League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	El Dorado County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Measure E District School Construction and Improvement Measure Gold Oak Union School District School Bond Authorization - 55% Approval Required Fail: 1793 / 54.61% Yes votes ...... 1490 / 45.39% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure E

Arguments Against Measure E

Gold Oak Elementary School, Gold Oak Arts Charter School, and Pleasant Valley Middle School are the heart of the Pleasant Valley community. They are some of the reasons our community is unique and desirable. Just as students need books to learn, they need modern schools to succeed. The staff of Gold Oak Union School District has done a good job of maintaining our schools, but the buildings are now old and in need of major repairs and upgrades. The District has exhausted all available State funding for facilities. It has used its Deferred Maintenance fund to make repairs as needed, but the need exceeds the funding available. It is now time to repair and improve our schools to provide our children with the schools they need. MEASURE "E" WILL MAKE NEEDED REPAIRS TO OUR SCHOOLS. IT WILL: Make improvements to classrooms that have not been upgraded in 17 years Repair leaky roofs and outdated plumbing systems to improve student health and safety Improve student access to computers and modern technology MEASURE "E" MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE. IT WILL: Build school facilities now, instead of later, when they will cost more Improve local property values and maintaining the uniqueness and desirability of our community As taxpayers, it is crucial to have quality local public schools with adequate facilities. MEASURE "E" HAS TAXPAYER SAFEGUARDS, INCLUDING: An independent citizens' oversight committee of local business leaders, parents, senior citizens, and taxpayer advocates Annual financial and performance audits to ensure funds are only spent on voter-approved projects A requirement that funds be used only to improve schools -- not to pay employee salaries JOIN PARENTS, TEACHERS, SENIOR CITIZENS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS! TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, VOTE YES ON MEASURE "E"! Daniel J. Augino, GOUSD Board Member; Deanna P. Jensen, Retired Teacher; Ellen J. Barker, Business Owner (Pizza Factory) -- Parent past G.O. Students; John MacCready, Owner Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery; Dawn J. Gallagher, Site Council -- Gold Oak School, Site Council -- Pleasant Valley School

No Argument Against Measure E Was Submitted.

Tax Rate Statement from the Superintendent of Gold Oak Union School District

An election will be held in the Gold Oak Union School District (the "District") on November 4, 2008 to authorize the sale of up to $8.95 million in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the Measure. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information is provided in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the Elections Code of the State of California. 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 1.950 cents per $100 ($19.50 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2009-10. 2. 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 last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 1.950 cents per $100 ($19.50 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2019-20. 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 1.950 cents per $100 ($19.50 per $100,000), the current voter-approved tax rate. 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 the need for construction funds and other factors. 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. Richard Williams, Superintendent, Gold Oak Union School District

Full Text of Measure E

FINDINGS The Gold Oak Union School District ("District") is a small rural school district that serves the needs of approximately 759 students in its elementary and middle schools located in Pleasant Valley. The mission of the District is to promote and challenge the intellectual, creative, physical and social development of its students. The goal of the Board of Trustees of the District ("Board of Trustees") is to have open communication with staff, parents and the community, to manage the funds of the District in a fiscally responsible manner and to utilize the District's facilities in the most effective manner. The Board of Trustees and staff of the District believe in doing all that is necessary to construct and maintain safe, clean and attractive schools. To further that goal, the District used forecast enrollment growth and other demographic projections through the year 2020 to arrive at a facilities and staffing master plan. Pursuant to the District's facilities master plan, the Board of Trustees has identified needs ranging from new construction to modernization, repairs, upgrades to facilities, air condition and classroom replacement, and acquisition, upgrading and replacement of technology. These needs require more funding than the District is able to contribute from currently available sources or annual revenues. The District will continue to seek funding, including local, state and federal grants and state bond funds to complete needed improvements. The District now needs to improve school safety and replace portable classrooms for the residents of the District. To remain eligible for State funding, the District must comply with the requirements of the program, new or existing, on an ongoing basis. BOND AUTHORIZATION By approval of this measure by at least fifty-five percent (55%) of the registered voters voting on this measure, the District shall be authorized to issue and sell bonds in an amount of up to $8,950,000 in principal, with interest at or below the legal limit. The bond proceeds shall be used to provide financing only for specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List attached hereto as Attachment A-1, subject to the accountability requirements specified below. BOND PROJECT LIST The Bond Project List attached to this resolution as Attachment A-1 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. Approval of this Bond Measure (the "Measure") does not guarantee that the proposed projects will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the Measure. The District's capital needs exceed the amount of bonds the voters are being asked to authorize. The District will seek funds from other sources to advance the project list as far as possible. If matching funds from the State or any other source become available, they will be used for and applied to the Bond Project List. ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS The provisions in this section are specifically included in this Measure in order that the voters and taxpayers in the District may be assured that their money will be spent wisely to address specific facilities needs of the District, all in compliance with the requirements of Article XIIIA, 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), which was adopted following the passage of Proposition 39. Evaluation of Needs. The Board of Trustees has prepared an updated facilities plan in order to identify all current and anticipated facilities needs of the District and determine which projects to finance from a local bond and other sources at this time. The Board of Trustees hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction, enrollment growth, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List contained in Attachment A-1. Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Board of Trustees shall establish an Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Education Code, commencing with section 15278, to ensure bond proceeds are expended only on the school facilities and on the projects listed in Attachment A-1. The Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight 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. The District shall, without expending bond funds, provide the Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee with any necessary technical and administrative support in furtherance of its purpose, and sufficient resources to publicize the conclusions of the committee. 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 Attachment A-1. 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 Attachment A-1. Special Bond Proceeds Account: Annual Report to Board of Trustees. Upon approval of this Measure and a subsequent sale of authorized bonds, 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 shall cause a report to be filed with the Board of Trustees annually, 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 in the annual budget, audit, or another appropriate routine report to the Board of Trustees. FURTHER SPECIFICATIONS No Administrator Salaries. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of school facilities including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities or acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities and construction management by district personnel and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses. The proceeds of the bonds will be deposited into a fund to be held by the El Dorado County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code. ATTACHMENT A-1 BOND PROJECT LIST The District intends to undertake the following projects using a combination of funding sources. It is anticipated that bond proceeds will contribute $8,950,000 to said total cost. As required by the California Constitution, the proceeds from the sale of bonds will be used only to acquire or improve real property, and for furnishing and equipping school facilities and not for any other purposes, including teacher and administrator salaries or other school operating expenses. This Bond Project List assumes that additional funding, which could include State matching funds subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure, or other funds of the District and/or other sources, will be available to the District. The District intends to acquire, construct, modernize, and improve District schools, as required, including but not limited to the improvements described below. SCHOOL PROJECTS Gold Oak Elementary School & Gold Oak Arts Charter School: Modernize modular classrooms to improve health and safety Fix leaky roofs Repair and/or upgrade plumbing systems Make Security Improvements Improve handicapped access Replace portable classrooms Modernize support facilities, including site work Provide or purchase school furniture and equipment Address unforeseen conditions revealed by construction (e.g., plumbing or gas line breaks, seismic, structural, etc., asbestos and other hazardous materials) Pleasant Valley Middle School: Modernize modular classrooms to improve health and safety Fix leaky roofs Repair and/or upgrade plumbing systems Modernize gymnasium and library Improve handicapped access Replace portable classrooms Modernize support facilities, including site work Provide or purchase school furniture and equipment Address unforeseen conditions revealed by construction (e.g., plumbing or gas line breaks, seismic, structural, etc., asbestos and other hazardous materials) Additional Projects: Necessary site preparation/restoration in connection with renovation or remodeling, or installation or removal of relocatable classrooms at Gold Oak Elementary School and Pleasant Valley Middle School.