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Smart Voter
Los Angeles County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
Measure S
School Improvement Bonds
Temple City Unified School District

School Bond - 55% Approval Required

Pass: 6,454 / 64.35% Yes votes ...... 3,575 / 35.65% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Dec 2 2:20pm, 100.00% of Precincts Reporting (18/18)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement |

To maintain high quality education, prepare local students for college and careers, equip schools with current technology, upgrade security, fire safety, electrical, plumbing, heating/cooling systems, repair old roofs, upgrade science labs, construct, repair, acquire classrooms, vocational education facilities, sites, facilities and equipment, shall Temple City Unified School District issue $128,800,000 in bonds, at legal rates, with citizen oversignt, annual audits, no money for pensions or administrators' salaries, and all funds locally controlled and not be taken by Sacramento?

Impartial Analysis from John F. Krattli, County Counsel
Approval of Measure S would authorize the Board of Education ("Board") of the Temple City Unified School District ("District"), to issue general obligation bonds, in an amount not to exceed $128,800,000.

Funds received from the sale of the bonds shall be used only for the specific purposes set forth in the Measure, including technology updates and upgrades in science labs, computer labs and libraries; upgrading, repairing and replacing restrooms, floors, walkways, roofs, lighting, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical systems, fire alarms, security and emergency communication systems; removing asbestos; improving pick-up, drop-off zones and parking lots; and upgrading handicap accessibility. No funds may be used for teacher or administrator salaries or other school operating expenses.

Independent performance and financial audits will be performed annually to ensure that the funds received from the sale of the bonds are expended as specified in the Measure. The Board shall appoint an independent Citizens Oversight Committee in compliance with Education Code section 15278 no later than 60 days after the Board enters the election results in its minutes.

The bonds issued pursuant to the Education Code shall have a maturity not exceeding twenty five (25) years, and the bonds issued pursuant to the Government Code shall have a maturity not exceeding forty (40) years. The best estimate of the highest annual tax rate required to fund the bonds, based on the estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing the Tax Rate Statement on the measure, is estimated to be $58.80 per $100,000 of the taxable property within the District.

This Measure requires a fifty-five percent (55%) vote for passage.

NOTICE TO VOTERS

Approval of Measure S does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Temple City Unified School District that are the subject of bonds under Measure S will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure S. The district's proposal for the project or projects may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.

 
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Arguments For Measure S Arguments Against Measure S
Protect quality education in Temple City's award-winning schools - Vote YES on S!

Temple City's property values are among the highest in Los Angeles County due largely to the excellence of our outstanding, high-achieving schools-we must keep it that way!

YES on S protects high quality instruction in core subjects -- math, science, reading and writing -- by making necessary repairs in our local schools. Every Temple City neighborhood school will receive funding. Upgrading our schools and classrooms allows us to continue attracting and retaining excellent, top quality teachers.

YES on S updates technology in science/computer labs and school libraries to enhance student learning and keeps test scores high.

YES on S funds safe, clean schools. We must upgrade school safety equipment, fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers, door safety locks, safety lighting and fencing. Yes on S upgrades heating and cooling systems, repairs leaky roofs and deteriorating electrical systems, wiring, and restrooms, removes hazardous materials such as asbestosllead paint, and replaces outdated plumbing systems to address code, student health and safety issues.

YES on S improves performing arts and hands-on learning. By upgrading science labs, art, performing arts, and vocational education classrooms, children will have the tools they need to learn, excel, and receive a well-rounded education.

Improving our physical education facilities helps children stay focused and engaged in school, while providing important programs that assist with anti-bullying.

YES on S includes stringent fiscal accountability protections. Independent Citizens' Oversight and annual audits are required to ensure money is spent as promised to you, the taxpayer. All funds are legally required to benefit our local schools-no money can be seized by Sacramento or spent on pensions or administrators' salaries!

Join Temple City educators, parents, seniors, local business owners, and community leaders - vote YES on S to maintain quality schools! Visit http://www.yesonstemplecityschools.com.

VINCENT YU
Temple City Mayor

MATT W. SMITH
President, Temple City Board of Education

STACI HAZLETT
President, Temple City Council PTA

PETER CHOI
President & CEO, Temple City Chamber of Commerce

LINDA SIMONS
Temple City High School Teacher

Rebuttal to Arguments For
Does it even make sense to approve a multimillion dollar bond during this period of economic uncertainty?

Should we place an additional burden on Temple City property owners when everyday living costs, such as food and gas, are going up? Why are we focusing on new construction even as we struggle to retain teachers and clerical staff?

Proponents of Measure S want you to believe that to have excellent schools we need to have state of the art facilities. The truth is that we will continue to have quality schools regardless of Measure S.

Vote No on Measure S. Let's not allow Temple City residents to be hit by higher property taxes, higher sales taxes, and higher income taxes.

Vote No on Measure S: Let's maintain parents and students' ability to afford participation in extracurricular activities and programs.

Vote No on Measure S: Let's protect renters from higher monthly rental payments.

Temple City already supports Temple City schools. That's why we approved the 1998 school bond. That's why we give when the local schools' foundation asks of us.

However, proponents of Measure S still want more money to spend. When will enough be enough? Let's send a message loudly and clearly by voting NO on Measure S. It's time to say ENOUGH.

Please join Temple City parents, seniors, and community leaders. Vote NO on Measure S.

MATTHEW WONG
Temple City Resident/Former Student

MARY KOKAYKO
Temple City Senior Citizen

JOHANNA M. BENNETT
Temple City Resident

ANGELES DORANTES
Temple City Parent

BOWMAN LEE
Temple City Resident

What Does High Quality Education TRULY Require?

Active parental involvement in schools? YES
Professional quality administrators, teachers, and classified employees? YES
A $128.8 million bond measure? NO

Proponents of Measure S argue that Temple City needs state of the art facilities to "maintain" high quality education. The truth of the matter is, we do not.

What This Bond Means ...

For PARENTS and STUDENTS, Measure S may result in fewer opportunities to participate in athletics, performing arts, and other extracurricular activities, because of new fiscal demands on our families.

For HOMEOWNERS, Measure S will force you to pay more on your property taxes, in addition to what you already pay for a 1998 school district bond measure. If you purchased a home within the past few years, you may end up paying hundreds of dollars every year.

For RENTERS, Measure S may lead to higher monthly rental payments because property owners will likely pass the burden of the new taxes to you.

We already showed our support for Temple City schools when we passed a bond measure in 1998, as well as when we gave our time and money to support the schools' foundation. In these economic times, we should not place a new burden upon Temple City Unified residents. Instead of indebting ourselves for another generation, why not carefully manage what we already have? Our primary focus should be to ensure that we continue to have quality teachers and smaller class sizes. Let's concentrate on our children and their educators before we take on any more projects.

Please vote NO on Measure S.

MATTHEW WONG
Temple City Resident/Former Student

MARY KOKA YKO
Temple City - Senior Citizen

ANGELES DORANTES
Temple City Parent

JOHANNA BENNETT
Temple City Resident

BOWMAN LEE
Temple City Resident

Rebuttal to Arguments Against
Temple City Unified School District prides itself on its fiscal accountability and award-winning schools. But we can't control the fact that Sacramento politicians keep cutting our funding!

The fact is, Temple City students are learning in schools/classrooms that have lead paint, asbestos, and bad air circulation. Unlike our opponents, you can do something about it! Vote YES on S!

Fact: Your support did enable us to repair/upgrade our schools 14 years ago, but our schools now have current technology, health/safety repair needs. Sacramento politicians have cut 1/5th of our schools' budgets and there is no money available for current essential repairs.

Fact: Measure S payments are based on assessed--not market--valuation. Long-time homeowners will pay less. Our excellent schools contribute to Temple City's strong property values + to maintain yours, vote YES on S!

Fact: Up-to-date schools/classrooms retain and attract quality teachers. YES on S protects high quality math, science, reading, and writing instruction and provides more hands-on learning opportunities for our students in arts, performing arts, science, and vocational education. YES on S ensures clean, safe classrooms and updates technology infrastructure.

Fact: Temple City businesses support YES on S -- we must properly prepare our students for college and jobs/careers in today's tough economy.

Yes on S includes tough taxpayer protections/guarantees:

  • Citizens Oversight Committee
  • Published, annual financial audits
  • Legally requires that funds directly benefit local schools
  • Prohibits money from being used for administrators' salaries/pensions.

Vote YES on S!

JERRY JAMBAZIAN
42 Year TCUSD Resident/Taxpayer/Business Owner

MARY SAXON
Parent, TCHS Graduate Class of 1975, 25 Year TCUSD Resident

PETER CHOI
President/CEO, Temple City Chamber of Commerce

DANA TRAN
2011-2012 Temple City High School Student Body President

WATSON GAN
Temple City Realtor

Tax Rate Statement from CHELSEA KANG-SMITH, Ed.D., Superintendent, Temple City Unified School District
An election will be held in the Temple City Unified School District (the "District") on November 6, 2012, for the purpose of submitting to the electors of the District the question of incurring a bonded indebtedness of the District in a principal amount of $128,800,000. If such bonds are authorized and sold, the principal thereof and interest thereon will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information regarding tax rates is given to comply with Section 9401 of the California Elections Code. Such information is based upon the best estimates and projections presently available from official sources, upon experience within the District, and other demonstrable factors.

Based upon the foregoing and projections of the District's assessed valuation, and assuming the entire debt service will be paid through property taxation:

1. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied to fund the 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 $58.80 per $100,000 of assessed valuation for the year 2013-14.

2. The best estimate from official sources of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the last sale of the bonds and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement is $58.80 per $100,000 of assessed valuation for the year 2025-26.

3. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the last fiscal year of the final series and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply based on estimated assessed valuation available at the time of filing this statement is $58.80 per $100,000 of assessed valuation for the year 2055-56.

Attention to all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon projections and estimates only. The actual times of sales of said bonds and the amount sold at any given time will be governed by the needs of the District and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold, which in any event will not exceed the maximum permitted by law, will depend upon the bond market at the time of sales. The actual assessed valuations in the future years will depend upon the value of property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process. Hence, the actual tax rates and the years in which such rates are applicable may vary from those presently estimated as above stated.


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Created: December 17, 2012 13:44 PST
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