League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Kern County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Measure H Bond Southern Kern Unified School District 55% Approval Required Pass: 4089 / 68.07% Yes votes ...... 1918 / 31.93% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure H

Schools are an important part of our community. Rosamond's population has continued to grow. Our schools are overcrowded. We are 1,000 students over our built capacity. Rosamond High and Hamilton Elementary have shared the same plot of land since 1965. Measure "H" would allow for the expansion of the high school and the construction of a new Hamilton Elementary. Tropico Middle School is overcrowded and must be expanded to provide enough space and facilities for students. Half the students in Rosamond attend classes in portables, some of which are twenty years old. We need a permanent solution to provide schools comparable to neighboring communities. The District qualifies for $58 million in State funding, but these funds require a local match. Measure "H" provides that match. Your YES vote will build permanent classrooms, libraries and computer labs, restore class size reduction, and improve student access to computers and modern technology. MEASURE "H" MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE. IT WILL: Extend existing tax rates - it will not increase our property taxes. Qualify the District for $58 million in State funding Build school facilities now, instead of later, when they will cost more As taxpayers, we know it is crucial to have quality local public schools. MEASURE "H" HAS TAXPAYER SAFEGUARDS. IT REQUIRES: An independent citizens' oversight committee of business leaders, parents, seniors, and taxpayers Annual financial and performance audits to ensure funds are only spent on voter-approved projects Funds be used only to improve schools - not to pay employee salaries JOIN PARENTS, TEACHERS, SENIORS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS! Measure "H" is a vote for opportunity. It will fund new libraries, computer labs and classrooms so that every child in our schools will have access to quality education. VOTE YES ON MEASURE "H"! s/Ralph Nelson, Board of Trustees, President s/Robert C. Scherer, Ed.D., Senior Citizen & Chamber Member of Rosamond s/Tim Atkerson, Teacher s/Mario Gutierrez, Auto Pros II owner Business s/Luke Stone, Parent (No arguments against Measure H were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement

An election will be held in the Southern Kern Unified School District (the "District") on November 4, 2008 to authorize the sale of up to $24.0 million in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the Measure. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the 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 0.938 cents per $100 ($9.38 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2009-10. 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 2.084 cents per $100 ($20.84 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2018-19. 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 6.000 cents per $100 ($60.00 per $100,000), the current voter approved tax rate. Voters should note that the estimated tax rates are based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls, not on the property's market value. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions. Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District's 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 bond sales, the amount of bonds sold, market interest rates at the time of each sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on the need for construction funds 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 District as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

Full Text of Measure H

This measure may be known and referred to as the Southern Kern Unified School District School Construction and Improvement Measure H. FINDINGS The Southern Kern Unified School District (the "District) was organized in 1962 to educate the children of Rosamond. Southern Kern Unified School District schools educate approximately 3,600 students in grades K-12, a number projected to grow by over 2,300 students in the next five years. Currently, there are over 3,200 approved subdivision lots awaiting construction within the District's boundaries. Many of the District's schools are close to their maximum capacity and many students attend classes in portable facilities. We now need to invest in our local schools so we can keep up with growth in our area. The bond will qualify the District for $58 million in State Aid to fund new classrooms, libraries, computer labs and other improvements so that every child in our schools will have access to a quality education. Rosamond High and Hamilton Elementary have shared the same plot of land since 1965. The high school's enrollment growth requires expansion and resulted in the temporary closure of Hamilton Elementary School. This measure would allow for the expansion of the high school and the construction of a new Hamilton Elementary School. Over half the students in Rosamond attend classes in portables. This bond measure will provide permanent classrooms and expanded facilities to reduce overcrowding. Tropico Middle School is overcrowded. Now is the time to expand it to provide enough space and facilities for students. In 2002, voters in Southern Kern Unified School District passed Measure "H" to improve local schools. The District kept its promises with the previous bond measure approved by voters, completing Westpark Elementary School, purchasing back district property, maintaining class-size reduction, improving the cafeteria at Rosamond High School and improving technology throughout the district. This measure requires an independent citizens' oversight committee, and guaranteed annual audits to ensure the money is spent as promised, and no money will be spent on administrator's salaries. The District continues to seek all available outside sources of funding to improve our school buildings, including local, state, and federal grants. However, these sources are not sufficient to meet our facilities needs and require local funding to secure State eligibility. It is necessary to seek voter approval of a bond measure in order to provide the local funding for the identified school facilities. BOND AUTHORIZATION By approval of this measure by at least fifty-five percent (55%) of the registered voters voting on this measure, the District shall be authorized to issue and sell bonds in an amount of up to $24,000,000 in principal, with interest at or below the legal limit. The bond proceeds shall be used to provide financing only for specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List attached hereto as Attachment A-1, subject to the accountability requirements specified below. TAX RATES The Board hereby states its intention to structure each bond sale of this authorization so that the combined tax rate for general obligation bonds of the District issued under the 2002 election and this authorization will not exceed $60.00 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. BOND PROJECT LIST The Bond Project List attached to this resolution as Attachment A-1 shall be considered a part of the ballot proposition and shall be reproduced in any official document required to contain the full statement of the bond proposition. Approval of this Bond Measure (the "Measure") does not guarantee that the proposed projects will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the Measure. The District's capital needs exceed the amount of bonds the voters are being asked to authorize. The District will seek funds from other sources to advance the project list as far as possible. If matching funds from the State or any other source become available, they will be used for and applied to the Bond Project List. ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS The provisions in this section are specifically included in this Measure in order that the voters and taxpayers in the District may be assured that their money will be spent wisely to address specific facilities needs of the District, all in compliance with the requirements of Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3), of the State Constitution and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at Education Code Sections 15264 and following), which was adopted following the passage of Proposition 39. Evaluation of Needs. The Governing Board has prepared an updated facilities plan in order to identify all current and anticipated facilities needs of the District and determine which projects to finance from a local bond and other sources at this time. The Governing Board hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction, enrollment growth, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List contained in Attachment A-1. Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Governing Board shall establish an Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Education Code, commencing with section 15278, to ensure bond proceeds are expended only on the school facilities and on the projects listed in Attachment A-1. The Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee shall be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Governing Board. The District shall, without expending bond funds, provide the Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee with any necessary technical and administrative support in furtherance of its purpose, and sufficient resources to publicize the conclusions of the committee. Performance Audits. The Governing Board shall conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Attachment A-1. Financial Audits. The Governing Board shall conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed in Attachment A-1. Special Bond Proceeds Account: Annual Report to Governing Board. Upon approval of this Measure and a subsequent sale of authorized bonds, the Governing Board shall take actions necessary to establish an account in which proceeds of the sale of bonds will be deposited. As long as any proceeds of the bonds remain unexpended, the Superintendent shall cause a report to be filed with the Governing Board annually, stating (I) the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in that year, and (2) the status of any project funded or to be funded from bond proceeds. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period as the Superintendent shall determine and may be incorporated in the annual budget, audit, or another appropriate routine report to the Governing Board. FURTHER SPECIFICATIONS No Administrator Salaries. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of school facilities including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities or acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities and construction management by district personnel and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses. The proceeds of the bonds will be deposited into a fund to be held by the Kern County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code. ATTACHMENT A-1 BOND PROJECT LIST The District intends to undertake the following projects using a combination of funding sources. It is anticipated that bond proceeds will contribute $24,000,000 to said total cost. As required by the California Constitution, the proceeds from the sale of bonds will be used only to acquire or improve real property, and for furnishing and equipping school facilities and not for any other purposes, including teacher and administrator salaries or other school operating expenses. This Bond Project List assumes that additional funding, which could include State funds, or other funds of the District and/or other sources, will be available to the District. To the extent funds are available, the District intends to acquire, construct, modernize, and improve District schools, including but not limited to the improvements described below. SCHOOL PROJECTS Rosamond High School: Replace portable classrooms with permanent classrooms Build additional new permanent classrooms Provide gymnasium facilities for joint school and community use Provide a cafeteria/multipurpose building for joint school and community use Tropico Middle School: Replace portable buildings with permanent classrooms Build additional new permanent classrooms Build a library and computer lab to improve student access to information and technology Provide gymnasium facilities for joint school and community use Land Acquisition Hamilton Elementary School: Build a new Hamilton Elementary School for existing students and enrollment growth District-wide Additional Projects: Improve energy systems and student access to computers and technology Construct and improve student support facilities Purchase land required to build new facilities Purchase leased facilities Furnish and equip school facilities Perform necessary site preparation/restoration in connection with new construction, renovation or deferred maintenance of school facilities Address unforeseen conditions revealed by construction or emergency repairs (e.g., plumbing or gas line breaks, seismic, structural, asbestos and other hazardous materials)