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LWV League of Women Voters of California
Smart Voter
San Diego County, CA November 7, 2000 Election
Proposition AA
Bond Issue
Southwestern Community College District

64,548 / 69.88% Yes votes ...... 27,817 / 30.12% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Information shown below: Official Information | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement |

To relieve overcrowding, improve high-tech training facilities, repair classrooms, and build college buildings, by: Repairing aging classrooms; Replacing leaking roofs, aging ventilation and aging plumbing; Renovating science labs, libraries; Building new classrooms, science labs, libraries; Acquiring/ improving real property; Renovating electrical systems for modern technology/ Internet access; Upgrading fire security, alarms, sprinklers; shall Southwestern Community College District issue $89,354,000 in bonds at interest rates within the legal limit, with annual independent audits and NO money for administrators' salaries?

Official Sources of Information
Impartial Analysis from the County Counsel
This proposition, if approved by two-thirds of the voters voting on the proposition, would authorize the Governing Board of the Southwestern Community College District to have issued and sold $89,354,000 in general obligation bonds on its behalf. The issuance and sale of a bond by a community college district is for the purpose of raising money for the district and represents a debt of the district. In exchange for the money received from the holder of the bond, the district promises to pay the holder a set amount of interest for a certain period of time, and to repay the loan on the expiration date.

The proceeds of these bonds of the Southwestern Community College District would be used to relieve overcrowding, improve high-technology training facilities, repair classrooms and build college buildings by: repairing aging classrooms; replacing leaking roofs, aging ventilation and aging plumbing; renovating science laboratories and libraries; building new classrooms, science laboratories and libraries; acquiring and improving real property; renovating electrical systems for modern technology and internet access; and upgrading fire security, alarms and sprinklers.

The interest rate on any bond, which is established at the time of bond issuance, could not exceed twelve percent (12%) per annum. The final maturity date of any bond could be no later than twenty-five (25) years after the date of the bond. Principal and interest on the bonds would be paid by revenue derived from an annual tax levied upon the taxable property within the Southwestern Community College District in an amount sufficient to pay the interest as it becomes due and to provide a sinking fund for payment of the principal on or before maturity. Article XIII A of the California Constitution exempts from the one percent property tax rate limitation ad valorem taxes to pay the interest and redemption charges on any bonded indebtedness for the acquisition or improvement of real property approved by the voters on or after July 1, 1978. The approval must be by two-thirds of the votes cast by the voters voting on the proposition. Legal authorization is contained in state law permitting school districts to issue bonds at the interest rate, for the period of time, and for the specified purposes, subject to two-thirds voter approval.

A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the Southwestern Community College District to issue bonds for the purpose stated in the proposition.

A "no" vote is a vote against authorizing the Southwestern Community College District to issue bonds for the purpose stated in the proposition.

  News and Analysis

San Diego Union-Tribune (via KPBS)

Suggest a link related to Proposition AA
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Arguments For Proposition AA Arguments Against Proposition AA
Proposition AA makes urgently needed repairs and renovates classrooms for technology at Southwestern College, with strict Taxpayer Safeguards.

Southwestern Community College campus is aging, deteriorating and in need of repair. Many of its buildings are nearly 40 years old. Roofs leak. Plumbing, ventilation and electrical systems need renovation and repair. Sidewalks are cracking. Fire safety equipment including alarms, smoke detectors and sprinklers is old and needs to be replaced.

Proposition AA makes these urgently needed repairs. It will be less expensive to make these repairs now than to wait. Otherwise, these problems will only get worse and wind up costing us even more money.

For 40 years, Southwestern Community College has been the only public institution of higher education in the South Bay, preparing local residents to transfer to 4-year colleges and providing skills training for people to obtain real jobs in the community. But, aging classrooms and laboratories, built before desktop computers and the Internet, cannot adequately equip our students with the high-tech skills they need to compete for 21 st Century jobs.

Proposition AA will upgrade electrical systems and renovate classrooms and laboratories for computer technology to provide a highly trained, well-educated workforce helping our local economy.

STRICT TAXPAYER SAFEGUARDS guarantee Proposition AA funds will be spent exactly as promised efficiently and without waste!

  • A Citizens Oversight Committee will oversee all expenditures.
  • An Annual Independent Audit will be conducted with the results published in the local newspapers and posted on the Internet.
  • By law, money from Proposition AA can only be spent on community college classrooms and buildings. No money can be spent on administrators' salaries.

Join Us.

Shirley Horton, Mayor, Chula Vista

Diane Rose, Mayor, Imperial Beach

George Waters, Mayor, National City

Tom Smisek, Mayor, Coronado

Michele Dawson, Classified Senate President

YES on Proposition AA.
Preparing Our Students for 4-Year Colleges and Jobs.

AMBAR AUSANO, President, Associated Student Organization

GRANT J. MILLER, President Southwestern College Academic Senate

GREG COX, County Supervisor

GARY NORDSTROM, President, Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce

BILL KOLENDER, San Diego County Sheriff

Rebuttal to Arguments For
THEY CLAIM THEY WANT THIS BOND FOR: "ROOF LEAKS, PLUMBING, VENTILATION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS"

"FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT ALARMS, SMOKE DETECTORS, SPRINKLERS" WE HAVE TO ASK, ARE OUR SCHOOLS SAFE?

WHY HAVEN'T THEY BEEN FIXING THESE PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS? IS IT BECAUSE THEY WERE SPENDING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY ON FRIVOLOUS CLASS'S. LIKE:

  • FENG SHUI
  • ELIMINATING CLUTTER
  • CAKE DECORATING
  • BEGINNING QUILTING
  • TRAFFIC VIOLATOR'S SCHOOL
  • HOLIDAY RAG BASKETS
  • BE YOUR OWN PI
  • MANAGING PROJECTS

"SHE FEARS HER POWER/ MOTHER DAUGHTER WOUNDS, WORKSHOP THEY ALSO WANT IS FOR:
  • ACQUIRING/ IMPROVING REAL PROPERTY

SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE IS SUPPOSE TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATION, NOT AS A PROPERTY OWNER OF VACANT LAND. THEY OWN THE VACANT LOTS ON THE SOUTHERN CORNER OF EAST "H" ST. & OTAY LAKES ROAD. THAT LAND SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOLD & DEVELOPED BY PRIVATE ENTERPRIZE YEARS AGO, TO FIX SOME OF THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS BEFORE NOW AND ADDED TO THE TAX ROLLS.

$89,000,000 BOND @ 6% FOR 25 YEARS = $172,000,000 DOLLARS.
PROP AA $172,631,920
PROP BB $361,284,000
TOTAL $533,915,920

ARE SOUTH-BAY RESIDENTS READY TO SPENT OVER A HALF OF BILLION DOLLARS. I DON'T THINK SO!

THE BOTTOMLESS MONEY PIT OF EDUCATION MUST COME TO AN END NOW! IT'S TIME THE BOARD, ADMINISTRATION, AND TEACHER'S ASK FOR A CITIZENS REVIEW OF WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES SHOULD BE.

WITH THE 3'RS ON TOP AND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS ON THE BOTTOM WE URGE A NO VOTE ON AA & BB

BOB GREEN, Real Estate Broker

MARTIN HAASE, Business Owner

BARBARA A. BROWN CNSI - Chula Vista Elementary School

What! ANOTHER new tax?!

We've already passed enough school bonds!

We passed Prop. 98 which established a minimum level of spending. Presently over 40% of California's state General Fund is being spent on education. Then, just two years ago we passed Prop. 1A, the gigantic $9.2 BILLION state bond. Money is POURING into education.

Even after squandering millions of dollars over the years, the education establishment is still seeking a huge tax increase to do what taxpayers thought bureaucrats had been doing all along maintaining and improving our schools. Instead of more taxes we need better accountability.

Make no mistake Prop AA is a TAX INCREASE. Property taxes must be raised to pay for this bond plus the interest over the years.

Money is fungible money not spent in one place can be spent elsewhere. We already pay enough for all the items in the bond proposal. The problem is that money is spent elsewhere, primarily on salaries for the education establishment that far exceeds what the market would dictate. Total public funding for education greatly exceeds average private school costs. This bond measure is really another attempt to free up existing capital funds so that they can be spent on salaries, perks, bureaucracy, "prevailing wage", high construction costs, and other unnecessary or even harmful expenses.

Had enough?

There are only three voter positions when it comes to taxes:
1. taxes are too high.
2. taxes are about right.
3. taxes are too low.

If you agree with position "3" then you should support this bond.

However, if you agree with either position "1" or "2", then you should vote NO on Prop. AA.
www. opine. org/ PropAA

BOB GREEN, Real Estate Broker

RICHARD CARDULLA, Libertarian Candidate, 79th State Assembly

EDWARD M. TEYSSIER, Vice-Chair, San Diego Tax Fighters

DAVID A. WILLOUGHBY, Ph. D., Libertarian Candidate, 50th Congressional District

STEVE GREEN, Chairman, San Diego County Libertarian Party

Rebuttal to Arguments Against
It's a shame the Libertarians do not support Southwestern College. For 40 years, Southwestern College the only public institution of higher education in South Bay has done an exemplary job preparing hundreds of thousands of students for 4-year colleges and jobs. But, Southwestern's aging classrooms and science labs are outdated and need to be rewired for high technology and the Internet. Our 40-year-old plumbing, heating, roofs, and security systems need repair and renovation.

Prop. AA makes these urgently needed repairs now. If we wait, things will only get worse and cost us more money.

Out of 71 community college districts in California, Southwestern College ranks 70th in funding second from the bottom. Southwestern has maintained one of the top ranked educational programs of any community college because it has managed its resources so well. Southwestern has an AAA/ Aaa credit rating and has earned outstanding marks on its annual audits for the past 10 years. If Prop. AA doesn't pass, Southwestern College could start down the path toward becoming a second rate institution.

Strict Taxpayer Safeguards, written into Prop. AA, ensure funds are spent as promised efficiently and without waste.

  • Independent Citizens Oversight Committee.
  • Annual Independent Audits published in local newspapers and posted on the Internet.
  • By law, NOT ONE CENT can be spent for administrators' salaries.

Join Us.

Sheriff Bill Kolender
Supervisor Greg Cox Mayors
Shirley Horton (Chula Vista)
George Waters (National City)
Tom Smisek (Coronado)
Diane Rose (Imperial Beach)

Preparing Our Students for 4-Year College and Jobs.

JERRY L. FOLEY, Chief Petty Officer US Navy (retired)

GRANT MILLER, President, Southwestern College Academic Senate

KAREN NEUDECKER, Small Business Owner, Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

PAT LA PIERRE, Associate Director, Golden State Mobile Home Owners Assn.

HARRY SHANK, Bank Executive

Tax Rate Statement
An election will be held in the Southwestern Community College District (the "College") on November 7, 2000, to authorize the sale of up to $89,354,000 in bonds of the College to finance the acquisition and improvement of real property for college purposes.

If the bonds are approved, the College expects to sell the bonds in five series over time. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property within the College District. The following information is provided in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the Elections Code of the State of California.
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 1.679 cents per $100 ($ 16.79 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2001-02.
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 1.679 cents per $100 ($ 16.79 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2012-13.
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 1.679 cents per $100 ($ 16.79 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2012-13.

Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the College. 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 at any given sale, market interest rates at the time of each bond sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The actual dates of sale of said bonds and the amount sold at any given time will be governed by the construction needs of the College 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 College District as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: August 10, 2000.
Kenneth W. Fite, Vice President, Fiscal Affairs
Southwestern Community College District


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Created: January 25, 2001 02:34
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