Election - November 6, 2012
San Mateo County

Measure H:
San Carlos School District Bond Issue:

$72 million


SVTA recommends a NO vote
against Measure H.


Summary of Measure H:


“To improve, repair and equip San Carlos elementary and middle school facilities, including upgrading science and computer labs, libraries, classrooms and schools, adding classrooms and schools on existing sites to reduce overcrowding, renovating schools to meet health and safety standards, providing computers and other instructional technology equipment and infrastructure, and improving energy efficiency, shall San Carlos School District issue $72 million in bonds, at legal rates, with citizens’ oversight, annual audits and all funds used for San Carlos school facilities?”


You may read the Full Text and the Impartial Analysis of the measure here.


 Argument in Favor of Measure H  Argument Against Measure H
 

Vote YES on H to repair and upgrade aging classrooms, science labs and technology in our excellent San Carlos elementary and middle schools, and prepare students to excel in high school, college and the 21st-century workplace.

 San Carlos School District provides an excellent education. With great academic programs in math, science, reading and writing, as well as qualified teachers, our schools rank among the best in San Mateo County.

 However, our oldest schools were built between 1920 and 1950 and need critical repairs to improve student safety, as well as upgrades for modern science and technology instruction.

 By repairing old classrooms and inefficient electrical, heating and ventilation systems, our schools will cut expenses and utility bills, saving over $7.8 millionundefinedmoney that can be used to protect quality education in the classroom.

 Additionally, many local schools are 20% over capacity, and student enrollment is expected to grow by another 20% in just a few years. To avoid severe overcrowding, which hurts students’ ability to learn, local schools require additional classrooms.

 Vote YES on H to continue excellence in San Carlos schools.

 • Update science labs, libraries and educational technology

 • Complete necessary classroom repairs to meet current health and safety codes

 • Replace old siding, remove dry rot and replace cracked, leaking windows

 • Improve energy efficiency to save money that can be used in classrooms

 • Provide additional classrooms to reduce school overcrowding Measure H provides local control and financial accountability.

 • The State cannot take away a single penny of Measure H funds

 • Citizen oversight and annual audits ensure funds are spent as promised

 • No funds for administrators’ salaries, pensions or benefits

  Our schools are a source of community pride, making San Carlos a desirable place to live and protecting high property values for all of us.

 Please join parents, teachers and community leaders undefinedvote YES on H.

 /s/ Bob Bredel, San Carlos Realtor

 /s/ Linda Teutschel, Former San Carlos Citizen of the Year

 /s/ Jennifer Webb, Past President, San Carlos Education Foundation

 /s/ Greg St. Claire, San Carlos Business Owner

 /s/ Ted Lempert, Former California State Assemblymember

 

When school boards put bond measures, like Measure H, before the voters, they are saying, in effect, that everything else they are currently spending your tax dollars on, is more important than the projects for which this tax increase is being sought. They are saying every educational dollar spent today is more important than “to meet current safety codes” and to “insure student safety in the event of an earthquake”.

Do you agree?

Furthermore, according to the 2011 STAR test results, there are 2,414 students in the district, which means the expense is $29,826 per student before adding interest expenses and repayment of principle.

 When you buy a home, the truth in lending laws require you be informed about the real cost of buying a home. Consumer laws should apply to bond issues. A $72,000,000 bond issue paying, for example, 3 percent interest for 40 years means monthly payments of $257.748.78 in principle and interest payments for total cost of $123,719,414.40. As a consumer, you deserved to know the full truth about measure H.

 Instead of paying $3,092.985.36 (interest & principal) a year “to meet current safety codes”, 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 $3,092.985.36 a year on your child’s safety and health in the schools.

 2. Spending $3,092.985.36 a year to fund tax shelters for big banks, investment brokers, and the rich.

 If you value your child’s health and safety more than funding tax shelters, vote NO on Measure H.

 If you value school maintenance more than making bond payments for 40 years, vote NO on Measure H.

 For more details, please visit our website: http://www.SVTaxpayers.org/measure-h

 /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 H
 Rebuttal to
Argument Against Measure H
 

In 2005, voters passed a $38,000,000 bond measure for “classroom renovations, repair and upgrade of roofs, electrical, plumbing, heating.” (Source: www.Ed-Data.K12.ca.us)

 Now they’re back for another $72,000,000--and for what?

 Answer: “Complete necessary classroom repairs,” and “remove dry rot and replace cracked, leaking windows.”

 Sounds pretty similar, doesn’t it?

 And what will they be back for next time? Another bond issue at $106,000,000?

 Undoubtedly, they will say the money is to complete necessary classroom repairs.

 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 School Board to increase salaries and pensions of administrators and teachers even higher.

 But California public school teachers are the highest paid in the nation. California students rank 48th in math achievement, 49th in reading. (Source: www.LAO.Ca.gov/reports/2011/calfacts/ calfacts_010511.aspx)

 Is it a good idea to reward poor academic performance and substandard maintenance 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.

 If you value school maintenance more than making 40 years of bond payments, vote NO on Measure H.

 Remember, you can be for students and for schools, and against Measure H.

 For more details, please visit our website:

 www.SVTaxpayers.org/measure-h

 /s/ John Roeder, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association

 /s/ Harland Harrison, Chair, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County CA

 

It’s a shame that rigid ideologuesundefinedwho don’t live in San Carlosundefined are misleading voters to the detriment of local elementary and middle school students. These naysayers submitted arguments against all school measures in San Mateo County, full of mistruths and distortions.

 If they lived in San Carlos, these two lone opponents would know that education is a community priority. That is why student academic performance in our schools is among the top in the State. In addition, excellent schools protect property values for all, so our community has consistently supported strong education.

 The facts speak for themselves.

 • Every penny of Measure H funds go directly to neighborhood San Carlos elementary and middle schools and cannot be taken by the State. Measure H is a local solution since we can’t rely on the State to provide the funding necessary to repair and upgrade our schools.

 • Fact: Measure H is limited to priority school repairs and upgrades. Measure H will:

 • Update science labs, libraries and classroom technology

 • Repair classrooms to meet current health and safety codes

 • Replace old siding, remove dry rot and replace cracked, leaking windows

 • Improve energy efficiency to save money

 • Reduce school overcrowding

 • No Measure H funds can be used for administrators’ salaries, pensions or benefits.

 • Citizen oversight and annual audits ensure Measure H funds complete voter-approved projects.

Measure H continues our local school district’s history of sound fiscal management and focus on student achievement. Join us to protect our schools and keep our community strongundefinedVote Yes on H.

 /s/ Heather Alexander, CPA

 /s/ Ronald Collins, San Carlos City Councilmember

 /s/ Vicci Mueller, Teacher

 /s/ Pamela Louie, San Carlos School District Citizen’s Oversight Committee Member

 /s/ Janet L. Hall, Former San Carlos PTA Council President


Paid for by the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association PAC.

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