9,763 / 61.7% Yes votes ...... 6064 / 38.3% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

By this measure, the Board of Trustees of the Redwood City School District propose to levy a special tax for a period of five years beginning July 1, 2005 and ending June 30, 2010. This tax shall not exceed the annual rates on each taxable parcel in the District as follows: $85 residential containing less than five dwelling units, $85 vacant, $200 commercial or industrial whose area is 14,999 square feet or less, $750 commercial or industrial whose area is greater than 14,999 square feet but less than 25,000 square feet, $1,000 commercial or industrial whose area is equal to or greater than 25,000 square feet but less than 45,000 square feet and $2,500 commercial or industrial whose area is equal to or greater than 45,000 square feet. Residential parcels containing five or more dwelling units will be considered as commercial properties.

A parcel shall be defined as any unit of land in the District which receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the San Mateo County tax collection officials. All property which would otherwise be exempt from property taxes will also be exempt from the imposition of the tax. Any property owner aged 65 years or older may qualify for an exemption from the special tax if that property owner occupies the parcel.

The stated purposes of the special tax are to reinstitute advanced teacher development programs, maintain small class sizes and to maintain the following programs: school library, reading, math, music, gifted and talented, and middle years intervention.

The proceeds of the special tax will be placed into a special account. An annual report is required that accounts 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 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 property within the boundaries of the Redwood City School District for a period of five years beginning July 1, 2005 and ending June 30, 2010 at rates per parcel of $85 for residential and vacant property and from $200 to $2,500 for commercial or industrial property depending on the square footage. The tax would be used for small class sizes, school library programs, reading, math, music, gifted and talented, middle years intervention and advanced teacher development. 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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There is nothing else left to cut but teachers and classroom programs.

To meet this crisis, we are asking District residents to pass Measure V and approve an $85 tax per residential parcel per year. Commercial properties will pay based on the size of their parcel. A special exemption for senior homeowners will be available to all those 65 or older. And, the tax will expire after 5 years.

Measure V funds will be strictly allocated to fund valuable academic programs and services in order to:

• Attract and retain quality teachers and staff
• Maintain small class size
• Maintain school library programs
• Continue all music programs
• Maintain intensive reading and math programs

An Independent Oversight Committee, made up of community and business leaders, will monitor funds to be sure they are spent in strict compliance with the ballot measure funding categories. Annual audits will be conducted and published for public review.

Local funding is the best and most direct way to provide the 8,600 children in our local schools with a quality education without State interference. Please join us to support educational excellence in our Redwood City schools with a Yes vote on Measure V.

/s/ Don Horsley - February 9, 2005

San Mateo County Sheriff

/s/ Barbara Pierce - February 7, 2005

Redwood City Vice Mayor

/s/ Geary Lloyd - February 8, 2005

Former Redwood City Senior Affairs Commissioner

/s/ Maria Diaz-Slocum - February 9, 2005

Redwood City School Board President

/s/ Keith Bautista - February 9, 2005

Redwood City/San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce Past Chairman

• They have it backwards: Schools soak up revenues that once funded other agencies, and now schools consume 46% of California's state budget.

• Their "fiscal crisis" is like Bush's "weapons of mass destruction". They seek to instill fear, but the facts refute the hype:

___________	_________	_______	_______	_______
	Revenue			Students
	per	Students	Teachers	per
	Student	(ADA)	(FTE)	Teacher
_________	_______	______	_______	________
1992-1993	$ 3958	8,259	368.1	22.4
.......-1994	$4118	8,249	374.7	22.0
.......-1995	$4416	8,383	385.2	21.8
.......-1996	$5197	8,770	416.0	21.1
.......-1997	$5274	9,106	466.6	19.5
.......-1998	$5913	9,191	535.4	17.2
.......-1999	$6133	8,929	537.9	16.6
.......-2000	$6921	9,105	553.0	16.5
.......-2001	$7864	8,914	551.3	16.2
.......-2002	$8648	7,950	544.0	14.6
.......-2003	$8630	7,885	532.2	14.8

• Flush with money, the District went on a spending spree, hiring >150 teachers (many outside the classroom) beyond those needed for a 23:1 student/teacher ratio. We have a payroll-padding problem, not a "fiscal crisis".
• Higher taxes on apartment buildings and businesses mean higher rents and less money to pay employees.
• There is nothing so permanent as a "temporary tax". --And we're already paying for 2 bond issues in this district; another for the College of San Mateo; and 3 more for the Sequoia Union High School District.
• Any "citizen's oversight committee" appointed by the selfsame school board is meaningless.
• Parents would be better off spending the $425 (5 * $85) on their own children.

/s/ Reino I. Wantin - February 22, 2005
Retiree

/s/ Laura Oliphant - February 18, 2005
Parent

/s/ Margret Buckley Schmidt - February 21, 2005
Parent

/s/ Christopher VA Schmidt - February 18, 2005
Redwood City resident of 22 years

When Harvard Lampoon put that headline on its cover, it was a good-natured joke. Similar threats by school officials, however, are just bad taste--and deceitful besides.

There is no chance whatsoever that district officials would actually fire the best teachers, adopt an inferior math curriculum, or throw special needs students out on the street if you didn't vote for this parcel tax.

Our schools are extremely well funded.

The Redwood City School District receives approximately $180,000 per classroom of 23 students per year, funded primarily by steadily increasing property tax receipts.

That's enough to pay teachers very good wages (averaging roughly $60,000 in salary and benefits for a 10-month year), with plenty left over (roughly $120,000 per classroom) for overhead, building maintenance, and other goodies.

We don't lie. Check the data yourself at http://www.ed-data.k12.ca.us/dev/District.asp

The District's shifting allocations of revenue demonstrate spending preferences--not a shortage of money! Drive by our schools, and you'll see by the luxuriant lawns and expensive curved rooflines, that the board's priorities are those of a country club--not a struggling school system.

We already rejected this tax...

The District tried before, in 1993, making similar claims of impending spending cuts. That parcel tax measure failed by a wide margin.

...but revenue more than doubled without it!

Subsequently, revenue grew from $33 million to $68 million (a 71% increase, adjusted for inflation).

While the number of students attending District schools fell by 5%, the number of teachers was increased by 37%.

Put another way, spending could be reduced 30%, and the District would still have a budget larger than a decade earlier, even without a parcel tax!

Unnecessary.

Please vote against this greedy money grab!

/s/ John J. "Jack" Hickey - February 11, 2005
Chair, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County

/s/ Jo Lene Hickey - February 11, 2005
Great Grandmother

/s/ Margret Schmidt - February 11, 2005
Redwood City Parent

/s/ Christopher VA Schmidt - February 11, 2005
Retired Computer Professional

Please join us and vote YES on Measure V.

Because of State fiscal problems, the district has cut its budget in each of the last five years. Next year's cuts will total $3.5 million. Teachers will be eliminated, class sizes will be increased, school library hours will be reduced, music programs eliminated, and math, science, and reading programs cut.

We are asking Redwood City School District residents to approve an annual $85 per residential parcel tax that will expire in 5 years. Senior citizens can apply for an exemption. Commercial property will pay more, based on a sliding scale. Churches, hospitals and non-profits are exempt.

By law, Measure V funds will only pay for:

• Hiring and retaining quality teachers.
• Keeping class sizes small.
• Funding music programs.
• Maintaining school library hours.
• Keeping math, science, and reading programs.

Libertarian Party members signed the argument against Measure V. Their arguments are grossly inaccurate and purposely misleading.

Please join our broad-based community coalition of homeowners, seniors, business owners, parents, and community leaders and vote Yes on Measure V for our community's children.

/s/ Jeff Ira - February 16, 2005
Redwood City Mayor

/s/ Georgi LaBerge - February 17, 2005
Redwood City Library Foundation Past President

/s/ Brenton Britschgi - February 17, 2005
Former Redwood City Mayor

/s/ Janet Borgens - February 17, 2005
Past Redwood City "Citizen of the Year"

/s/ Dennis Logie - February 20, 2005
Lifelong Redwood City Resident

TERMS OF THE FUNDING FOR CLASSROOM EDUCATION EXCELLENCE ACT

Terms and Purposes. Upon approval of two-thirds of those voting on this measure, the District shall be authorized to levy a qualified special tax of:
i) $85 per year for five (5) years on each parcel of taxable residential real property in the District containing less than five dwelling units, commencing July 1, 2005;
ii) $85 per year for five (5) years on each parcel of taxable vacant real property in the District, commencing July 1, 2005;
iii) $200 per year for five (5) years on each parcel of taxable commercial or industrial real property in the District whose area is 14,999 square feet or less, commencing July 1, 2005;
iv) $750 per year for five (5) years on each parcel of taxable commercial or industrial real property in the District whose area is greater than 14,999 square feet but less than 25,000 square feet, commencing July 1, 2005;
v) $1,000 per year for five (5) years on each parcel of taxable commercial or industrial real property in the District whose area is equal to or greater than 25,000 square feet but less than 45,000 square feet, commencing July 1, 2005;
vi) $2,500 per year for five (5) years on each parcel of taxable commercial or industrial real property in the District whose area is equal to or greater than 45,000 square feet, commencing July 1, 2005.
The qualified special tax shall be known and referred to as the "Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax". Proceeds of the tax shall be authorized to be used for District uses as follows:

___________________________	___________	____________
		ANTICIPATED
PURPOSE		PROCEEDS
Maintain School Library Programs	(23.71%)	$ 793,000
Maintain Reading and Math
Intervention Programs	( 8.85%)	$ 296,000
Maintain Music Programs	(14.66%)	$ 490,000
Preserve Small Class Size	(31.46%)	$1,052,000
Re-institute Advanced Teacher
Development Programs	(11.60%)	$ 388,000
Maintain Gifted and Talented Program and
Middle Years Intervention Program	( 9.72%)	$ 325,000
		____________
TOTAL	(100%)	$3,344,000

Should the proceeds of the tax be a total sum that is different than the anticipated $3,344,000, then the amounts expended for each of the purposes listed shall be proportionate to the actual sum by applying the percentages shown.
Senior Citizen Exemption. In order to provide tax relief to senior citizens in the community, any residential parcel owned and occupied by a person 65 years of age or older shall be exempt from the Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax upon proper application to the District. The exemption shall be available pursuant to procedures to be prescribed by the Board of Education or otherwise as required by law or by the San Mateo County Tax Collector.

ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISIONS
Annual Audit. Upon the levy and collection of the Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax, the Board of Education shall cause an account to be established for deposit of the proceeds. For so long as any proceeds of the Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax remain unexpended, the Superintendent or chief financial officer of the District shall cause a report to be filed with the Board of Education no later than December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 2005, stating (1) the amount of Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax received and expended in such year, and (2) the description and status of the programs funded from proceeds of the tax. 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 or filed with the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Board of Education.
Specific Purposes. All of the purposes named in the measure shall constitute the specific purposes of the Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax, and proceeds of the tax shall be applied only for such purposes.
Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. If this proposition is approved by the voters, then within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board of Education, the Board of Education shall establish an independent Citizens' Oversight Committee to ensure that the proceeds of the tax are expended only for the purposes named in the measure.
Appropriations Limit. The Board of Education shall provide in each year (pursuant to Section 7902.1 of the Government Code or any successor provision of law) for any increase in the District's appropriations limit as shall be necessary to ensure that proceeds of the Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax, and of all qualified special taxes levied by the District, may be spent for the authorized purposes, and an election shall be conducted by the District for such purpose only if required by the general laws of the State applicable to school district qualified special taxes.

LEVY AND COLLECTION
The Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax shall be collected by the San Mateo County tax collection officials at the same time and in the same manner, and shall be subject to the same penalties, as ad valorem property taxes collected by the San Mateo County tax collection officials. Unpaid taxes shall bear interest at the same rate as the rate for unpaid ad valorem property taxes until paid. The collection of the Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax shall not decrease the funds available from other sources of the District in any period from the effective date hereof.

"Parcel of taxable real property" shall be defined as any unit of real property in the District, which receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the San Mateo County tax collection officials. All property, which is otherwise exempt from or on which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall also be exempt from the Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax in such year. Parcels of residential real property owned and occupied by persons 65 years of age or older may be exempt from the Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax as described above by request.

"Except that a parcel of residential real property containing 5 or more dwelling units shall, for purposes of this tax, be considered commercial property, whether a parcel of taxable real property is residential real property, vacant real property, or commercial or industrial real property, and the square footage thereof, shall in the first instance be as indicated on the rolls of the San Mateo County Assessor. If no such indication is so provided, then such status and size shall be determined pursuant to procedures to be prescribed by the Board of Education or otherwise as required by law.

The District shall annually provide a list of parcels, which the District has approved, for a Senior Citizen Exemption from the Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax as described above, to the San Mateo County tax collection officials. The San Mateo County Assessor's determination of exemption or relief for any reason of any parcel from taxation, other than through the Senior Citizen Exemption, shall be final and binding for the purposes of the Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Tax. Taxpayers wishing to challenge the County Assessor's determination must do so under the procedures for correcting a misclassification of property pursuant to Section 4876.5 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code or other applicable procedures. Taxpayers seeking a refund of Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Taxes paid, shall follow the procedures applicable to property tax refunds pursuant to the California Revenue and Taxation Code.

SEVERABILITY The Board of Education hereby declares, and the voters by approving this measure concur, that every section, paragraph, sentence and clause of this measure has independent value, and the Board of Education and the voters would have adopted each provision hereof regardless of every other provision hereof. Upon approval of this measure by the voters, should any part be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, all remaining parts hereof shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent allowed by law.