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Measure I – Jefferson Elementary School District (Nov. 2012)
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Election - November 6, 2012
San Mateo County
Measure I
Jefferson Elementary School District Bond Issue:
$67.5 million
SVTA recommends a NO vote against Measure I.
Summary of the measure:
To continue renovating, equipping and constructing classrooms /school facilities including Jefferson, Oceana, Terra Nova, Thornton and Westmoor High Schools and reduce overall borrowing costs, shall $41,900,000 of Jefferson Union High School District bonds, previously approved 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 taken by the State?
You can read the Full Text and the Impartial Analysis of the measure here.
Summary of the measure:
To continue renovating, equipping and constructing classrooms /school facilities including Jefferson, Oceana, Terra Nova, Thornton and Westmoor High Schools and reduce overall borrowing costs, shall $41,900,000 of Jefferson Union High School District bonds, previously approved 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 taken by the State?
You can read the Full Text and the Impartial Analysis of the measure here.
| Argument in Favor of Measure E |
Argument Against Measure E |
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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 OF TAXPAYER 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. • [Renovating] 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 total District debt. • Required annual review of all expenditures by an independent citizens’ oversight committee. • Legally required annual audits. • All Measure E funds MUST be used to improve our children’s schools and CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY BY THE STATE AND SPENT ELSEWHERE! Our local schools are our most important asset and should be our number one priority. Measure E will improve our schools, help improve housing values, create jobs for our local economy and save taxpayers millions of dollars in interest. Please join us by voting YES on Measure E! /s/ Marvin Morganti, Chairperson, Jefferson Union High School Bond Oversight Committee /s/ Jean E. Brink, Former Trustee, Jefferson Union High School District /s/ Michael D. Nevin, Former President, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors /s/ Bonnie Louisa B. Mendoza, Parent Leader /s/ Thomas A. Nuris, Board Member, Jefferson Union High School District |
When school boards put bond measures like Measure E before the voters, they are admitting that everything they are currently spending your tax dollars on now is more important than the projects for which this tax increase is being sought. Budgets set priorities. 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” to district schools. Do you agree? The website: www.ed-data.k12.ca.us says there are at least 4,363 students 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 for 40 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 dollars will go to big banks, investment brokers, and other wealthy people to 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 and health in the schools. 2. Spending $1,800,000 a year to fund tax shelters for big banks, investment brokers, and the rich. If you value “removal of asbestos” more than funding tax shelters, vote NO on Measure E. If you value “Improve(d) student access to computers” more than making interest payments for 40 years, vote NO on Measure E. Want more? http://www.SVTaxpayers.org/measure-e /s/ John Roeder, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association /s/ Harland Harrison, Chair, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County CA |
|
Rebuttal to Argument in Favor of Measure E |
Rebuttal to Argument against Measure E |
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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 but unissued by the District”--and for what? Answer: “Repairing and replacing leaky roofs” and “Constructing and 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-time equivalents to 224.1) populations. Undoubtedly it will ask for the money to acquire, construct, repair classrooms, 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 consider those items a priority, because they’re missing from their current budget. Passage of this bond measure will allow the District to increase salary and pensions of administrators and teachers even higher. But California public school teachers are the highest paid in America. California students rank 48th in math achievement, 49th in reading. (Source: www.LAO.Ca.gov/reports/2011/calfacts/ calfacts_010511.aspx) Is it smart to reward poor academic performance and sub-standard maintenance practices with more money? No, it’s not! Send a message to the School Board that you want real results before 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 /s/ John Roeder, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association /s/ Harland Harrison, Chair, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County CA |
The facts are the facts. • Measure E will SAVE taxpayers MILLIONS of dollars in interest. Period. • Measure E will let us continue the job of improving our local high schools. • Measure E will create new construction jobs to help our community. • Measure E will NOT increase total District debt by one penny. • Measure E money can only be spent on our community’s schools and can’t be used to fund administrative salaries, benefits or pensions. • Measure E funds must, BY LAW, be used to improve our LOCAL SCHOOLS and cannot be taken by the State and spent elsewhere. By reauthorizing $41.9 million of bonds that WERE ALREADY APPROVED by you, the voters, in 2006, we can ensure that we get the best deal possible at the lowest price. Remember, these are OUR COMMUNITY’S SCHOOLS. They benefit 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 local economy and lead to safer neighborhoods. So what IS more important to you? Wasting millions of dollars on interest? Or saving that money and improving our community’s high schools? Join us. Vote YES on Measure E! /s/ Cristina Bernal, Parent Leader, Jefferson HS /s/ Alyssa Jenkins, Parent /s/ Jeanne L. Matysiak, President, Jefferson Union High School District Board /s/ Dolores “Dee” Canepa, Community Leader /s/ Kevin Barry Dever, Member, JUHSD Bond Oversight Committee |
Paid for by the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association PAC.