-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Measure E – Jefferson Union High School District (Nov. 2012)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Election - November 6, 2012
San Mateo County
Measure E:
Jefferson Union High School District Bond Issue:
$41.9 million
SVTA recommends a NO vote against Measure E.
Summary of Measure E:
To continue renovating, equipping and constructing classrooms /school facilities including Jefferson, Oceana, Terra Nova, Thornton andWestmoor High Schools and reduce overall borrowing costs, shall $41,900,000 of Jefferson Union High School District bonds, previouslyapproved by voters in November 2006, be reauthorized through issuance of new bonds, with no increase in total authorized District debt,interest rates below legal limits, independent citizen oversight, no money for administrator salaries, and funds spent locally and not takenby the State?
You may read the Full Text and Impartial Analysis of Measure E at the web site of the San Mateo County Elections Office, here.
| Argument in Favor of Measure E | Argument Against Measure E |
|
In November 2006, Jefferson Union High School District voters overwhelmingly passed a general obligation bond to improve our local high schools. Since that time, tremendous improvements have been made in repairing and rehabilitating our schools and classrooms. But much remains to be done. Measure E will reauthorize $41.9 million of previously approved 2006 bonds. By voting YES on Measure E, we can continue the job of improving our local public schools while at the same time SAVING MILLIONS OFTAXPAYER DOLLARS. Here’s how: Measure E will let us continue the job of fixing our schools by: • Expanding District vocational education programs/ facilities including welding, automotive technology, medical and health technology, and construction trades. • Constructing and upgrading science labs. • Improving student access to computers and modern technology. • Repairing and replacing leaky roofs. • Reovating [sic] and replacing outdated plumbing systems. Measure E makes financial sense and has taxpayer protections in place: • Reauthorizing the 2006 bonds will allow the District to borrow at much lower interest rate, saving taxpayers millions of dollars in interest. • Iron-clad restrictions that money can only be spent on improving our schools. No funds can be spent on administrator salaries, pensions, or benefits. • The reauthorized bonds will NOT cause any increase in totalDistrict debt. • Required annual review of all expenditures by an independentcitizens’ oversight committee. • Legally required annual audits. • All Measure E funds MUST be used to improve ourchildren’s schools and CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY BYTHE STATE AND SPENT ELSEWHERE! Our local schools are our most important asset and should be ournumber one priority. Measure E will improve our schools, helpimprove housing values, create jobs for our local economy and savetaxpayers millions of dollars in interest. Please join us by voting YES on Measure E! Marvin Morganti, Chairperson, Jefferson Union High School BondOversight Committee Jean E. Brink, Former Trustee, Jefferson Union High School District Michael D. Nevin, Former President, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Bonnie Louisa B. Mendoza, Parent Leader Thomas A. Nuris, Board Member, Jefferson Union High School District |
When school boards put bond measures like Measure E beforethe voters, they are admitting that everything they are currentlyspending your tax dollars on now is more important than the projects for which this tax increase is being sought. Budgets setpriorities. They are saying every educational dollar spent today is a higher priority than spending to “make health and safety improvements” or to “upgrades to fire sprinkler systems” todistrict schools. Do you agree? The website: www.ed-data.k12.ca.us says there are at least 4,363students in the district, which means the expense is $9,603 per student before adding interest costs. When you buy a home, truth in lending laws require you be informed about the real cost of buying a home. Consumer laws should apply to bond issues. For example borrowing $41,900,000 and paying 3 percent interest for40 years means monthly payments of $150,000 in principle and interest payments for total cost of $72,000,000. As a consumer,you deserved to know the full truth about Measure E. Instead of paying $1,800,000 (interest & principal) a year “to improve building earthquake resistance”, your educational dollarswill go to big banks, investment brokers, and other wealthy peopleto be used as a tax shelter. Is this the best use of your tax dollars? What’s more important to you? 1. Spending $1,800,000 a year on your child’s safety andhealth in the schools. 2. Spending $1,800,000 a year to fund tax shelters for bigbanks, investment brokers, and the rich. If you value “removal of asbestos” more than funding taxshelters, vote NO on Measure E. If you value “Improve(d) student access to computers” morethan making interest payments for 40 years, vote NO onMeasure E. Want more? http://www.SVTaxpayers.org/measure-e John Roeder, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association Harland Harrison,Chair, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County CA |
| Rebuttal to Argument in Favor of Measure E |
Rebuttal to Argument Against Measure E |
|
In 2006, voters passed a $136,900,000 bond measure to “Renovate/upgrade facilities, upgrade technology, and increase safety,” on top of a 1995 bond measure for $30,000,000. (Source: www.Ed-Data.K12.ca.us) Now they’re back for another $41,900,000, even though“$41,901,326.55 of Measure N bonds have been authorized butunissued by the District”--and for what? Answer: “Repairing and replacing leaky roofs” and “Constructingand upgrading science labs.” Sounds pretty similar, doesn’t it? And this for a district with declining student (from 5,143 in school year 2009-10 to 4,960 in 2010-11) and teacher (236.8 full- timeequivalentsto 224.1) populations. Undoubtedly it will ask for the money to acquire, construct, repairclassrooms, sites, facilities and equipment. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Budgets set priorities. Clearly the School Board doesn’t considerthose items a priority, because they’re missing from their currentbudget. Passage of this bond measure will allow the District to increasesalary and pensions of administrators and teachers even higher. But California public school teachers are the highest paid inAmerica. California students rank 48th in math achievement, 49thin reading. (Source: www.LAO.Ca.gov/reports/2011/calfacts/calfacts_010511.aspx) Is it smart to reward poor academic performance and sub-standardmaintenance practices with more money? No, it’s not! Send a message to the School Board that you want real resultsbefore they ask for another dime in tax increases. You can be for children, for schools, for teachers, and against Measure E. Vote NO on Measure E. Want more? www.SVTaxpayers.org/measure-e John Roeder, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association Harland Harrison,Chair, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County CA |
The facts are the facts. • Measure E will SAVE taxpayers MILLIONS of dollars ininterest. Period. • Measure E will let us continue the job of improving ourlocal high schools. • Measure E will create new construction jobs to help ourcommunity. • Measure E will NOT increase total District debt by onepenny. • Measure E money can only be spent on our community’sschools and can’t be used to fund administrative salaries,benefits or pensions. • Measure E funds must, BY LAW, be used to improve ourLOCAL SCHOOLS and cannot be taken by the State andspent elsewhere. By reauthorizing $41.9 million of bonds that WERE ALREADYAPPROVED by you, the voters, in 2006, we can ensure that we getthe best deal possible at the lowest price. Remember, these are OUR COMMUNITY’S SCHOOLS. Theybenefit everyone and are a resource that we must protect. But the benefits of strong public schools go beyond just education.Strong schools help protect housing values, create a stronger localeconomy and lead to safer neighborhoods. So what IS more important to you? Wasting millions of dollars oninterest? Or saving that money and improving our community’shigh schools? Join us. Vote YES on Measure E! Cristina Bernal,Parent Leader, Jefferson HS Alyssa Jenkins,Parent Jeanne L. Matysiak,President, Jefferson Union High School District Board Dolores “Dee” Canepa,Community Leader Kevin Barry Dever,Member, JUHSD Bond Oversight Committee |
Paid for by the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association PAC.