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LWV League of Women Voters of California
Smart Voter
San Mateo County, CA November 7, 2000 Election
Measure B
Crime Laboratory Bonds
San Mateo County

Bond (2/3 Approval Required)

145,276 / 65.3% Yes votes ...... 77,086 / 34.7% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Information shown below: Fiscal Impact | Yes/No Meaning | Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

In order to assist modern effective law enforcement, shall the County of San Mateo be authorized to issue General Obligation Bonds in the amount of $13 million dollars principal ($13,000,000) to finance the construction, acquisition, and improvement of a crime laboratory and associated facilities?

Fiscal Impact from Tom Heuning, Controller, County of San Mateo.:
TAX RATE STATEMENT An election will be held in the County of San Mateo (the "County") on November 7, 2000, to authorize the sale of up to $13,000,000 in bonds of the County to finance the construction, acquisition and improvement of a crime laboratory and associated facilities. If the bonds are approved, the County expects to sell the bonds in one series. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property within the County. 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 $.00114 per $100 ($1.14 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2001-02.

2. 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 last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $.00114 per $100 ($1.14 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2001-02.

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 $.00114 per $100 ($1.14 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2001-02.

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 County. 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 County 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 County as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote of this measure means:
A two-thirds "yes" vote would authorize the County of San Mateo to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $13 million for the specified purposes of financing, construction, acquisition, and improvement of a crime laboratory and associated facilities.

A NO vote of this measure means:
A "no" vote would prevent the County of San Mateo from issuing bonds of up to $13 million.

Impartial Analysis
The California Constitution authorizes a county to issue general obligation bonds. However, the voters must first approve the issuance of the bonds at an election by a two-thirds vote. This measure would authorize the County of San Mateo to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $13 million. An increased property tax levy would pay the interest and principal on the bonds. The Tax Rate Statement which appears in this ballot pamphlet reflects the County's best estimates of the property tax rates required to service the bonds. The bonds will have an interest rate not to exceed the legal maximum of 12%and shall mature in no more than 40 years. The Board of Supervisors has listed the specified purposes of the bonds to be the financing, construction, acquisition, and improvement of a crime laboratory and associated facilities.

A "yes" vote on this measure would authorize the County of San Mateo to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $13 million for the specified purposes of financing, construction, acquisition, and improvement of a crime laboratory and associated facilities.

A "no" vote would prevent the County of San Mateo from issuing bonds of up to $13 million.

This measure passes if two-thirds (2/3) of those voting on the measure vote "yes."

  Events

Pros and Cons Forum on Measures A and B and Candidates Forum
Wednesday, September 27, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m., El Granada Elementary School. Sponsored by Mid Coast Community Council
News and Analysis

San Francisco Chronicle

Suggest a link related to Measure B
Links to sources outside of Smart Voter are provided for information only and do not imply endorsement.

Arguments For Measure B
San Mateo County Citizens for Crime Reduction

The County Crime Laboratory is the only place in San Mateo County where police departments process crime evidence such as from murder scenes, gunshot residue, blood analysis, sexual assaults and for numerous other crimes.

The County's crime laboratory was built in 1929. It is old and outdated. The building is seismically unsafe and one-third of the space is unusable because of fungus and dry rot.

The Crime Laboratory, though, is vital in the prosecution of all crimes in San Mateo County.

Measure B will allow the County to build a new Crime laboratory that will help reduce overall crime by assisting in convicting more criminals.

  • Criminal fingerprint and DNA database systems can be upgraded to further assist police departments and prosecutors in correctly identifying and convicting criminals;
  • Blood alcohol evidence can be more effectively processed in drunk driving and other related offenses;
  • Every Police Department in San Mateo County relies on the lab to assist them in criminal investigations - a new lab will greatly assist all police jurisdictions;
  • Crime scene analysis procedures can be more effectively utilized;
  • Forensic evidence gathering, processing and storage will be improved;
  • An enclosed crime evidence storage shed will be part of the new lab so that large criminal evidence such as stolen cars or furniture, can be analyzed and utilized.

Due to the careful fiscal management, the cost of this lab has been kept to a minimum. The average property owner will only pay $3.07 per year - that means only $1.54 once every six months.

Please join us and San Mateo County Police Chiefs, City Councilmembers, law enforcement professionals, business leaders, crime victim organizations, prosecutors, judges and many others in supporting improved law enforcement. Help us make your Police Department more effective - Yes on Measure B.


/s/Don Horsley
Sheriff
/s/Julia E. O'Daly
President, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD)
/s/Mike Nevin
Supervisor
/s/Cynthia Brandon
Executive Director, Criminal Justice Council
/s/James P. Fox
District Attorney

(No arguments against Measure B were submitted)


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Created: January 25, 2001 02:35
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