12,517 / 67.1% Yes votes ...... 6,146 / 32.9% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

The Tustin Unified School District has proposed to the voters that general obligation bonds of School Facilities Improvement District No. 2002-1 of the Tustin Unified School District ("Improvement District") be issued in an amount up to $80,000,000 and that ad valorem taxes be levied upon taxable property in the Improvement District to repay the bonded indebtedness. The measure provides that proceeds from the sale of the bonds will generally be used to improve school facilities benefiting the Improvement District, including renovation, modernization and construction of school buildings and facilities, replacing furniture and equipment, upgrading fire safety, communications, security, electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and mechanical systems, construction of additional classrooms, repair and replacement of roofs, removal of hazardous materials, seismic upgrades and improved access for disabled persons. The measure further provides that bond proceeds will also be used to acquire real property to be used for a new elementary school.

The measure provides that a citizens' oversight committee will be established to ensure that bond proceeds are properly expended and that annual performance and financial audits will be conducted. The measure further provides that bond proceeds will not be used for teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

The Board of Education of the Tustin Unified School District has called the election for the purpose of submitting the measure to the voters within the Improvement District. If 55% of the voters of the Improvement District voting on the measure vote yes, the Improvement District may proceed to sell the bonds and levy the related taxes as estimated in the Tax Rate Statement. A no vote on this measure will disapprove the issuance of the bonds and the levy of the taxes for such bonded indebtedness.

Approval of Measure G does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Improvement District that are the subject of bonds under Measure G will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure G. The Improvement District's proposal for the project or projects may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.

Over the years, the district has wisely invested limited resources on quality classroom instruction. Limited state and local monies available for school facilities have been used responsibly to construct additional classrooms to accommodate growth, as well as to make critically needed improvements to older schools.

Unfortunately, the needs of our older schools far exceed the limited and restricted funds available. Built more than thirty years ago, these schools have serious problems common to aging buildings. Heating, plumbing, roof, and sewer systems have deteriorated. Electrical systems are outdated and cannot safely handle increased demand for technology. Many bathrooms need to be renovated. Significant repairs are needed to eliminate asbestos and meet current safety standards.

After studying the extensive needs of our community's older schools, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to place Measure G on the ballot. Measure G will provide $80 million in local funds needed to repair and renovate our neighborhood schools and qualify those schools to receive $37 million in future state matching funds. Without passage of Measure G these funds (our tax dollars) will go to other districts.

All monies raised by Measure G will remain in our community to benefit local students and our older neighborhood schools. By law, bond funds can only be used to repair, renovate, and upgrade school facilities. Money cannot be spent on staff salaries or administrators. An independent Citizens' Oversight Committee must be appointed to ensure public accountability of all money spent. Independent audits will be conducted and published annually.

Measure G is supported by parents, teachers, senior citizens, homeowners, and business leaders.

Based upon the foregoing and projections of the assessed valuation within the District, and assuming the entire debt service will be paid through property taxation:

1. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement is $39.92 per $100,000 of assessed valuation for the year 2004-05.

2. The best estimate from official sources of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the last sale of the bonds and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $38.13 per $100,000 of assessed valuation for the year 2008-09.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply, based on estimated assessed valuation available at the time of filing of this statement is $39.94 per $100,000 of assessed valuation for the year 2032-33.

Attention to all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon projections and estimates only. The actual times of sales of said bonds and the amount sold at any given time will be governed by the needs of the District, the Tustin Unified School District and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold, which in any event will not exceed the maximum permitted by law, will depend upon the bond market at the time of sales. The actual assessed values in the future years will depend upon the value of property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process. Hence, the actual tax rates and the years in which such rates are applicable may vary from those presently estimated as above stated.