Pass: 6,142 / 84.01% Yes votes ...... 1,169 / 15.99% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote on this measure means:

A "yes" vote is a vote to approve a qualified special tax on parcels within the District for a six year period of time.

A NO vote on this measure means:

A "no" vote is a vote not to approve the qualified special tax on parcels within the District for a six year period of time.

A school district, following notice and public hearings, has the authority to levy special taxes upon approval by two-thirds of the votes cast on the special tax proposal pursuant to section 4 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution and sections 50075-50077, 50079, and 53722 of the California Government Code.

The Board of Trustees of the Los Gatos Union School District proposes renewing and levying a qualified special tax on each parcel within the district. The owners of each parcel of taxable real property in the district would pay $290 per parcel for a period of six years. The purpose of the tax is to fund the following specific programs and services: retaining skilled and qualified teachers; maintaining up-to-date science programs; keeping class sizes as small as possible; continuing literacy programs; maintaining art and music programs; maintaining library staff and services; providing counseling and other student health and safety programs; and maintaining safe and adequate school grounds and facilities. The proceeds of the special tax would not be used for any other purpose.

Any owner, age 65 and over, who occupies a parcel as a principal residence, or any person receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability regardless of their age, may be exempt from the special tax upon annual application for exemption.

The proceeds of the special tax would be deposited into a separate fund. If the special tax is approved, the District would appoint an independent fiscal oversight committee to review the expenditure of special tax proceeds. No later than January 1 of each year while the tax is in effect, the District would prepare and file with the Board of Education a report detailing the amount of funds collected and spent and the status of any project authorized to be funded by this special tax.

If the special tax is approved, the District's appropriations limit would be increased by the amount equal to the special tax collected for each year the special tax is authorized.

A "yes" vote is a vote to approve a qualified special tax on parcels within the District for a six year period of time.

A "no" vote is a vote not to approve the qualified special tax on parcels within the District for a six year period of time.

Ann Miller Ravel
County Counsel
By: /s/ Susan Swain

Lead Deputy County Counsel

Los Gatos Union School District

Our great Los Gatos elementary and middle schools are a source of local pride. High student test scores, great teachers, small class sizes and excellent academic programs that include science and the arts, make our schools among the best in the state.

Because our community believes in excellent education, Los Gatos and Monte Sereno voters approved a local funding measure in 1990 that provides steady, guaranteed funds for our schools. Our community supports our schools because we know that state funding alone can't provide the excellent education that local students need to achieve.

Yet, this vital local funding that supports our schools is set to expire this year. Your "Yes" vote on Measure E will renew local funding, without raising taxes, and continue excellent public education in our community.

Without raising taxes, Measure E will help to:

• Retain skilled and qualified teachers
  
• Maintain up-to-date science programs
  
• Continue literacy programs
  
• Maintain art and music programs
  
• Keep class sizes as small as possible
  
• Maintain library staff and services
  
• Provide student health and safety programs

Independent citizen oversight ensures that all Measure E funds are spent wisely to promote student achievement. All Measure E funds will be spent in Los Gatos schools -- the state can't take a single dime.

Measure E provides an exemption for senior citizens and people with disabilities.

We simply can't rely on the state to provide the excellent education that we expect from our local schools.

Without raising taxes by a single penny, vote "Yes" to keep Los Gatos schools among the top in the state, and ensure that local students receive the high-quality education they need to succeed.

Please join us and vote "Yes" on Measure E.

/s/ Joanne Benjamin
Former Los Gatos Mayor

/s/ Wendy Dillingham-Plew
President, Los Gatos Elementary Teacher's Association

/s/ Gordon van Zuiden
Los Gatos business owner and Monte Sereno Resident

/s/ Robin Mano
Los Gatos Union School District parent

/s/ John R. (Ray) Cobb
Senior Citizen and 44 year Los Gatos resident

Local Elementary and Middle School Academic Excellence Measure. To support high academic achievement for local students by retaining quality teachers, keeping small class sizes, and maintaining science, literacy, art, music and other programs, shall the Los Gatos Union School District be authorized to renew its expiring parcel tax of $290 per year per parcel, for six years, without increase, with an exemption available for senior citizens and disabled persons, with citizen oversight, and every dollar staying in Los Gatos schools?

The purpose of the measure is to fund the following specific types of programs and services:

a) Retaining skilled and qualified teachers;
b) Maintaining up-to-date science programs;
c) Keeping class sizes as small as possible;
d) Continuing literacy programs;
e) Maintaining art and music programs;
f) Maintaining library staff and services;
g) Providing counseling and other student health and safety programs;
h) Maintaining safe and adequate schools grounds and facilities.

Basis of Tax.

The parcel tax shall be $290 per Parcel of Taxable Real Property beginning in July 1, 2008 and continuing for a period of six years. The District shall provide the Santa Clara County Tax Collector a report indicating the parcel number and amount of tax for each Parcel of Taxable Real Property.

"Parcel of Taxable Real Property" is defined as any unit of real property in the District that receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the County Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office. All property that is otherwise exempt from or upon which no ad valorem property taxes are levied in any year shall also be exempt from the special tax in such year.

Any parcels that are contiguous to each other, used solely for one owner-occupied single-family residence, and held under identical ownership shall, upon approval of an application from the owners thereof submitted to the District, be treated as a single Parcel of Taxable Real Property for purposes of the special tax. Applications for such treatment shall be made or confirmed to the District annually on or before June 15, 2008 or June 15 of any succeeding tax year.

Pursuant to the California Government Code Section 50079 (b), any owners of a parcel who are either receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age, or who are 65 years of age or older, used solely for owner-occupied, single-family residential purposes may obtain an exemption from the education parcel tax by annually submitting an application by June 15 of each year or confirming a continuing exemption to the Board of Trustees of the Los Gatos Union School District in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Board.

Claim / Exemption Procedures

With respect to all general property tax matters within its jurisdiction, the Santa Clara County Tax Assessor or other appropriate County tax official shall make all final determinations of tax exemption or relief for any reason, and that decision shall be final and binding. With respect to matters specific to the levy of the special tax, including the Senior Citizen Exemption and the SSI Exemption determination, the decisions of the District shall be final and binding. The procedures described herein, and any additional procedures established by the Board shall be the exclusive claims procedure for claimants seeking an exemption, refund, reduction, or recomputation of the special tax. Whether any particular claim is to be resolved by the District or by the County shall be determined by the District, in coordination with the County as necessary.

Appropriations Limit

Pursuant to California Constitution article XIIIB and applicable laws, the appropriations limit for the District will be adjusted periodically by the aggregate sum collected by levy of this special tax.

Accountability Measures

The proceeds of the special tax shall be applied only to the specific purposes identified above. The proceeds of the special tax shall be deposited into a fund, which shall be kept separate and apart from other funds of the District. No later than January 1 of each year while the tax is in effect, the District shall prepare and file with the Board a report detailing the amount of funds collected and expended during the prior fiscal year, and the status of any project authorized to be funded by this measure.

In addition, an advisory committee of citizens shall be appointed or designated by the Board of Trustees to ensure that the special tax proceeds are spent for their authorized purposes, and to report annually to the Board of Trustees and the public regarding the expenditure of such funds.

Severability

The Board hereby declares, and the voters by approving this measure concur, that every section and part of this measure has independent value, and the Board and the voters would have adopted each provision hereof regardless of every other provision hereof. Upon approval of this measure by the voters, should any part of the measure or taxing formula be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, all remaining parts of the measure or taxing formula hereof shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent allowed by law.