League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Contra Costa County, CA November 3, 2009 Election
	Measure G Parcel Tax Acalanes Union High School District 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 28142 / 74.47% Yes votes ...... 9649 / 25.53% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure G

Arguments Against Measure G

Measure G protects the Acalanes Union High School District from deep budget cuts without increasing taxes. The existing parcel tax expires soon and this measure continues that tax rate at the same level. Significant cuts in state funding have forced the District to reduce its budget and reserves by more than $6 million + a reduction of over $1,000 per student. A Yes on Measure G helps preserve core academic programs in the face of a continuing California state budget crisis. It is very important that our District maintain these stable and reliable local funds. Measure G will continue to provide important resources at all of the District's comprehensive high schools + Acalanes, Campolindo, Las Lomas and Miramonte - to: Help preserve core academic courses Help preserve science, mathematics, music, art and foreign language courses; and Help maintain library hours. Yes on Measure G will renew the existing one hundred and eighty nine dollar per year parcel tax without any increase. Acalanes is one of the top high school districts in California. The strong academic achievement at our schools helps maintain high property values. During these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever that we act to protect our local schools and students. Without Measure G: Core academic programs will be threatened Class sizes will increase More teaching positions will be eliminated Library hours will be cut Measure G will provide the District with a reliable source of local funds that cannot be disrupted by the state. All expenditures will be audited and monitored by an Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. Senior citizens sixty-five and over will be offered an exemption. Please join us in continuing our existing support for our schools by voting Yes on Measure G. Judy Carney, Past President, AUHSD Governing Board Emily Schardt, Past Exec Dir, Walnut Creek Education Foundation Darci Chan, 2008-2009 President, Lafayette Arts & Science Foundation Joan E. Kiekhaefer, President, Educational Foundation of Orinda Laurie Wolkow, AUHSD Measure "A" Committee Chair

None filed.

Full Text of Measure G

ACALANES UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION ACT OF 2009 This Proposition may be known and referred to as the "Acalanes Union High School District Excellence in Education Act of 2009" or as "Measure G". FINDINGS The Acalanes Union High School District (the "District"), comprising Acalanes High School, Campolindo High School, Las Lomas High School, Miramonte High ýSchool, and alternate high school programs, is one of the top-ranked high school districts in the ýState, and has been able to offer its students an outstanding educational opportunity for many years. Perpetual California State budget problems threaten the District's many successful educational programs with an increasingly uncertain fiscal future. Contributions from parent clubs and educational foundations, while generous, are not adequate to fund academic core programs. Continuation of a parcel tax for local high schools will help preserve funding to core academic programs, including science, mathematics, arts, music, and foreign language courses; and maintain library hours; By replacing and re-enacting the District's current Measure A, passed in 2005 and expiring in 2011, local voters can ensure that our schools will receive a stable, reliable, local source of funding. TERMS OF EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION TAX Terms and Purposes. Upon approval of two thirds of those voting on this Proposition, the District shall be authorized to levy a qualified special tax annually on each parcel of taxable real property in the District commencing July 1, 2010. The qualified special tax shall be known and referred to as the "Excellence in Education Tax". The amount of the Excellence in Education Tax shall be $189.00 per parcel per year. The Excellence in Education Tax shall replace the existing Measure A tax approved by the voters of the District on March 8, 2005, which expires by its own terms on June 30, 2011. In the event that this Proposition is not approved by the requisite vote, the existing Measure A tax shall continue in effect until its scheduled expiration. Under no circumstances shall both taxes be collected. Proceeds of the Excellence in Education Tax shall be authorized to be used to provide financial support to school programs, as follows: 1. To help preserve funding to core academic programs; 2. To help preserve science, mathematics, arts, music, and foreign language courses; 3. To help maintain library hours; and to provide other financial support to the extent of available funds to maintain the District's academic programs, including the purchase of instructional equipment, materials and supplies. SENIOR CITIZEN EXEMPTION In order to provide tax relief to senior citizens in the community, any parcel owned and occupied by a person 65 years of age or older shall be exempt from the Excellence in Education Tax upon proper application to the District. The exemption shall be available pursuant to procedures to be prescribed by the District's Governing Board or otherwise as required by law or by the Contra Costa County Tax Collector. Senior citizens with a current valid exemption from the District's special tax approved on March 8, 2005, shall continue to be exempt and not be required to reapply, subject to those procedures. ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISIONS Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Governing Board shall establish an independent Citizens' Oversight Committee (which may be the existing Measure A oversight committee) to ensure that proceeds of the Excellence in Education Tax are spent wisely and only for the purposes named in this Proposition. The Governing Board shall provide by resolution for the composition, duties, funding and other necessary information regarding the Committee's formation and operation. Specific Purposes. All of the purposes named in this Proposition shall constitute the specific purposes of the Excellence in Education Tax, and proceeds of the tax shall be applied only for such purposes. LEVY AND COLLECTION The Excellence in Education Tax shall be collected by the Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector 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 Treasurer-Tax Collector. Unpaid taxes shall bear interest at the same rate as the rate for unpaid ad valorem property taxes until paid. "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 Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office. 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 Excellence in Education Tax in such year. In addition, parcels may be exempt from the education parcel tax as described above under ýý" SENIOR CITIZEN EXEMPTION".ý The District shall annually provide a list of parcels to the Contra Costa County tax collection officials which the District has approved for a Senior Citizen Exemption. The Contra Costa 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 Excellence in Education 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 Excellence in Education Tax paid shall follow the procedures applicable to property tax refunds pursuant to the California Revenue and Taxation Code. SEVERABILITY The Governing Board hereby declares, and the voters by approving this Proposition concur, that every section, paragraph, sentence and clause of this Proposition has independent value, and the Governing Board and the voters would have adopted each provision hereof regardless of every other provision hereof. Upon approval of this Proposition 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.