League of Women Voters of California
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Measure J Second High School Ceres Unified School District Bond Issue - 55% Approval Required 2,679 / 74.3% Yes votes ...... 925 / 25.6% No votes
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Index of all Measures |
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Information shown below: Fiscal Impact | Yes/No Meaning | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | | ||||||
Shall Ceres Unified School District build and furnish a second high school in Ceres to reduce classroom overcrowding at Ceres High School and become eligible for State funding by issuing $25 million of bonds at interest rates within the legal limit, appointing a citizens oversight committee, performing annual financial and performance audits with no proceeds used for teacher or administration salaries?
The following information is provided in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the Elections Code of the State of California. Such information represents the District's best estimates and is based upon actual assessed valuations available at the time of this election and projections of future assessed valuations. These estimates assume the entire bond debt service will be repaid from property tax revenues. 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 $0.06 per $100 of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2002/2003. 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 this statement, is $0.06 per $100 of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2004/05. 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 $0.06 per $100 of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2004/2005. 4. The best estimate of the average tax rate that will be required to be levied to fund the bond issue over its entire term is $0.04 per $100 assessed valuation. Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon District projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District. 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 the bond sales, market interest rates at the time of the bond sales, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The actual dates of the sales of said bonds will be governed by the needs of the District and other factors. The actual Interest rate at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of the sales. Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process. Dated: June 21, 2001. The assessed valuations used to calculate those tax rates appear reasonable. /s/ Larry D. Haugh
The issuance and sale of a bond by a school District is for the purpose of raising money for the District and represents a debt of the District. In exchange for money received from the holder of the bond, the District promises to pay the holder a set amount of interest for a certain time and to repay the loan on the expiration date. A resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Ceres Unified School District on June 21, 2001, stated the bond shall be issued and sold for the purpose of building and furnishing a second high school in Ceres to reduce classroom overcrowding at Ceres High School. If approved, the District would become eligible for State funding, and the District would be obligated to appoint a citizens oversight committee, and perform annual financial and performance audits to make sure the bond funds were used for a new high school and not for teacher or administrator salaries. The bond will bear interest at a rate not to exceed the legal limit, and would be repaid over a period not to exceed forty (40) years by a property tax levied upon real property located within the District. If this measure passes, a tax shall annually levy on property within the District not to exceed sixty dollars ($60) per one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) of taxable property in the District. The tax shall be sufficient to pay the interest on the bonds as it becomes due. The tax shall be sufficient to provide funds for the payment of such part of the principal and interest as shall become due before the proceeds of the next general tax levy can be made available for the payment of principal and interest. --A "yes" vote is a vote to authorize the District to issue and sell the bonds. --A "no" vote is against authorizing the District to issue and sell the bonds. This analysis is submitted by the Office of the Stanislaus County Counsel pursuant to the requirements of Section 9500 and following of the Elections Code of the State of California. /s/ Michael H. Krausnick
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Arguments For Measure J |
Measure J will build a second and much-needed high school in Ceres.
Ceres High School is seriously overcrowded. Originally built for 900 students, nearly 2,400 students now attend Ceres High. While academic standards throughout Ceres schools remain high, the overcrowded high school makes it difficult to learn or teach. Ceres High is using all available classroom space for our students. Nearly half of the classrooms at Ceres High are portable. Student access to the library is severely limited due to overcrowding. It is time to build a second high school in Ceres to give our local students access to the education they deserve. Parents plus business, neighborhood, agriculture and education leaders throughout Ceres have come together to support Measure J. We know how important local schools are to our community, and we know how overcrowded Ceres High is today. Our children deserve a better education. The second high school in Ceres will provide the basics of what it takes to teach our kids: Classrooms, science labs, learning centers. There is accountability built in to Measure J. Measure J will cost the average taxpayer in Ceres under $5 per month. A Taxpayers Oversight Committee will be established to ensure that the school district spends the bond money wisely. And not a penny of Measure J will go toward administration or salaries. Measure J funds will be used only to build a second high school. Measure J means a second high school in Ceres. Measure J means accountability in our local schools. Measure J means an end to overcrowded classrooms or educational facilities. Please join us and hundreds of local citizens and leaders In supporting Measure J.
/s/ Bill Berryhill
/s/ DeLinda Moore
/s/ Louie Arrollo
/s/ Mae Hensley
/s/ Paul Caruso
(No arguments against Measure J were submitted) |