League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Alameda County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Measure G Quality Local Schools and Academic Excellence Measure Hayward Unified School District Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 12736 / 70.83% Yes votes ...... 5245 / 29.17% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure G

Our schools need stable funding that cannot be taken by the state. Measure G will help maintain quality schools in Hayward and help our students achieve academic excellence. Successive state fiscal crisis have led to drastic funding cuts in our classrooms, generating more than $26 million in cuts in our schools With ongoing state cuts to education and unpredictable state funding for the next several years, we cannot allow our schools to decline any further. Measure G will not solve all of our funding needs. It will however prevent more devastating cuts to Hayward Unified classrooms, operations and academic programs, by: Protecting math, reading, writing programs and hands-on science classes and labs; Enhancing library services, 21st Century technology and college preparation programs; Providing programs for all students to meet State academic standards; and Attracting and retaining qualified teachers and school site staff to ensure students receive a quality education in clean, safe, productive classrooms. Measure G is temporary. It will expire in five years and cannot be renewed without voter approval. Strong taxpayer protections are included in the measure. Measure G requires: Independent citizen's oversight to ensure that the money is used as promised None of the money can be spent on administrator salaries. Senior citizens may request exemptions, and Every penny is spent to benefit local children Measure G is a small, but critical first step we can take to ensure stable local funding for schools in Hayward Unified so our students can reach their potential. Please join us in voting YES on Measure G. Argument in Favor of Measure G Signers 1. K. Mercedes Faraj; Hayward Ed. Association-Pres 2. Jerry W Macklin; Pastor 3. Julie R. McKillop; CPA/Business Owner 4. Doris J. Rodriquez; Retired Councilmember/ Grand Parent 5. Ken Rawdon; Mt Eden High Teacher, Choir Director (No arguments against Measure G were submitted)

Full Text of Measure G

This Measure may be known and referred to as the "Quality Local Schools and Academic Excellence Measure" or as "Measure G". FINDINGS: The California budget crisis has led to funding cuts at the Hayward Unified School District (the "District") and to classroom support for students. The decline in California's economy, followed by a decline in State revenues, has led to drastic reductions in school districts' financial resources. Federal stimulus aid resulted in a significant infusion of one-time additional financial resources for the District and helped to mitigate the impact on some + but not all + of the cuts.However, federal support was not a permanent solution and the further deterioration in the California State budget has exacerbated the effects on Hayward schools. This 2011-12 fiscal year, the District will be forced to address budget reductions in the amount of $7.4 million as a result of the Governor's November 2012 budget trigger. Additionally, the District has sustained losses in excess of $26 million since the 2008-09 fiscal years related to increasingly declining California state revenues. The Board of Trustees of the District (the "Board") has determined, in its best judgment, that in order to maintain quality local schools and to achieve academic excellence, an election is advisable and has placed a local funding measure on the June 5, 2012 ballot: To protect critical education programs, with funds that cannot be taken by the State, including: math, reading, writing, and hands-on science classes/labs; enhancing library services, technology and college preparation programs; providing programs for all students to meet State academic standards; and attracting and retaining qualified teachers. The proposed Measure will generate revenues to be spent only within District schools and cannot be taken by the State. It requires an independent citizen's oversight committee to ensure that the money is used as promised within the Resolution, and every penny is spent to benefit local children. None of the money raised by the proposed measure can be spent on administrator salaries. Senior citizens on fixed incomes may request exemption from paying the parcel tax. Based upon these findings, provides as follows: Section 1. Terms of the Measure. (a) Terms and Purposes: Upon approval of two thirds of those voting on this measure, the District shall be authorized to and shall levy a qualified special tax of $58 per year per taxable parcel of real property in the District, commencing July 1, 2012, and expiring June 30, 2017. The qualified special tax shall be known and referred to as the "Quality Local Schools and Academic Excellence Measure" or "Measure G." Proceeds of the Measure shall be authorized to be used to provide quality education in the District by: To protect critical education programs, with funds that cannot be taken by the State, including: math, reading, writing, and hands-on science classes/labs; enhancing library services, technology and college preparation programs; providing programs for all students to meet State academic standards; and attracting and retaining qualified teachers; Shall Hayward Unified School District be authorized to levy $58 per parcel annually, for five years, with an exemption for senior citizens, mandatory citizens' oversight and all money used for classrooms in the Hayward schools? (b) Senior Citizen Exemption Available: An optional exemption from the special tax will be made available annually to each individual in the District who attains 65 years of age prior to July 1 of the tax year, and who owns a beneficial interest in the parcel, and who uses that parcel as his or her principal place of residence, and who applies to the District on or before July 1 of each tax year. Any application for such exemption must be submitted to the District. Once a senior citizen has an approved qualified exemption, no further application is required to maintain the exemption for the term of the parcel tax. Section 2. Accountability Provisions. (a) Citizens' Oversight Committee: An independent citizens' oversight committee shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees to ensure that the proceeds from this measure are expended for the purposes described in the Measure. (b) Government Code Section 50075.1 Compliance: Accountability Requirements: The members of the Board of Trustees, the District Superintendent, and officers of the District are hereby requested and directed, individually and collectively, to provide accountability measures pursuant to Government Code section 50075.1 that include, but are not limited to, all of the following: (i) a statement indicating the specific purposes of the qualified special tax, (ii) a requirement that the proceeds be applied only to the specific purposes identified pursuant to subsection (i), (iii) the creation of a separate special account into which the proceeds from the special taxes shall be deposited, and (iv) an annual report pursuant to Section 50075.3 of the Government Code. (c) Government Code Section 50075.3 Compliance: Annual Report: Pursuant to Section 50075.3 of the Government Code, the Board of Trustees directs that the Assistant Superintendant, Business Services of the District file a report with the Board no later than January 1, 2013, and at least once a year thereafter for the duration of the special tax. The annual report shall contain both of the following: (i) the amount of funds collected and expended from the special taxes, and (ii) the status of any projects or programs required or authorized to be funded as identified in Section 1(a) hereof from the proceeds of the special taxes. (d) Specific Purposes: All of the purposes set forth in the measure shall constitute the specific purposes of the Quality Local Schools and Academic Excellence Measure, and the proceeds of that special tax shall be applied only for such purposes and shall not fund any program, project or reduction other than those authorized above. Section 3. Levy and Collection. (a) Collection: The special tax shall be collected by the Alameda County Treasurer - Tax Collector (the "Tax Collector") at the same time and in the same manner and shall be subject to the same penalties as ad valorem property taxes collected by the Tax Collector. The collection of taxes under the Measure shall not decrease the funds available from other sources of the District in any period from the effective date hereof. (b) Definition: "Parcel of taxable real property" as used herein shall be defined as any unit of real property in the boundaries of the Hayward Unified School District that receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the Tax Collector's Office. (c) Exemption: All property that the Tax Collector has determined to be otherwise exempt from or on which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall also be exempt from the Measure in such year. The Tax Collector's determination of exemption or relief for any reason of any parcel from taxation, other than the Senior Citizen Exemption, shall be final on the taxpayer for purposes of the Quality Local Schools and Academic Excellence Measure. Taxpayers desiring to challenge the Tax Collector's determination should do so under the procedures established by the Tax Collector's Office and Section 4876.5 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code or other applicable law. Taxpayers seeking any refund of taxes paid pursuant to the Quality Local Schools and Academic Excellence Measure shall follow the procedures applicable to tax refunds pursuant to the California Revenue and Taxation Code. (d) List of Senior Citizen Exemption: Parcels owned and occupied by individuals who are 65 years of age or older may be exempt pursuant to the Senior Citizen Exemption provisions set forth above. The District shall annually provide a list to the Tax Collector, on or before a date established by the Tax Collector of each year, of the parcels which the District has approved for the Senior Citizen Exemption as described above. (e) Duration: The collection of taxes pursuant to this Quality Local Schools and Academic Excellence Measure shall be for five years, commencing July 1, 2012 and expiring June 30, 2017. Section 4. Severability. The Board hereby declares, and the voters by approving this Measure concur, that every section, paragraph, sentence and clause 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 be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, all remaining parts hereof shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent allowed by law.