League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Contra Costa County, CA May 8, 2012 Election
	Measure A Parcel Tax Moraga School District 2/3 Approval Required See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure A

Arguments Against Measure A

YES on Measure A! Moraga citizens value education. Four times since 1992 super-majorities have voted to invest in our schools. Measure A raises the money necessary to enable the Moraga School District (three elementary schools and one middle school) to continue to provide our children with a high-quality education. The existing parcel tax, approved in 2004, was forecast to cover vital Moraga School District costs until 2010. By spending prudently, the district extended the benefit provided by this tax. For many years, Moraga residents have donated millions of dollars to MEF and PTAs, money the Moraga School District has used to maintain core educational programs. However, the State has significantly reduced funding for education every year since 2007, forcing the Moraga School District to: Increase class sizes Rely on parents to fund teaching assistants, libraries, PE, art, music and classroom supplies through donations to MEF and PTAs Eliminate computer instruction in middle school Future anticipated budget cuts will impact the Moraga School District's ability to: Maintain class sizes Attract and retain highly qualified, experienced staff Keep classrooms up-to-date with current technology Provide students with textbooks and materials Pay necessary support services to keep our schools clean and well-maintained. Without Measure A dollars, the Moraga School District will be forced to continue to further cut its budget. We must act to avoid compromising our kids' educations! Measure A is local dollars being spent locally. Moraga citizens trust the Moraga School District to spend tax funds wisely. We cannot rely solely on private donations to make up the shortfall in state funding. Our community, and every property owner, benefits from our nationally-ranked schools. We are rightfully proud of our schools. Measure A will enable us to keep them among the best in the country. Measure A is responsible financial management of our local education. Learn more at http://www.AForMoragaSchools.org. Vote YES! Arguments In Favor Submitted By Ron Mayes Past US National Rugby Coach 35 Year Moraga Resident Rita Keeperman 34 year Moraga Resident Frank Melon President, Moraga Chamber of Commerce John T Mattson, MD Retired Orthopedic Surgeon 30 year resident Edith Helen Schwartz 44 year Moraga Resident

None filed.

Full Text of Measure A

FULL TEXT OF PARCEL TAX MEASURE A SPECIAL TAX MEASURE FOR MORAGA SCHOOL DISTRICT to Protect Quality of Schools and Prevent Further Reductions in Current Academic Programs INTRODUCTION This measure provides the additional funding required to protect and maintain a quality educational program in the Moraga School District. For many years the State Legislature has not fully-funded the District to provide a quality educational program and meet the high expectations of the community, and the District is committed to eliminating all deficit spending and to maintaining a balanced budget. Having exhausted all feasible means of generating funds to finance basic programs, including the current parcel tax and donations from the Moraga Education Foundation and PTAs, the District may now be forced to further reduce basic educational services. The District's projected revenue for the foreseeable future is inadequate and without a new source of revenue, the District must eliminate and reduce educational programs. Therefore, the District's Governing Board believes that a qualified special tax measure is necessary to maintain quality education for the students of the District. PURPOSE This measure will secure local funding for K-8 Moraga School District students. It will sustain our nationally recognized schools; offset state budget cuts; preserve small class sizes and strong academics; and attract and retain outstanding teachers. Shall the Moraga School District be authorized to collect an additional parcel tax in the amount of $225 with a citizen's oversight committee and an exemption for low income seniors? The District intends to use funds collected pursuant to this measure to help finance all of the programs listed above, unless the District Governing Board determines in any given year that changes in student population, fiscal constraints, or other changes in state or federal funding make doing so infeasible or inadvisable. Upon approval of two-thirds of those voting on this measure, the District shall be authorized to levy a qualified special tax of $225 per year on each parcel of taxable real property in the District, as defined below, commencing July 1, 2012. RATE AND PROCEDURE The special tax shall be levied on all parcels of property in the Moraga School District, except parcels that are otherwise exempt from taxation. The special tax shall be levied at the rate of Two Hundred Twenty Five Dollars ($225) per parcel on all residential, commercial, industrial and institutional parcels, whether such parcels are improved or unimproved. Parcels shall be determined according to the records of the City of Moraga. Currently, the law provides that the following parcel categories (listed by Contra Costa County Assessor's Parcel Identification Code and parcel description) are to be exempt from this special tax: Code 10 - Vacant unbuildable Code 70 - Convalescent hospitals and rest homes Code 71 - Churches Code 72 - Schools Code 74 - Cemeteries Code 75 - Fraternal and service organizations Code 76 - Retirement housing complex Code 77 - Cultural uses (libraries) Code 78 - Parks and playgrounds Code 79 - Government owned parcels Code 80 - Mineral Rights Code 81 - Private roads Code 87 - Common area parcels (in PUDs) Section The District's Governing Board may adopt such additional or supplemental procedures as it deems necessary or convenient for the administration of the special tax. This special tax will continue in effect until and unless repealed. EXEMPTIONS In order to provide tax relief to those members of the Moraga community most in need, any parcel owned and occupied by a low-income person 65 years of age or older shall be exempt from the tax upon application to the District. The exemption shall be available annually pursuant to procedures prescribed by the Governing Board or otherwise as required by law or the Contra Costa County Tax Collector. A "low-income person" is a member of a "very low income household" as defined by California Health and Safety Code Section 50105. Under current law, this means any household whose income does not exceed 50 percent of the area median income, adjusted for family size and revised annually. ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMPLIANCE MEASURES In accordance with the requirements of California Government Code sections 50075.1 and 50075.3, the following accountability measures, among others, shall apply to the special taxes levied in accordance with this Measure: (a) Proceeds of this special tax shall be deposited into a Fund which shall be kept separate and apart from other Funds in the District and shall be applied only as set forth in this Measure. (b) An Annual Report, including the revenues generated by this special tax and the expenditures of these monies and the status of any projects funded by these monies, shall be filed by the chief fiscal officer of the District with the Governing Board no later than January 1 of the year following the fiscal year during which the monies were expended. (c) In addition, an oversight committee of citizens may be appointed or designated by the Governing Board to ensure that the special tax proceeds are spent for their authorized purposes, and to report annually to the Governing Board and the public regarding the expenditure of such funds. PROTECTION OF FUNDING Current law forbids any decrease in State or Federal funding to the District because of the District's adoption of a parcel tax. However, if any such funds are reduced because of the adoption of this parcel tax, then the amount of the special taxes will be reduced annually as necessary in order to restore such State or Federal funding.