FULL TEXT OF BALLOT MEASURE E

Special Tax for Loma Prieta Joint Union School District

In order to maintain the quality of education shall the Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District be authorized to implement a special tax $150 per parcel for each year beginning July 1, 2001 and continuing for nine years thereafter, increasing annually at a rate of 3.5% compounded?

The revenue generated will be used to offset ongoing expenses needed to attract and retain qualified teachers and staff as well as provide for competitive salaries to maintain current programs.

Pursuant to California Constitution Article XIII B the appropriations limit for the Loma Prieta Joint Union School District will be increased by the aggregate sum collected by levy of this special tax in each of the years covered by this Resolution. If any section, subsection, phrase or clause of this measure or its application is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this measure.

The revenue generated will only be used for the specified purposes of the tax as stated above, and not for any other purpose.

The tax revenue will be deposited into a fund to be held by the Santa Clara County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code.

The Superintendent of the District shall file an annual report with the Board of Trustees of the District, commencing not later than January 1, 2002, and annually thereafter, which report shall contain information regarding the amount of funds collected and expended, as well as the status of the project listed in the ballot measure

The following exemptions shall apply to collection of the tax:

1. for the owners of a minor unimproved parcel of less than one acre upon which no habitable structure exists.



2. for the owner, or one owner in joint ownership, of a parcel who has attained 65 years of age or older on or before July 1 of an applicable year and who uses that parcel as his or her principal residence, and on whose property no other habitable structure exists.



3. for the owner of multiple parcels which are contiguous and are part of one economic unit in the same name.



4. for a property owner who has had his/her residence rendered uninhabitable by the damages of a natural disaster and declared so by county government on or before July 1 of an applicable year, and where no other habitable structure exists on that same parcel. Such exemption shall end when said structure becomes habitable during any given year.



5. for a property owner who has had his/her business structure rendered uninhabitable by the damage of a natural disaster and declared so by county government on or before July 1 of an applicable year. Such exemption shall end when said structure becomes habitable during any given year.

MEASURE E

This measure, if approved by two-thirds of those voting, would authorize the Loma Prieta Joint Union School District to levy a new special tax on each parcel of real property. The parcel tax of $150 would be imposed annually for nine years beginning July 1, 2001, with an annual increase of 3.5 percent compounded. It would become a lien and be collected in the same manner as ad valorem real property taxes.

The revenues raised by the special tax would be used to offset ongoing expenses needed to attract and retain qualified teachers and staff as well as to provide for competitive salaries to maintain current programs.

Exemptions from the parcel tax would be allowed for the following: an owner of a minor unimproved parcel of less than one acre upon which no habitable structure exists; an owner, or one owner in joint ownership, of a parcel who has attached age 65 on or before July 1 of an applicable year and who uses that parcel as his or her principal residence; an owner of multiple parcels which are contiguous and are part of one economic unit in the same name; and an owner whose residence or business structure has been rendered uninhabitable by damages of a natural disaster and declared so by county government on or before July 1 of an applicable tax year, and where no other habitable structure exists on that parcel.

In addition to establishing the tax, the measure would increase the district's appropriations limit. The California Constitution restricts governmental spending by setting an annual appropriations (i.e., expenditures) limit for governmental agencies. It allows voters to change the appropriations limit for a period up to four years by approval of a majority of the votes cast. This measure would increase the District's appropriations limit by the amount of the parcel tax if passed.

A "yes" vote is to authorize a special tax per parcel for nine years, and to authorize an increased appropriations limit.

A "no" vote is against authorizing the special tax and increased appropriations limit.

SAMUEL TORRES, JR.
COUNTY COUNSEL

By: Jane M. Scott
Assistant County Counsel

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE E

The children of the Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District need your YES vote for Measure E.

The facts are:

• The Loma Prieta Joint Union School District offers local children educational programs and instructional options that many other school districts around the state are unable to provide.

• The Loma Prieta Elementary School District (LPSD) is sorely under-funded in comparison to other districts; we receive $400 less per student than average in property taxes and state equalization money, placing us fifth from the bottom in the state of California.
• There is a statewide shortage of teachers in California.
• The cost of housing for employees working in our District is among the highest in the state of California.
• The proposed tax of $150 per parcel would raise $282,000, which represents a 6% increase in district funding.
• The revenue from Measure E will be used to offset ongoing expenses needed to attract and retain qualified teachers and staff as well as provide for competitive salaries and to maintain current programs.
• The cost is reasonable:
  For the first year, Measure E adds $150 to each parcel in the LPSD. For each subsequent year, 3.5% is added to the previous year’s amount. This tax will continue for a term of 9 years. This provides a small cost of living increase in subsequent years. This is a minimal cost when compared to the thousands of dollars some parents spend each year to send their children to private school. The return is continuing to keep our School District one of the best in the state of California.

s/ Charles M. Norman
    Grandparent

s/ Lorri Scott
    Mountain Art Guild Member

s/ Stephen Glauz-Todrank
    Minister

s/ Richard J. Coughlin
    Physician

s/ Richard N. Lyness
    President, Loma Prieta Community Foundation