11,384 / 70.7% Yes votes ...... 4,710 / 29.3% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

A "yes" vote is a vote to authorize a qualified special tax on parcels within the Los Altos School District and to increase the district's present appropriations limit for four years.

A NO vote of this measure means:

A "no" vote is a vote not to authorize such a qualified special tax and not to authorize the spending limit increase.

The Board of Trustees proposes to levy a special tax on each parcel within the district. An exemption is available for a person 65 years or older who owns and occupies as a principal residence a parcel and applies to the district for an exemption in accordance with guidelines established by the district.

This measure proposes to increase the existing parcel tax by $333 per year for each parcel in the district. The proceeds of the tax would be used to maintain reduced class size, support small neighborhood schools, hire and retain high quality teachers, fund school libraries, provide student educational materials, retain music, language and computer classes in the junior high schools, and to balance the district's educational program.

The tax would appear as a separate item on each property tax bill and would be levied and collected at the same time and in the same manner as the general tax levy. Upon recording of the resolution confirming the special tax, such tax would be a lien upon the real property affected thereby.

This measure also requires voter approval to increase the spending limits of the district. The California Constitution Article XIIIB, Section 4, restricts government spending by limiting the amount of money which a district may appropriate (spend) in any fiscal year. The Constitution also allows voters of a district to change the appropriations limit, but for no more than four years at a time. Such a change requires approval by a majority of the votes cast by voters in an election.

A "yes" vote is a vote to authorize a qualified special tax on parcels within the Los Altos School District and to increase the district's present appropriations limit for four years.

A "no" vote is a vote not to authorize such a qualified special tax and not to authorize the spending limit increase.

ANN MILLER RAVEL, County Counsel By: /s/ Kathryn A. Berry, Deputy County Counsel

Because this material has been retyped from material filed with the Registrar of Voters there could be errors. For the official information please contact the Registrar of Voters.

Marge Gratiot (650)941-4010; Fax: (650)941-7668

argument in favor (and rebuttal to argument against): Richard Hasenpflug (650)949-5158; Fax: (650)917-0498

argument against (and rebuttal to argument in favor): Mark Hinkle (408)778-2444; Fax: (408)778-1115

Keep Los Altos Schools Strong

Libertarian Party of Santa Clara Co.

Los Altos Elementary School District financial information

Pros & Cons of the Ballot Measures

Oct. 29, 7:30 - 9:15 p.m., Los Altos Library
Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Los Altos/Mtn. View Area and the Los Altos Library

Pros & Cons of the Ballot Measures

Oct. 30, 7 - 9 p.m., Mountain View Library
Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Los Altos/Mtn. View Area

San Jose Mercury News - Oct. 26

• Measures article

• cover story
• about Measure H
• Basic Aid district information
• Senior Tax Exemption

District revenues have not kept pace with the costs of maintaining our high-quality educational program. The Los Altos District has slashed $4 million - over 15% - from its budget since 2000-01 and has begun a study to identify long-term cost containment measures.

A one-time parent fundraising effort restored teachers and librarians for the current school year. However science, music and computer specialists, classroom aides, administrators and custodians have been laid off. Cleaning, school supplies and student health services were slashed.

Measure H will make teacher salaries more competitive with surrounding districts, keep science labs updated, provide qualified science teachers, protect junior high electives like music, foreign language and computers, and preserve small class sizes.

Senior citizens over 65 can exempt themselves.

An independent volunteer oversight committee will ensure every dollar is used to benefit local students. All funds will be spent here in local schools - not one dollar can be taken by the state. Some funds will be reserved for potential cost increases.

If Measure H fails, permanent budget cuts will seriously impact Los Altos students:

• Teachers will be laid off again - permanently this time.
• Library hours will be reduced dramatically at every school.
• Science and computer lab equipment won't be replaced or upgraded when necessary.
• Class size will be increased 30% to over 30 students per class.
• Up to four schools could close - students would be consolidated.
• Ultimately, local teacher salaries will not stay competitive with neighboring districts.

Please help preserve high quality local education. Vote YES on Measure H!

/s/Louis Becker, Los Altos City Councilmember
/s/ Lois Sangster, parent/PTA Council President
/s/ Tom Anderson, retired high-tech executive
/s/ Richard Hasenpflug, Citizens Advisory Committee for Finance, Los Altos School District
/s/ Jeannine Antypas, English teacher, Blach Intermediate School

Taxes are...

• A. too high
• B. about right
• C. too low

  Only if you subscribe to position "C" should you support this tax. However, if you agree with position "B" or "C," please VOTE NO.

  It's no secret that the State of California is embroiled in a financial crisis. But property owners are themselves facing financial troubles.

  The high cost of living here is partly our rising property taxes. If Measure H passes, we could actually lose teachers to communities where property tax is more affordable. Instead of buying votes and offending senior citizens, why not use common sense: exempt teachers from the tax!

  "Up to four schools could close"? Is the district so careless as to have let not one or two, but HALF THE SCHOOLS, slip through the budgetary cracks? Wasn't 1999's $40 million intended to reopen Covington School by -2004-2005? Just how many schools will we end up with?

  Our parcel tax is $264. Measure H would MORE THAN DOUBLE IT! Has the cost of living--or running schools--doubled since that tax was set? Certainly not! Think what you'd provide your child with $333 every year.

  liberty is the founding principle of our great country. Tax pushers are free to contribute their time or money to make improvements they believe in.

  Vote for liberty:
  Just Say "No!" to spending your neighbors' hard-earned, scarce funds during this rough economy.

  Vote for responsible, efficient education spending.

  VOTE NO ON MEASURE H!

  Please visit http://www.VoteNoOnH.org

  /s/ H. R. Strong, Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara Co.
  /s/ Elizabeth C. Brierly, Candidate, State Board of Equalization
  /s/ George M. Swenson, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association
  /s/ Mark W. A. Hinkle, Member of the Executive Committee Libertarian Party of Santa Clara Co.

ALL OF THE MONEY RAISED BY THIS NEW TAX CAN BE USED TO INFLATE TEACHERS' SALARIES.

The District offers exemption from the "parcel tax" to property owners over 65. This is an insult to seniors, and a blatant attempt to "buy" votes. Why not exempt childless property owners as well? Buy a few more votes.

• Supporting individual responsibility and choice in education.
• Reversing growth of the government schooling monopoly.
• Providing tax relief for those who choose to support alternative education.

Let's get our priorities straight: helping the economy recover by reducing taxes will serve our children better in the long run than raising taxes to pay for electives like music.

Why hasn't Los Altos School District made the important repairs from their ongoing budgets? If all budget expenditures during the last few years have been more important than the repairs and replacements they want to make now, what makes them suddenly more important?

We should use the current budget to pay for teachers and make important repairs as needed. With whatever money is left, we should pay for whatever administration Los Altos School District can afford.

Make your vote count. Keep the Los Altos School District accountable. While businesses are intent on cutting costs, don't let the school budget balloon out of control.

You can be FOR schools, FOR students, and AGAINST Measure H.

VOTE NO ON MEASURE H!

For more information please visit our website at http://www.VoteNoOnH.org/

/s/ H. R. Strong, Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara Co.
/s/ Mark W. A. Hinkle, Executive Committee member, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara Co.
/s/ Elizabeth C. Brierly, Candidate, State Board of Equalization
/s/ George Swenson, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association

Maybe that's why they don't appreciate the pride we take in Los Altos School District - the top-rated school district in California.

Measure H is necessary because existing funding is NOT adequate to preserve the teachers and programs that are central to our high quality local schools.

Los Altos School District has cut its budget by over 15% since 2000-01:

• Classroom teachers, science, music and computer specialists, aides, administrators and custodians were laid off - impacting class offerings and sizes
• Cleaning and school supplies were cut by almost 80%
• Student health services were slashed

Supportive parents raised private, one-time donations to preserve some teachers, programs and small class sizes for the current school year - but the district still made almost $2 million in cuts, including laying off some teachers.

If Measure H fails, future budget cuts will significantly harm the high quality of local elementary and middle schools.

Measure H will allow teacher salaries to remain competitive with surrounding districts, maintain library staffing and updated science/computer labs, provide qualified science teachers, protect junior high electives like music, foreign language and technology, and preserve small class sizes.

Senior citizens over 65 can exempt themselves out of concern for the rising cost of living and the fact that many are on fixed incomes.

Please join us: Vote YES on Measure H.

/s/ John Moss, Los Altos City Councilmember
/s/ Pat Millar, Los Altos resident/Vice Chair, Santa Clara Co. Republican Party
/s/ Jim Thurber, Los Altos resident/Treasurer, United Democratic Campaign for Santa Clara Co.
/s/ Rae Lee Hansen, President, Los Altos Educational Foundation
/s/ Richard Hasenpflug, Citizens Advisory Committee for Finance, Los Altos School District

In accordance with State law, the voters shall have the opportunity to authorize district expenditures of revenue generated by this special tax every four years.

A parcel is defined as any parcel of land as shown on the current assessment roll prepared by the Santa Clara County Assessor. The special tax shall be collected and enforced in the same manner prescribed by law for the collection of other taxes on the assessment roll. All property that is exempt from the property tax will be exempt from this special tax.

An exemption from the special tax shall continue to be granted annually by the school district on any parcel owned by one or more persons 65 years of age or over who occupy said parcel as a principal residence, upon annual application for exemption.