This is an archive of a past election. See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/scz/ for current information. |
League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
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Measure I Parcel Tax Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District Majority Approval Required 901 / 64.5% Yes votes ...... 495 / 35.5% No votes
See Also:
Index of all Measures |
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Results as of Mar 22 12:36pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (4/4) |
Information shown below: Yes/No Meaning | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Full Text | |||||
Shall the Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District continue for four years (July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2008) the Gann Appropriations Limit increase approved by the voters in 2000, thus allowing the district to continue to use the revenue generated by the existing special tax of $150 per parcel?
Existing law, enacted in 1979 as part of Proposition 4 (now California Constitution Article XIIIB), restricts governmental spending by setting an annual appropriations (i.e., expenditures) limit for governmental agencies. This appropriations limit is sometimes called the "Gann limit." The California Constitution authorizes voters to change this appropriations limit for a maximum period of four years at a time. Unless the voters do so, the appropriations limit will be based on an earlier year's limit, adjusted for changes in the cost of living and population. In 2000 the voters of the District approved a special tax and an increase of the appropriations limit in the amount of that special tax. At this time the Trustees of the Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District have resolved to submit to the voters the question whether the appropriations limit approved in 2000 should continue for four more years, from July 1, 2004, to June 30, 2008. The ballot measure does not authorize the District to impose a new assessment or increase the property tax rate. Instead it would permit the District to continue to spend the special tax which was previously approved by the voters.
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News and Analysis Santa Cruz Sentinel
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Arguments For Measure I | Arguments Against Measure I | ||
The children of the Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary
School District need your YES vote for Measure I to
continue for 4 years the Gann Appropriations Limit
increase approved by the voters in 1996, thus allowing
the district to continue to use the revenue generated by
the existing special tax of $150. The facts in support of
this measure speak for themselves:
The facts are:
Measure I is a valuable investment in the future of our children, our grandchildren and our community. It provides exemptions for senior citizens, adjacent parcels and certain impacted property. As specified since its inception, no Measure I funds may be used for salary enhancement or benefits.
s/ Alexander E. Leman, Chief Officer Loma Prieta Fire &
Rescue
School districts, including Loma Prieta, appear to be no different. Like virtually every school district in this area, enrollment in the Loma Prieta School District dropped from 1999-2000 to 2002-2003 while ADA (Average Daily Attendance) spending per student rose from $5,358 to $6,920. Thus, it seem like the honorable thing to do would be to implement the sunset clause on the parcel tax that they are now trying to extend, for another four years, through Measure I. But, NO, what rears its ugly head is a "spend all we can get our hands" on mentality, giving NO MEANING, and we repeat NO MEANING on public bureaucracy assurances that tax ballot measures have built in sunset clauses. Given the huge infusion of cash into the California educational system, there is no reason why our children's education should suffer with the defeat of Measure I. To this end we heartily support and recommend a NO vote on Measure I. Make our elected representatives practice fiscal responsibility. Make them learn to live within the year-to-year annual revenue increases they get. Make them keep their promise to sunset the current parcel tax. ON MARCH 2, 2004 ˆ VOTE NO ON MEASURE I For more information: visit http://www.VoteNoOnI.us
s/ H.R. Strong, Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara
County
| When is it ever enough? The School Board put this
original tax increase on the June 6th, 2000 ballot and
Measure K on the March 5th, 2002 ballot, and now
they're back again to extend this tax another 4 years.
Thus, costing you $600 per parcel more.
Milton Friedman once said, "There's nothing more permanent than a temporary tax". The School Board has yet to complete the projects funded by Measure K and now they're back for more of your money. In fact, they authorized this ballot on July 30th, 2003. There's a 2-year pattern of tax increases. And unless you put a stop to it, you can bet they'll be back in another 2 years (or less) for another "emergency" tax increase. It'll be for safety (fire, earthquake, etc.), or new technology labs, or something else. But, what about the children? What about their education? Isn't it the business of the school district to educate our kids? Is this endless search for tax increases for the children? Or, for the district employees? Don't be afraid to say no to another tax. We all have to live with a budget. That's the real world. Say no to Measure I and send a message to the School Board that they, too, have to live within a budget. That's what they were elected to do. They were elected to make the tough choices, to prioritize where funds are spent and to say NO to inefficient or wasteful spending. You can be for good education and against this tax extension. Please vote NO on Measure I and tell the School Board to live within their means. For more information, please visit: http://www.VoteNoOnI.us
s/ H.R. Strong, Chair Libertarian Party of Santa Clara
County
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Full Text of Measure I |
If you desire a copy of the measure, please call the Santa Cruz County Elections Department at 831-454-2060 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you. |