This is an archive of a past election. See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/sn/ for current information. |
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Measure F Bonds Rincon Valley Union School District 55% Approval Required
See Also:
Index of all Measures |
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Results as of Jul 9 6:44pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (39/39) |
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement | Full Text | ||||
To continue critical renovation, modernization and safety upgrades to District schools, add classrooms to avoid overcrowding, make needed upgrades to libraries, science and computer labs, improve access to classroom technology, improve energy efficiency to save money, and renovate, construct, acquire classrooms, sites, facilities and equipment, shall Rincon Valley Union School District issue $35,000,000 in bonds at legal interest rates with citizens' oversight, annual audits, no money for administrator salaries, and all funds benefiting high quality education for local students?
Money raised by bond sales can be used for the purposes and projects stated in the Project List set forth in the Measure. Projects include adding, repairing and upgrading existing classrooms, libraries, science and computer labs, and other facilities; upgrading classroom computers and instructional technology; improving earthquake and fire safety systems; improving school energy efficiency; and upgrading campus security. As required by state law, the measure prohibits using bond proceeds for teacher or administrator salaries or other operating expenses. The inclusion of a project on the Project List is not a guarantee that the project will be funded or completed. If the Measure is adopted, the District's Board will conduct annual, independent financial and performance audits to ensure that bond proceeds have been expended only on the projects on the Project List. In addition, an Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee will be established within sixty days of the entry of the election results on the Board's minutes. The proceeds of the bonds will be maintained in a separate account in the County Treasury, and the Board must receive an annual report on the status of projects undertaken and the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in that year. These requirements are set out in the Measure. If the Measure is approved, the District expects to sell the bonds in series over time. The funds to repay the bonds would be raised by an increase in property taxes based upon the value of land and improvements in the District. The interest rate on the bonds would depend on the market rate at the time the bonds are sold, but cannot exceed the rate set by state law. The Tax Rate Statement prepared by the District Superintendent, which follows this analysis, estimates the property tax levies required to pay off the bonds. The estimated tax levies are a projection, and could go up or down, depending on a number of factors including the timing and amount of bond sales, and changes in assessed value of property in the District. BRUCE D. GOLDSTEIN County Counsel By: s/ Jeffrey M. Brax Deputy County Counsel
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Arguments For Measure F |
Rincon Valley schools have supported the educational needs of our community'schildren for over 60 years. Student test scores in the Rincon Valley School District are consistently among the highest in Sonoma County. Many of our schools have
been designated California State Distinguished Schools. Our teachers, principals and staff have been recognized for their excellence in education. However, our schools and classrooms need significant facility upgrades if they are to meet the educational needs of students today and in the future. A Yes vote on Measure F will provide funds to better equip our schools for the high-quality instruction our
students deserve.
Passage of Measure F will help the District pay for facilities and repairs that are needed to keep our schools safe and well-maintained, leaving more money for retaining quality teachers and academic programs. Measure F will add classrooms to avoid overcrowding and accommodate increasing student enrollment. Measure F will also allow the district to replace old, portable classrooms with permanent facilities, reflecting the permanent nature of the District's enrollment growth over the last ten years. A Yes vote on Measure F will also allow the district to upgrade access to classroom technology so that our students are prepared to excel in the 21st Century. Measure F includes annual audits and citizens' oversight to ensure the bond monies are spent as promised. An Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee will monitor and review all bond expenditures. This committee of local residents will be tasked with ensuring all bond funds are spent as planned for the benefit of local students. No funds will be used for administrator or teacher salaries. Quality educational facilities protect and enhance our property values and support our students. Good schools make great communities. Please join us with your Yes vote on Measure F. s/ Tom Ford Retired Sonoma County Treasurer-Tax Collector s/ Caroline Keller Oakmont Resident s/ Diane Moresi Retired Rincon Valley Superintendent s/ Keith Christopherson Nor-Cal Construction Services s/ Tom Scott General Manager Oliver's Market
(No arguments against Measure F were submitted) |
Tax Rate Statement |
To: The voters voting in the June 3, 2014 election on the question of the issuance of $35,000,000 General Obligation Bonds of the Rincon Valley Union School District.
You are hereby notified in accordance with Section 9401 of the Elections Code of the State of California of the following: 1. The best estimate from official sources of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund principal and interest payments during the first fiscal year after the first sale of bonds (Fiscal Year 2014-2015), based on assessed valuations available at the time of the election and taking into account estimated future growth, is the following: $.03000 per $100 of assessed valuation, which equates to $30.00 per $100,000. 2. The best estimate from official sources of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund principal and interest payments during the first fiscal year after the last sale of bonds and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply, based on assessed valuations available at the time of the election and taking into account estimated future growth, is as follows: $.03000 per $100 of assessed valuation, which equates to $30.00 per $100,000. First fiscal year after last sale of bonds: 2020-2021 3. The best estimate from official sources of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund principal and interest payments on the bonds and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply, based on assessed valuations available at the time of the election and taking into account estimated future growth, is as follows: $.03000 per $100 of assessed valuation, which equates to $30.00 per $100,000. Year of highest tax rate: Tax is projected to be the same every year. The attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon projections and estimates only. 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 date of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on its 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 sale. Actual future assessed valuations 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 equalization process. Accordingly, the actual tax rates and the years in which such rates are applicable may vary from those presently estimated as above stated. s/ Casey D'Angelo Superintendent Rincon Valley Union Elementary School District REQUIRED STATEMENT REGARDING STATE MATCHING FUNDS MEASURE F Approval of Measure F does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Rincon Valley Union School District that are the subject of bonds under Measure F will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure F. The District's proposal for the project or projects assumes the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure. California Education Code §15122.5 |
Full Text of Measure F |
EXHIBIT B
PROJECT LIST The Board of Trustees of the Rincon Valley Union School District evaluated the District's urgent and critical facility needs, including safety issues, enrollment trends, class size, class size reduction, and computer and information technology, in developing the scope of projects to be funded. The District conducted facilities evaluations as reflected in two Facilities Evaluations accepted by the Board of Trustees on December 10, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference, and received public input and review in developing this Project List. The Board concludes that if these needs are not addressed now, the problems will only become more pressing. Therefore, in approving this Project List, the Board of Trustees determines that the District should: (i) Replace aging, portable and temporary classrooms; (ii) Update science and computer labs and provide student access to up-to-date classroom technology; (iii) Construct classrooms to avoid overcrowding; (iv) Replace aging and inadequate heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems to improve energy efficiency and invest the savings to improve the quality of education; and (v) Retain all bond money to be used in our local community and not be taken by the State. The Project List describes the types of upgrades and improvements to be authorized at the following school sites (year school constructed): Austin Creek (2000), Binkley(1972), Madrone(1966), Matanzas(1959), Sequoia(1960), Spring Creek(1958), Village(1957) and Whited(1952). School Construction, Renovation, Repair and Upgrades Goal and Purpose: To make basic repairs to aging schools so that schools are safe and up-to-date, allowing students to have the resources they need to excel:
Goal and Purpose: Since good, safe and up-to-date schools help protect local property values and retain quality teachers, schools will benefit from a variety of safety projects, and academic programs will benefit from the savings generated by energy efficient utility systems such as: Student Safety
FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY: IN ACCORDANCE WITH EDUCATION CODE SECTION 15272, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL APPOINT A CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND CONDUCT ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDITS TO ASSURE THAT FUNDS ARE SPENT ONLY ON DISTRICT PROJECTS AND FOR NO OTHER PURPOSE. THE EXPENDITURE OF BOND MONEY ON THESE PROJECTS IS SUBJECT TO STRINGENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS. BY LAW, PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL AUDITS WILL BE PERFORMED ANNUALLY, AND ALL BOND EXPENDITURES WILL BE MONITORED BY AN INDEPENDENT CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT FUNDS ARE SPENT AS PROMISED AND SPECIFIED. THE CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MUST INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, REPRESENTATION OF A BONA FIDE TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION, A BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND A SENIOR CITIZENS ORGANIZATION. NO DISTRICT EMPLOYEES OR VENDORS ARE ALLOWED TO SERVE ON THE CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. NO ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES. PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE BONDS AUTHORIZED BY THIS PROPOSITION SHALL BE USED ONLY FOR THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION, OR REPLACEMENT OF SCHOOL FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOL FACILITIES, AND NOT FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, INCLUDING TEACHER AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES. |