4,603 / 65.4% Yes votes ...... 2,440 / 34.6% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

you want a special tax to be levied on all taxable parcels in the Cabrillo Unified School District in an amount of up to $250 per year, to provide, maintain or restore education and support programs. It would also allow the appropriations (spending) limit to be raised.

A NO vote of this measure means:

you do not want the special tax to be levied nor to allow the appropriations limit to be raised.

By this measure, the Board of Trustees of the Cabrillo Unified School District proposes to levy a special tax for a period of five years beginning July 1, 2003 and ending July 1, 2008. This tax shall be at a rate not to exceed $250 per year on all taxable parcels in the District.

A parcel shall be defined as any parcel of land wholly or partially located within the District, for which the San Mateo County Assessor has assigned an assessor's identification number and has designated the parcel as having a permanent structure which is used for residential, industrial or commercial purposes. Any such parcels which are contiguous, used solely for owner-occupied single family residential purposes and held under identical ownership, shall, upon approval of an application of the owners of such parcel, be treated as a single parcel for purposes of this special tax. If a mobile home is located on a parcel of land that has been assigned an identification number by the Assessor and is subject to this tax, the mobile home itself shall not be separately treated as a parcel for purposes of this tax, even if the mobile home has been assigned an "improvement" parcel number. Any property owner aged 65 years or older may qualify for an exemption from the special tax if the property owner occupies the parcel.

The proceeds of the special tax shall be spent to provide, maintain or restore the following: small class size for kindergarten through third grade; literacy programs; teaching staff; transportation services; library programs; middle and high school guidance counseling; small size high school English and math classes; middle school math programs; advanced placement and honors classes; special programs including music and art; custodial and clerical services; classroom supplies and material.

The proceeds of the special tax will be placed into a special account. The Board of Trustees must file an annual report accounting for the parcel tax revenues collected and the manner in which they have been spent.

This measure would also increase the District's appropriations limit per fiscal year, in an amount equal to the levy of the special tax for that year, as permitted by Article XIIIB, section 4 of the California Constitution.

A "yes" vote on this measure would allow a special tax to be levied on all taxable parcels in the Cabrillo Unified School District in an amount of up to $250 per year, to provide, maintain or restore education and support programs. It would also allow the appropriations (spending) limit to be raised.

A "no" vote on this measure would not allow the special tax to be levied and would not allow the appropriations limit to be raised.

This measure passes if two-thirds of those voting on the measure vote "yes."

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For information about the Cabrillo Unified School District

Measure C authorizes a local parcel tax to help CUSD offset loss of state revenues. A parcel tax is the only way by which a school district can raise money.

Currently, Cabrillo schools have high academic standards, quality programs and outstanding teachers. Without the additional funding that Measure C would generate, many teaching positions and valuable programs will be severely curtailed or eliminated including: Literacy, counseling, busing, special education, library, computer, athletics, and high school electives. In kindergarten through 3rd grade, class sizes will be significantly increased. In sum, students will receive less individualized instruction and have fewer course offerings at a time when mandated educational requirements are becoming increasingly demanding.

Measure C will cost property owners $250 per year for only 5 years, or less than $22 per month. Only improved parcels will be taxed. Persons 65 years of age on or before July 1 of any applicable year will be granted an exemption for a parcel which is a principal place of residence.

The proceeds of this tax will be used for the specific instructional purposes listed, not for administration. An annual report will be filed with the Governing Board regarding the amount of funds collected, expended, and status of projects.

The dollars generated by this parcel tax will be a direct investment in coastside children and benefit the entire community. Please support our students by voting YES on Measure C For additional information, www.pro-school.org or (712-1800).

/s/ Jackie Speier
California State Senator

/s/ Charise McHugh
President/CEO, Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce

/s/ Jonathan Lundell
Community Member

/s/ Naomi Patridge
Former Mayor, City of Half Moon Bay

/s/ Cindy Epps
Community Member

Measure C is bloated and unaffordable!

Measure C is "Business as Usual" and won't lead to any needed reforms!

Measure C would plow millions more dollars into unproductive educational soil. In years past, the district has maintained quality educational programs with far less money. With the right priorities it can do better on today's funding - and with sensitivity to district taxpayers suffering through the worst recession in 30 years.

VOTE NO ON MEASURE C

/s/ Donald F. Pettengill
Treasurer, Coastside Citizens for Good Government

/s/ Stephen J. Okonek
Half Moon Bay Resident

CUSD is spending money on elections instead of our children!

Now is not the time for one more, huge, five-year tax increase!

School funding over the years is way UP - but so is the waste!

VOTE NO ON MEASURE C

/s/ Donald F. Pettengill
Coastside Citizens for Good Government, Treasurer

/s/ Stephen J. Okonek
Research Manager

Key facts about Measure C include:

Do coastside voters support a parcel tax?
The last parcel tax received a 65.4% YES vote, only 11.2% shy of winning. In any other kind of election...a landslide!

Is CUSD spending money on this election?
No. ALL costs are being paid by private donations.

Is CUSD wasting dollars?
No. CUSD administrative costs are the lowest in San Mateo County. Our schools are efficiently managed. Our dollars go to the classrooms. Don't be misled by empty claims. Make the critics identify the waste.

Is now the right time?
Yes. California's financial problems are devastating school programs. A local parcel tax can prevent teacher lay-offs and programs cuts.

What happened to school funding?
In 96-97, Sacramento started to make up for 20+ years of inadequate funding: teachers received deserved raises, class sizes were reduced; computer technology implemented; textbooks purchased. But in 01-02 and 02-03, Sacramento's budget woes led to CUSD's first round of cuts. Impending cuts will bring the total cuts over $2,500,000, reversing previous gains.

Is this a big tax?
No. At 68 cents per day ($250 per year) it is less than or equal to many other Bay Area school districts' parcel taxes (Albany-$246; Menlo Park-$379; Orinda-$385) and in San Mateo County, the average parcel tax is $202 per year.

Educating today's children is an investment in our community and our future.

VOTE YES ON MEASURE C

/s/ Gene Mullin
State Assemblyman

/s/ Burt Jones
Former CUSD Board Member

/s/ Andrew Dorfman
Cunha Intermediate School Teacher

/s/ John Meador
Libertarian

/s/ James Tjogas
Director of Operations

A. Small classes in kindergarten through third grade;
B. Literacy programs for all students;
C. A highly qualified and well-trained teaching staff;
D. Transportation services;
E. Library programs;
F. Middle and high school guidance counseling programs;
G. Small English classes at the high school;
H. Small math classes at the high school;
I. Support to middle school math programs;
J. Advanced placement and honors classes;
K. Special programs, including athletic, music and art programs;
L. Custodial and clerical services;
M. Classroom supplies and materials.

Pursuant to Section 50075.1(b) of the Government Code, no program or reduction other than the above shall be funded by the proceeds of the special tax.

Under no circumstances shall any of the proceeds of the tax be used for administrative salaries.

A "parcel" shall be defined as any parcel of land, wholly or partially located within the District, for which the County Assessors of San Mateo County have assigned an assessor's identification number and designated by the County Assessor as having a permanent structure which is used for residential, industrial or commercial purposes. However, any such parcels which are contiguous, used solely for owner-occupied single family residential purposes and held under identical ownership, shall, upon approval of an application of the owners of such parcel, be treated as a single parcel for purposes of this special tax. Moreover, if a mobile home is located on a parcel of land that has been assigned an identification number by the County Assessor and is subject to this tax, the mobile home itself shall not be separately treated as a parcel for purposes of this tax, even if the mobile home has been assigned an "improvement" parcel number.

Pursuant to Section 50079(b) of the Government Code, any owners, 65 years of age or older, of a parcel used solely for owner-occupied single family residential purposes may obtain an exemption from the special tax upon approval of an application submitted to the Governing Board of the District.

Pursuant to Section 50075.1(c) of the Government Code, the District shall create or cause to be created an account into which the proceeds of the special tax shall be deposited.

Pursuant to Section 50075.1(d) of the Government Code, the District shall file the annual reports required by Section 50075.3 of the Government Code.

Pursuant to California Constitution Article XIIB, the appropriations limit for the Cabrillo Unified School District shall be increased by the aggregate sum collected by the levy of the special tax in each of the years for which the special tax is authorized.