618 / 64.4% Yes votes ...... 341 / 35.6% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Money raised by the sale of the bonds can be used only for the purposes and projects stated in the ballot measure, which is set out in full in the ballot pamphlet. The primary purpose of issuing the bonds is to fund construction of a multipurpose room for use by the school and the community. It is anticipated the multipurpose room will be approximately 5,000 square feet, will seat 400 for assembly and 200 for dining, and will include facilities for assembly, stage, kitchen, dining, and athletics. Other projects to be funded by the bonds include parking for the new facility, upgrading or replacing technology and communications systems, removal of any hazardous materials discovered during the course of the project, and any necessary site preparations. As required by state law, the measure prohibits using bond proceeds for school operating expenses or teacher and administrator salaries.

If the measure is adopted, the District's Board will conduct annual, independent financial and performance audits to verify that expenditures are proper and projects are being completed. In addition, a Citizens' Oversight Committee will be established within sixty days of the report of election results to the Board. The proceeds of the bonds will be maintained in a separate account, and the Superintendent of the District shall report to the Board annually on the status of projects undertaken and the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in that year.

Within limits set by law, the District has the discretion to decide when to sell all or any portion of the bonds. The bonds may be issued and sold in series, at different times, as projects are undertaken. The bonds of any series must mature within 40 years of the date they are issued. The funds to repay the bonds would be raised by an increase in property taxes based upon the value of land and improvements in the District. The interest rate on the bonds would depend on the market rate at the time the bonds are sold. The rate cannot exceed the rate set by state law, currently 8 percent. The Tax Rate Statement prepared by the Superintendent of the District, which estimates the property tax levies required to pay off the bonds, follows this analysis.

STEVEN WOODSIDE
County Counsel

By: s/ Kathleen Larocque
Deputy County Counsel

Liberty School District has been without a multi-purpose room since the school building burned down in 1959. At that time, approximately 100 students attended the school and were able to meet for school assemblies in the kindergarten classroom. Over the past 40 years, the school population has grown to its current level of 200 students, and no adequate facilities currently exist for the entire student body to gather indoors for assemblies, eating, sports, plays, or other whole group activities. In addition, the Liberty Valley community has no public gathering place for community events.

The Liberty School District has examined all other potential alternative funding sources for financing construction of a multi-purpose room to serve both school and community needs, and none are available. The State does not finance construction of multi-purpose rooms.

All of the funds from Measure L will be used for this local school project. None of the funds from Measure L can be used for administrator or teacher salaries. By law, an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee will monitor the way all school bond funds are spent.

Measure L is the only local school bond on the ballot. Please remember to vote for this important local school measure and ensure our students have the adequate school facilities they deserve.

Please join us and Vote Yes on Measure L.

s/ Lisa J. Clay Jack, Executive Asst.
4 H Foundation
s/ Bessie O'Brien
Retired Teacher
s/ Charles P. Torliatt Jr.
Liberty Cemetery Trustee
s/ Richard Weber
Farmer
s/ Brian Proteau
Resident/Parent

(No arguments against Measure L were submitted)

1. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied to fund this 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 three cents per $100 ($30 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2005-06.
2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is three cents per $100 ($30 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2006-07.
3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is three cents per $100 ($30 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2005-06.

Voters should note that the estimated tax rates are based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls, not on the property's market value. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District's projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those presently estimated, due to variations from these estimates in the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold and market interest rates at the time of each sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on need for construction funds and other factors, including the legal limitations on bonds approved by a 55% vote. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale. Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: July 20, 2004

s/ Casey D'Angelo, Superintendent
Liberty School District

This Proposition may be known and referred to as the "Liberty School Improvement Bond of 2004" or as "Measure L."

Liberty School District has been without a multipurpose room since the school building burnt down in 1959. At that time, approximately 100 students attended the school and were able to meet for schoolwide assemblies in the kindergarten classroom.

Over the past 40 years, the school population has grown to its current level of 200 students, and no adequate facilities currently exist for the entire student body to gather indoors for assemblies, eating, sports, plays, or other whole group activities. In addition, the Liberty Valley community has no public gathering place for community events.

The Liberty School District has examined all other potential alternative funding sources for financing construction of a multipurpose room to serve both school and community needs, and none are available. The State does not finance construction of multipurpose rooms.

The Liberty School District's parcel tax is designated for curriculum and enrichment activities including music, art, science, and physical education, and cannot be used for construction financing.

By approval of this proposition by at least 55% of the registered voters voting on the proposition, the Liberty School District shall be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $1,920,000 in aggregate principal amount to provide financing for the specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List attached hereto as Exhibit A, subject to all of the accountability safeguards specified below.

Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

The provisions in this section are specifically included in this proposition in order that the Liberty School District's voters and taxpayers may be assured that their money will be spent wisely to address specific facilities needs of the Liberty School District, all in compliance with the requirements of Article XIII A, Section 1(b)(3) of the State Constitution, and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at Education Code Sections 15264 and following).

Evaluation of Needs. The Board of Trustees has prepared an updated facilities plan in order to evaluate and address all of the facilities needs of the Liberty School District at each campus and facility, and to determine which projects to finance from a local bond at this time. The Board of Trustees hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List contained in Exhibit A.

Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Board of Trustees shall establish an independent Citizens' Oversight Committee (pursuant to Education Code Section 15278 and following), to ensure bond proceeds are spent only for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A. The committee shall be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board of Trustees.

Annual Performance Audits. The Board of Trustees shall conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A.

Annual Financial Audits. The Board of Trustees shall conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A.

Special Bond Proceeds Account; Annual Report to Board. Upon approval of this proposition and the sale of any bonds approved, the Board of Trustees shall take actions necessary to establish an account in which proceeds of the sale of bonds will be deposited. As long as any proceeds of the bonds remain unexpended, the Superintendent of the District shall cause a report to be filed with the Board no later than December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 2005, stating (1) the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in that year, and (2) the status of any project funded or to be funded from bond proceeds. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period as the Superintendent shall determine, and may be incorporated into the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Board.

The Bond Project List attached to this resolution as Exhibit A shall be considered a part of the ballot proposition, and shall be reproduced in any official document required to contain the full statement of the bond proposition.

The Bond Project List, which is an integral part of this proposition, lists the specific projects the Liberty School District proposes to finance with proceeds of the bonds. Listed projects will be completed according to Board-established priorities. Each project is assumed to include its share of costs of the election and bond issuance, architectural, engineering, inspection and similar planning costs, construction management, and a customary contingency for unforeseen design and construction costs. The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized, construction bids are awarded, and projects are completed. In addition, certain construction funds expected from non-bond sources, including State grant funds for eligible projects, have not yet been secured. Therefore the Board of Trustees cannot currently determine the amount of bond proceeds to be spent on each project, or guarantee that the bonds will provide sufficient funds to allow completion of all listed projects. Inclusion of a project on the bond project list is not a guarantee that the project will be completed.

Purposes. All of the purposes enumerated in this proposition shall be united and voted upon as one single proposition, pursuant to Education Code Section 15100, and all the enumerated purposes shall constitute the specific purposes of the bonds, and proceeds of the bonds shall be spent only for such purposes, pursuant to Government Code Section 53410.

Other Terms of the Bonds. When sold, the bonds shall bear interest at an annual rate not exceeding the statutory maximum, and that interest will be made payable at the time or times permitted by law. The bonds may be issued and sold in several series, and no bond shall be made to mature more than 40 years from the date borne by that bond.

The following project shall be the primary object of the bonds:

• Construct approximately 5,000-square foot multipurpose room for school and Liberty Valley community use, including facilities for assembly, stage, kitchen, dining, athletics and parking, designed to seat approximately 400 people for assembly and approximately 200 people for dining.

• Upgrade and/or replace technology and communications systems, including wiring, electric switches, telephones and computer equipment, and related improvements to increase capacity to install computers for learning in classrooms.

• Perform the following related work as needed:
  • Remove/remediate hazardous materials, e.g., asbestos, lead, etc., where found;
  • Address other unforeseen conditions revealed in the course of construction or technology improvements; and
  • Necessary site preparation/restoration in connection with new construction, including ingress and egress, removing, replacing, or installing irrigation, utility lines, trees and landscaping, and acquiring any necessary easements, licenses, or rights of way to the property.