League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Alameda County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Measure L Special Parcel Tax Measure San Leandro Unified School District 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 14556 / 66.75% Yes votes ...... 7252 / 33.25% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure L

Arguments Against Measure L

Save San Leandro schools from destructive State budget cuts! Vote YES on L to protect quality education for San Leandro students. Over the past five years, Sacramento cut over $12 million from San Leandro schools causing devastating cuts to student academic programs. YES on L says enough is enough. Our students deserve better! Every dime raised by Measure L goes to our local schools and CAN'T BE TAKEN AWAY BY SACRAMENTO. YES on L protects and maintains small class sizes, art/music, library programs, physical education, security staff and teachers that are all essential for a good education. YES on L protects core academic math, science and reading programs. YES on L keeps school libraries open. YES on L retains high quality teachers. NO money can be used for administrators' salaries. YES on L prepares students for high demand jobs of the 21st century. By maintaining up-to-date computer and educational technology programs, YES on L allows students to compete in today's high-speed, technologically advanced economy. YES on L gets back to basics, ensuring our students get a solid educational foundation that prepares them for college. YES on L maintains school security staff to keep crime away from our middle/high schools and provide students support and safety to stay in school and out of trouble. Measure L requires strict fiscal accountability, including a five year sunset, annual financial audits, and independent citizens oversight to ensure funds are spent as promised. Seniors and those on disability are exempt from paying. San Leandro public schools receive less funding and State support than ANY other School District in our region. YES on L gives our students the same opportunities as our neighbors. Join the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, State Senator Ellen Corbett, teachers, parents, seniors, and community leaders + vote YES on L Visit http://www.YESonLSanLeandroSchools.com. s/ Mary Styner Eden Area ROP Teacher of the Year s/ Ellen M. Corbett California State Senator s/David Grodin Chair-Elect, San Leandro Chamber of Commerce s/Phyllis Gee Senior Commissioner s/ Bob Macinnis San Leandro Police Chief, Retired Rebuttal to Arguments For We must have open, honest, good faith discussions about our local government finances. The San Leandro Unified School District is not telling you the whole truth about its finances and how Measure L attacks Proposition 13. Yes, since 2006 the State cut $12,000,000.00 total from the San Leandro Unified School District budget, but what about the $160,000,000.00 in expensive bonds that San Leandro voters have already approved? They're still $148,000,000.00 ahead at an average cost of over $350.00 per household, per year through 2035. Isn't $160,000,000.00 in approved local funding enough to offset $12,000,000.00 in cuts from Sacramento? Now they're attacking Proposition 13 in a very sneaky and deceptive way. Look at the Measure L ballot summary, what exactly does "rates on commercial/other types of parcels" mean? Do some homework and review the full text of Measure L. Instead of one flat per parcel tax in the San Leandro Unified School District, there are five separate split roll property tax rates in Measure L. Split roll assessments are dangerous first steps in dismantling the very strong protection of Proposition 13, which keeps our property taxes low and affordable for us all. Measure L will hit struggling San Leandro businesses hard with new taxes ranging from $600.00 to well over $40,000.00 per year. This will result in higher prices and lost jobs in San Leandro. Isn't $160,000,000.00 in already approved local funding more than enough to offset $12,000,000.00 in cuts from Sacramento? SAY NO TO SNEAKY AND DECEPTIVE TACTICS. SAY NO TO HIGHER COSTS FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES. SAY NO TO SPLIT ROLL ASSESSMENTS. SAY NO TO ATTACKS ON PROPOSITION 13. VOTE NO ON MEASURE L. s/ Thomas Silva CAAPAC Local Trustee, San Leandro Business Property Owner s/ Marc Crawford CAAPAC Local Trustee, San Leandro Business Property Owner

We are in very difficult economic times. Everyone has been badly hurt by the Great Recession. We must be very careful with the limited financial resources in our community. Since 2006, San Leandro Voters have already approved $160,000,000.00 in expensive Bonds (Measure B and Measure M) for the San Leandro Unified School District at an average cost of over $350.00 per household per year through 2035. Now the San Leandro Unified School District is attacking Proposition 13 by advocating a split roll assessment property tax scheme that will cause all business property in San Leandro to pay far more in property taxes than our neighboring communities. This will make it even more difficult for our struggling local businesses and will result in higher costs for all of us. Measure L will keep new businesses and jobs from locating in San Leandro. Our public education costs are rising higher and higher, yet no one is talking about how we must get these costs under control. There are ineffective cost controls in Measure L. Until we put firm limits on the true costs of public education, our current problems will only get worse. Measure L is only for five years. What happens afterwards? Do they ask us for more money in 2016 or what? We need long term solutions not hurried quick fixes that erode Proposition 13 and threaten our local businesses. Take a good look at your ballot. There are three statewide and several other local tax measures to vote on in this election. How many new taxes can you afford, especially a tax that attacks struggling local businesses and erodes Proposition 13? WE MUST SEND A LOUD AND CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE SAN LEANDRO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. SAY NO TO OUT OF CONTROL COSTS. SAY NO TO TEMPORARY QUICK FIX MEASURES. SAY NO TO ATTACKS ON LOCAL BUSINESSES. SAY NO TO ATTACKS ON PROPOSITION 13. VOTE NO ON MEASURE L. s/ Thomas R. Silva CAAPAC Local Trustee/San Leandro Business Property Owner s/ Marc Crawford CAAPAC Local Trustee/San Leandro Business Property Owner Rebuttal to Arguments Against Don't be misled by absentee landlords who don't live in San Leandro and don't want to pay their fair share! They don't care that our schools have so little funding, teachers are literally rationing classroom supplies. It's up to us to do something about this! Vote YES on L to help San Leandro schools - the ONLY measure on your November ballot directly addressing San Leandro's needs! FACT: State budget cuts have slashed education funding. In just 5 years, Sacramento politicians cut $12 million from San Leandro schools. Your schools receive less funding than every other school district in our region. FACT: All Measure L funds are legally required to be spent only on San Leandro schools and can't be taken by Sacramento politicians. FACT: Measure L upholds Proposition 13 and follows the law. Senior homeowners are exempt from paying under Measure L. Receiving your exemption is easy: visit www.sanleandro.k12.ca.us or call 510-667-3522 to apply. FACT: San Leandro businesses SUPPORT Measure L! The San Leandro Chamber of Commerce endorses YES on L because it prepares students for jobs and careers in today's tough economy. YES on L protects quality education for San Leandro students by maintaining small class sizes, music, libraries, physical education, security staff and teachers + which are all essential for a good education. Measure L includes tough taxpayer protections/guarantees: Citizens Oversight Committee Published annual financial audits Legally requires funds directly benefit student education Measure L CANNOT be used for administrator salaries/pensions. Vote YES on L + give our students the opportunities our neighbors have. s/ Stephen Cassidy Mayor, City of San Leandro s/ John J. Jermanis San Leandro City Manager, Retired Co-Chair, Yes on Measure L s/ David Grodin Chair-Elect, San Leandro Chamber of Commerce s/ Deborah Cox Chair Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, Co-Chair Yes on Measure L s/ Donna B. Reed 49 Year San Leandro Homeowner and Tax Paper

Full Text of Measure L

RECITALS The Governing Board ("Board") of the San Leandro Unified School District ("District") has established the goals of improving academic performance and the quality of education for all children in the District so that they are prepared for ,college and to compete for good jobs. Furthermore, the District aims to enhance local control of our schools and reduce our dependence on the State of California for education funding. Over the last four years, the State has cut millions from District schools. This has caused devastating cuts to student academic programs and drastic reductions to teachers, and District schools may lose additional millions in next year's state budget. To balance its budget in the face of severe state cuts, the District has been forced to make substantial cuts. Having already cut teachers, librarians, counselors, office staff, campus supervisors, custodians, maintenance and grounds staff, there is nothing left to cut but core academic instruction. The District must act to protect quality education. The Measure would provide stable and predictable funding that our schools can count on to protect the most essential academic programs for students and retain quality teachers. Money from the Measure would be used to protect and maintain small class sizes and the music, library, physical education, security staff and teachers that are all essential for a good education. Funds would also be used to ensure that our students get a solid educational foundation in academic subjects such as math, science, and reading, helping prepare them for entry into college and to compete in today's tough job market. To compete in today's high-speed, technologically advanced economy, it is critical to maintain up-to-date computer and educational technology programs for our students, and the Measure will help prepare students for high demand jobs of the twenty-first century. The measure would also maintain the school security staff that keep crime away from our middle schools and high schools and provide students with the support and safety they need to stay in school and out of trouble. With the Measure the academic quality of local schools will continue to improve, ensuring students have access to the teachers, small class sizes, computers and learning technology they need for academic and career success. This measure would enhance local control of District schools, make our schools less dependent on Sacramento, and provide vital funding to support students and education at a time when they need it most. By law, all funds from this local funding measure must be used to protect the specified programs in District schools and cannot be taken away by the State. Strict accountability is mandatory, including independent citizen oversight and annual audits to ensure funds are spent as promised. None of the funds will be used for administrator salaries. TERMS Moneys raised under this Measure shall be authorized to be used only for the following purposes in accordance with priorities established by the Board and to the extent of available funds: Protect and maintain core academic math, science and reading programs Protect student safety Keep school libraries open Attract and retain high-quality teachers and staff including counselors Maintain classroom computers and instructional technology Protect and maintain physical education programs and athletic programs Protect and maintain art and music programs for a well-rounded education Protect and maintain small class sizes Minimize further budget cuts resulting From reductions in state funding for local schools No parcel tax funds will be spent on administrative salaries. A. Amount and Basis of Tax 1. Parcel of Taxable Real Property. The special tax shall be levied on every Parcel of Taxable Real Property within the District. "Parcel of Taxable Real Propertyfl is defined as any unit of real property within the District that receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the Alameda County Tax Collector ("County Tax Collectorfl). All property that is otherwise exempt from or upon which no ad valorem property taxes are levied in any year shall also be exempt from the special tax in such year. Multiple parcels which are contiguous, under common ownershipt contain a singlefamily residence, and that constitute one economic unit, meaning that they have the same primary purpose as the principal parcel and are not separate and distinct properties that may be independently developed or sold, shall comprise a single Parcel of Taxable Real Property for purposes of the parcel tax. 2. Uniform Application. The special tax shall be uniformly applied to each Parcel of Taxable Real Property within the following property classifications. Type of Property Annual Amount of Tax per Parcel of Taxable Real Property Single Family Residential $39 per parcel Multi-Family Residential With 2-4 Units $39 per parcel Multi-Family Residential With 5 or More Units $19 per unit Commercial/Industrial $0.02 per square foot of lot size Vacant/Unimproved Parcels $39 per parcel For purposes of determining the rate of tax above, the following definitions shall apply: "Single Family Residential" includes parcels containing one or both of the following kinds of residential living units (a) those with no common walls on a single Assessor's parcel (i.e., single family detached homes); and (b) those with common walls each of which is assigned a unique Assessor's parcel number (Le. condominiums and townhouses), each of which shall be treated as a Parcel of Taxable Real Property; and (c) mobile homes, each of which shall be treated as a Parcel of Taxable Real Property. "Multi-Family Residential" means a residential living unit with common walls on an Assessor's parcel on which other units are located. Such parcels include, but are not limited to, duplexes, parcels with two (2) or more living units on a single assessor's parcel; apartment buildings with at least two (2) units; and any and all other multi-family residential parcels. "Commercial/Industrial" means all improved Parcels of Taxable Real Property that do not meet the definition of Single Family Residential or Multi-Family Residential. Commercial/Industrial property includes, but is not limited to, retail buildings, shopping centers, hotels, motels, service stations, office buildings, hospitals, trailer parks, warehouses, transportation facilities, storage facilities, utilities, agricultural and farmland, light and heavy industrial and recreational land. "Vacant/Unimproved" means an unimproved parcel with no structures or buildings. Every year, all Parcels of Taxable Real Property that were classified as Vacant parcels in the prior fiscal year, may be reclassified into another category if a building permit has been pulled as of January 1 of that year. Any parcel that does not fall clearly within any category above shall be taxed $39 per parcel annually. B. Exemptions for Seniors and People with Disabilities Upon application, an exemption from payment of the special tax may be granted on any parcel owned by one or more persons 65 years of age or over who occupies said parcel as a principal residence ("Senior Citizen Exemption") or on any parcel owned by one or more persons receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age, who occupies said parcel as a principal residence ("SSI Exemption"). C. Claims/Exemption Procedures With respect to all general property tax matters within its jurisdiction, the County Tax Collector or other appropriate County tax official shall make all final determinations of tax exemption or relief for any reasonl and that decision shall be final and binding. With respect to matters specific to the levy of the tax, including the Senior Citizen Exemption and the SSI Exemption and the appropriate tax classification, the decisions of the District shall be final and binding. The procedures described herein, and any additional procedures established by the Board shall be the exclusive claims procedure for claimants seeking an exemption, refund, reduction, or re-computation of the special tax by the District. Whether any particular claim is to be resolved by the District or by the County shall be determined by the District, in coordination with the County as necessary. Taxpayers wishing to challenge any determination of the County Tax Collector must do so under the procedures for correcting a misclassification of property pursuant to Part 9 of Division 1 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code or other applicable procedures. Taxpayers seeking a refund of any tax paid shall follow the procedures applicable to property tax refunds pursuant to the California Revenue and Taxation Code. D. Appropriations Limit Pursuant to California Constitution article XIIIB and applicable laws, the appropriations limit for the District will be adjusted periodically by the aggregate sum collected by levy of this special tax. E. Mandatory Accountability Protections 1. Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee.The Board shall provide for the creation of an independent citizensl oversight committee to oversee the special taxes collected pursuant to the Measure to ensure that moneys raised under this Measure are spent only for the purposes described in this Measure. The Board shall provide by resolution for the composition, duties, funding, and other necessary information regarding the committee/s formation and operation. 2. Annual Reports. Upon the levy and collection of the education parcel tax, the Board shall cause an account to be established for deposit of the proceeds, pursuant to Government Code Section 50075.1. For so long as the tax is in effect, the Superintendent or the chief financial officer of the District shall cause a report to be filed with the Board no later than December 31 of each year, stating (1) the amount collected and expended in such year, and (2) the status of any projects or description of any programs funded. The report may relate to the calendar yearl fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period, as said officer shall determine, and may be incorporated into or filed with the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Board. 3. Specific Purposes. All of the purposes named in the Measure shall constitute the specific purposes of the education parcel tax, and proceeds thereof shall be applied only for such purposes. F. Protection of Funding Current law forbids any decrease in State or federal funding to the District resulting from the adoption of a special tax. However/ if any such funding is reduced or affected because of the adoption of this local funding measure/ then the Board may reduce the amount of the special taxes levied as necessary in order to restore such State or federal funding and/or maximize the District's fiscal position for the benefit of the educational program. As a result/ whether directly or indirectly/ no funding from this measure may be taken away by the State or federal governments. G. Severability The Board hereby declares/ and the voters by approving this Measure concur/ that every section and part of this Measure has independent value, and the Board 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 of the Measure or taxing formula be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, all remaining parts of the Measure or taxing formula hereof shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent allowed by law.