League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	marin County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Measure E Special Parcel Tax to Support Academic Programs Ross School District Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 930 / 75.55% Yes votes ...... 301 / 24.45% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure E	Arguments Against Measure E
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE E Ross School has provided generations of our community's children with excellent elementary and middle school education. Earlier this year, Ross School was again recognized as a "California Distinguished School." We have an outstanding, experienced faculty and our students consistently score among the highest in the state. This excellence has been achieved in our district through parent contri - butions and involvement, rigorous cost controls and a community parcel tax. Since 1989, our community has supported Ross School through a voter-approved parcel tax and has generously renewed this parcel tax every time it has been on the ballot. These funds go directly to the Ross School District and stay under local control. No funds can be taken by the state or redirected to other school districts. Voting YES on E will renew funding to maintain: High-quality, innovative academic programs An outstanding, experienced faculty Low student-to-teacher ratio Vibrant performing and fine arts programs Student support systems for additional academic support and acceleration Specialized enrichment programs including science, technology, engineering and design/build courses Due to recent changes in state funding of public schools, Ross currently receives significantly less state fund ing than when our community last voted in favor of the parcel tax eight years ago. The district is asking voters to approve a one-time increase to the parcel tax to help partially offset these funding decreases. The eight-year term, 3% escalator and exemption for seniors all remain unchanged. Whether or not you have school-age children, protecting the quality of our local school is a wise investment. An outstanding school attracts families to our community and protects our property values and quality of life. Please join parents, teachers, seniors, long-time residents and others across our community in extending our foundation of excellence at Ross School. Please Vote YES on E. s/GARRETT SCALES Former Mayor, Town of Ross; Ross School, Class of 1953 s/CARLA SMALL Former Mayor, Town of Ross; Ross Town Council s/ELIZABETH ROBBINS, M.D. Ross Town Council; Former President, Ross School Board of Trustees s/THOMAS GAFFNEY Former Chairman, Ross School Citizens' Facilities Committee; Ross School, Class of 1957 s/JOHN LONGLEY President, Ross School Board of Trustees	No arguments against Measure E were submitted.

Full Text of Measure E

FULL TEXT OF MEASURE E BOARD OF TRUSTEES ROSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT MARIN COUNTY, STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESOLUTION NO. #18 - 13 RESOLUTION AND ORDER OF ELECTION FOR A SPECIAL PARCEL TAX ASSESSMENT RESOLVED, by the Board of Trustees (the "Board") of the Ross Elementary School District (the "District"), as follows: WHEREAS, for many years the State Legislature has provided inadequate funding for educational programs at the District; WHEREAS, the District has engaged in various efforts to generate funds for its educational programs, including lobbying the State Legislature, local fund-raising efforts and cost-cutting measures; and WHEREAS, Section 4 of Article XIIIA of the Cali - fornia Constitution and section 50075 et seq., 53720 et seq., and 50079 of the California Government Code authorizes a school district, following notice and public hearing, to levy a special tax for specified purposes upon approval of two-thirds of the electorate voting on the measure ("Parcel Tax"); WHEREAS, for the past 25 years, starting in 1989 (through June 1994), in 1994 (through June 1999), in 1999 (through June 2007), and in 2007 (through 2014), the District has received Parcel Tax revenue to generate funds for the District's educational programs; WHEREAS, the existing Parcel Tax currently provides approximately 10% of the District's annual revenue and allows it to maintain low student-to-teacher ratios and offer a variety of programs; and WHEREAS, the Board believes that it is necessary to continue the Parcel Tax to provide educational opportunities for the District's students; NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby DECLARED and ORDERED, as follows: Section 1. The Board hereby proposes to call an election on November 4, 2014, for a Parcel Tax for the specific purposes enumerated in Section 2 of this resolution. Section 2. At said election the following measure shall be submitted to the voters of this District: "Measure E" (Special Parcel Tax for Ross School District) "To support high quality, innovative academic programs; attract and retain highly qualified teachers; maintain low student-to-teacher ratios; support the visual and performing arts and technology integration; and offset funding cuts by the State; shall the Ross School District renew its existing education parcel tax for eight years, with a onetime increase of $184, maintaining 3% annual adjustments, all funds staying local, with exemptions for property owners aged 65 and older?" This Parcel Tax shall be at the rate of $955.11 in the first year, with a 3% cost-of-living adjustment to be ap plied annually per assessor's parcel for a period of eight (8) years (through June 30, 2023). An exemption from the assessment will be made available to each individual in the District who will reach age 65 prior to September 1 of the assessment year, who owns a beneficial interest in the parcel, who uses that parcel as his or her principal place of residence, and who applies to the District on or before September 1, 2015 or September 1 of any succeeding assessment year. Any one application from a qualified applicant will provide an exemption for the parcel for the remaining term of the assessment so long as such applicant continues to use the parcel as his or her principal residence. Section 3. On July 1, 2015, and thereafter, the Parcel Tax shall be collected and administered by the Marin County Tax Collector at the same time as and along with the general ad valorem property taxes collected by said tax collector. Section 4. If any section, sub-section, phrase or clause of this resolution is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this resolution. This Board declares that it would have adopted this resolution and each section, sub-section, phrase or clause thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, sub-sections, phrases or clauses be declared invalid. Section 5. This measure shall be submitted to the voters of the District at the general election to be held November 4, 2014, and shall take effect immediately upon its confirmation by two-thirds (2/3rds) of the votes. Section 6. The text of the measure as displayed on each individual ballot shall be abbreviated and shall read as follows: ROSS SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIAL PARCEL TAX "To support high quality, innovative academic programs; attract and retain highly qualified teachers; maintain low student-to-teacher ratios; support the visual and performing arts and technology integration; and offset funding cuts by the State; shall the Ross School District renew its existing education parcel tax for eight years, with a one-time increase of $184, maintaining 3% annual adjustments, all funds staying local, with exemptions for property owners aged 65 and older?" YES NO Section 7. The Marin County Superintendent of Schools is hereby requested to prepare and execute a Formal Notice of Parcel Tax Election and consolidation order in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Formal Notice"), and to call the election by causing the Formal Notice to be posted in accordance with section 5362 of the California Education Code no later than August 6, 2014, or to otherwise cause the notice to be published as permitted by law. The Clerk of the Board, on behalf of and as may be requested by the Marin County Superintendent of Schools, is authorized to cause notices required by law in connection herewith to be published and posted, as the case may be. Section 8. Pursuant to section 5303 of the California Education Code, the Marin County Registrar of Voters is requested to take all steps to hold the election in accordance with law and these specifications. The Marin County Registrar of Voters is hereby requested to reprint the measure in its entirety in the voter information pamphlet to be distributed to voters pursuant to section 13307 of the California Elections Code. In the event the measure in Section 3 will not be reprinted in the voter information pamphlet in its entirety, the Marin County Registrar of Voters is hereby requested to print, immediately below the impartial analysis of the measure, in no less than 10-point boldface type, a legend substantially as follows: "The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure E. If you desire a copy of the measure, please call the Marin County Registrar of Voters at 415-473-6456 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you." The Marin County Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Supervisors of Marin County are requested to order consolidation of the election with such other elections as may be held on the same day in the same territory or in a territory that is in part the same. The Board of Supervisors of Marin County is authorized to canvass the returns of the election pursuant to section 10411 of the California Elections Code. Section 9. The President of the Board, or any member or members of the Board as the President shall designate, is hereby authorized, but not directed, to prepare and file with the Marin County Registrar of Voters a ballot argument in favor of the proposition contained in Section 2 hereof, within the time established by the Marin County Registrar of Voters, which shall be considered the official ballot argument of the Board as sponsor of the proposition. Section 10. This resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption. The above Resolution is adopted this 25th day of June, 2014. Ayes: 3 Nays: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 2 s/JOHN LONGLEY President Ross School Board of Trustees ATTEST: s/WHIT GAITHER Vice President Ross School Board of Trustees