to persuade us to pass the existing $95 parcel tax, a burden they promised would end in 2015. The crisis is over, and we're still paying the tax, yet they're already asking us if they can keep it. How long do they want it to last? Another 7 years! Homeowners and renters already feel the pinch of the economic downturn and inflation. With Santa Clara County's official unemployment rate at 6.3% (up from 5.8% in December, 2013), but with the real rate -- counting people who have stopped looking for work -- far higher, Measure K will increase everyone's housing cost, hurting the unemployed the worst. Consider this: Student enrollment: 2,540 in year 2012-13; 2,613 in 2011-12: Down 2.79% Number of teachers: 114 in year 2011-12; 121 in 2010-11: Down 5.78% Administration: 10 in year 2011-12; 7 in 2010-11: Up 42.86% (Latest figures available; Education Data Partnership, www.Ed-Data.K12.ca.us) With fewer teachers, shouldn't expenses be down? Doesn't matter: the District wants more money. More money, while number of both students and teachers is declining, but administration? It's up more than 40%. Now, the District is saying that these funds won't be used for administration. But that's an empty promise: Any funds generated outside of this parcel tax can simply be shifted to administration expenses -- without limit. Don't be fooled by the shell game. Everywhere, families' budgets are being slashed -- why not also at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District? (Not to mention that property taxes also slow down our homes' recovering their value!) This parcel tax will also inhibit the recovery of home prices in Silicon Valley. Teach the Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District board to be financially responsible: Vote NO on Measure K. For more information, please visit: http://www.SVTaxpayers.org/2014-06-mt-pleasant-elementary-sd-parcel-tax /s/ Mark W.A. Hinkle President: Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association /s/ Edward Leo Wimmers Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County Rebuttal to Arguments Against Unlike the authors of the argument against Measure K, we believe that improving our neighborhood elementary and middle schools is a top community priority. Because these two ideologues--who oppose every school measure on the ballot--don't live in our neighborhoods, they simply don't understand the facts. Without increasing taxes by a single penny, we can improve local schools by voting Yes on K. It provides stable funding, critical to maintaining academic programs and retaining teachers. Not one penny can be taken by the state. Without increasing taxes, all Measure K funds stay in our neighborhood schools to protect the keys to student success. Measure K will: Protect reading, writing, math and science programs Retain qualified teachers Provide access to 21st-century technology and computer training Preserve tutoring programs for students with special needs and at-risk youth Keep school libraries open No funds can be used for administrators' salaries. Our local schools operate with lean district administrative costs of 2.2%, focusing 81% of its budget on the classroom. Independent citizen oversight ensures Measure K funds are used as promised. It expires in seven years and cannot be renewed without voter approval. Measure K renews existing, voter-approved education funding that our schools rely on and would otherwise expire. Good schools benefit all of us. Good schools keep our community safe and strong. Measure K continues a senior citizen exemption. Join local residents, business owners, parents and retirees: vote Yes on K to support local elementary school students' education. /s/ Peter Skinner Measure L Oversight Committee Member /s/ Sue Ambrosini Community Member /s/ Thomas L. Kearns CPA /s/ Joseph E. Jahn Jahn Plumbing, Inc., Owner /s/ Vera W. Polito Community Member

Full Text of Measure K

MT. PLEASANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT Quality Education Parcel Tax Measure K INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE To provide local reliable funding for local schools that cannot be taken by the State, to maintain strong core academic programs in reading, writing, math and science, attract and retain highly qualified and experienced teachers, maintain libraries, and preserve tutoring programs for students with special needs, with no proceeds used for administrative salaries and benefits, the Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District ("District") proposes to renew and extend its existing quality education parcel tax, without increasing the current tax rate, for a period of seven years from its current expiration date (June 30, 2015), starting on July 1, 2015 at a rate of $95 per parcel per year, with an exemption available for senior citizens and certain disabled persons, and to implement strict accountability measures, to ensure the funds are used to: Protect core academic programs in reading, writing, math and science; Provide updated educational materials; Provide access to 21st Century technology and computer training; Preserve music and art programs; Attract and retain highly qualified and experienced teachers. Maintain after school programs for at-risk children; and Continue the pre-school program to provide early childhood education. The proceeds of the parcel tax shall be deposited into a separate account created by the District. DEFINITION OF "PARCEL" For purposes of the core academic programs parcel tax, the term "Parcel" means any parcel of land which lies wholly or partially within the boundaries of the Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District, that receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the Santa Clara County Assessor/Tax Collector. All property that is otherwise exempt from or upon which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall also be exempt from the quality education parcel tax in such year. For purposes of this quality education parcel tax, any such "Parcels" which are (i) contiguous, and (ii) used solely for owner-occupied, single-family residential purposes, and (iii) held under identical ownership may, by submitting an application of the owners thereof by June 15 of any year to the District, be treated as a single "parcel" for purposes of the levy of the quality education parcel tax. EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS AND SSI RECIPIENTS Pursuant to California Government Code Section 50079 (b), any owners of a Parcel used solely for owner-occupied, single-family residential purposes and who are either (a) 65 years of age or older on or before June 30 of the fiscal year immediately preceding the year in which the tax would apply, or (b) persons receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age, may obtain an exemption from the parcel tax by submitting an application therefore, by June 15 of any year, to the District. Persons currently exempted from the District's expiring Measure H parcel tax shall automatically be exempted from this Measure without having to file a new application. With respect to all general property tax matters within its jurisdiction, the Santa Clara County Tax Collector, or other appropriate County tax officials 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 quality education parcel tax, including the Senior Citizen and SSI Exemptions and the classification of property for purposes of calculating the tax, the decisions of the District shall be final and binding. REDUCTION IN TAX IF RESULT IS LESS OTHER GOVERNMENT SUPPORT The collection of the quality education parcel tax is not intended to decrease or offset any increase in local, state or federal government revenue sources that would otherwise be available to the District during the period of the parcel tax. In the event that the levy and collection does have such an effect, the District may cease the levy or shall reduce the parcel tax to the extent that such action would restore the amount of the decrease or offset in other revenues. 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 parcel tax levied in accordance with this Measure: (a) the specific purposes of the parcel tax shall be those purposes identified above; (b) the proceeds of the 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 quality education parcel tax 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 quality education parcel tax and (ii) the status of any projects or programs required or authorized to be funded from the proceeds of the quality education parcel tax, as identified above. In addition, the District will maintain its existing Citizens' Oversight Committee which will provide oversight as to the expenditure of parcel tax revenues.