VOTER INFORMATION
PAMPHLET
Containing

MEASURE G

WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

Arguments in favor of or against the proposed measure are the opinions of the authors.

If you would like to receive this information in Spanish please call (925) 335-7800.  If you have already requested voting information in Spanish, the information will be mailed to you automatically. 

Si desea recibir esta información en español, por favor llame al (925) 335-7800.  Si ya solicitó información para votar en español, ésta será enviada automáticamente por correo.

PARCEL TAX  MEASURE G
WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

To maintain quality education with local funding the State cannot take away, including protecting core academics – reading, writing, math, science, attracting and retaining quality teachers, providing lower class sizes for the youngest children, preparing students for college and the workforce, and improving safety on and around school campuses, shall West Contra Costa Unified School District renew its existing parcel tax for five years, keeping the current rate, with no funds for administrator salaries, exempting seniors and requiring citizen oversight?
									
COUNTY COUNSEL’S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF 
PARCEL TAX MEASURE G

	The Board of Education of the West Contra Costa Unified School District has adopted a resolution proposing to extend its current parcel tax (a qualified special tax).  This ballot measure asks voters to decide whether the District’s existing parcel tax should be extended for an additional five years, beginning July 1, 2014.

	The District currently levies an annual parcel tax of 7.2 cents per square foot of total building area on each parcel of taxable real property, or $7.20 per unimproved parcel of taxable real property, within the District.  The District’s current parcel tax is set to expire on June 30, 2014.  If this measure passes, the parcel tax would be extended for an additional five years, beginning July 1, 2014, and continuing through June 30, 2019.  

	A parcel of taxable real property is any unit of real property located in the District that receives a separate property tax bill from the Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office.  The total building area on each parcel would be obtained from the Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office, or based on the records of the building department of the jurisdiction in which the property is located.  Parcels that are contiguous, are used solely for owner-occupied residential purposes, and are held under identical ownership, could apply annually to be treated as a single parcel for the purposes of the parcel tax.  The parcel tax would not be levied on parcels that are exempt from paying property taxes.  The measure also provides that any person who is over the age of 65, or who, regardless of age, receives Supplemental Security Income for disability, may apply to the District for an exemption from the parcel tax.  

	The ballot measure states that proceeds from the parcel tax will be used to “improve the quality of education in the District by supporting” specified District programs.  Proceeds from the parcel tax may be used only for the specific purposes set forth in the ballot measure and according to constitutional and statutory provisions.  

	State law requires the District’s chief fiscal officer to file an annual report with the District’s Board of Education that states the amount of funds received and expended in each year and the status of any projects required or authorized to be funded from the parcel tax proceeds.  State law also requires the proceeds from the parcel tax to be deposited into a designated account.  Parcel tax funds also will be the subject of an annual independent financial audit, and the District’s Community Budget Advisory Committee will oversee the use of parcel tax proceeds.

	Two-thirds of those voting on the ballot measure must approve the measure for it to pass.

	A “yes” vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the parcel tax.

	A “no” vote is a vote against authorizing the parcel tax.
									
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF
PARCEL TAX MEASURE G

Maintain quality local education and give students the tools they need to succeed by voting YES on Measure G.  This measure renews our local educational funding measure which provides a basic level of funding for our schools that the state can’t take away.  
Measure G enables the school district to continue giving students a quality education from kindergarten to high school graduation, providing them with the tools they need to succeed in today’s workforce.   We cannot rely on state government to fund local schools.  Voting YES on Measure G will renew existing funding needed to maintain core academic programs that prepare our students for success.
Vote YES on Measure G to:
•	Fund core academic programs of reading, writing, math and science;
•	Maintain manageable class sizes to provide students with the individual attention they need; 
•	Support after-school programs that keep kids away from gangs and drugs;
•	Keep programs that prepare students for college and train them for the workforce; 
•	Provide classroom computers, technology, and science lab materials; and
•	Attract and retain quality teachers.

Measure G provides local funding for our schools and students by renewing local educational funding for the next five years.  All funding will stay here in our community and can’t be taken by the state for any reason.  An independent citizen oversight committee will review all expenditures to ensure they are spent correctly.  No funds raised from Measure G will be used for administrator salaries.  Seniors are exempt from paying this tax.
Measure G does not increase your taxes – it continues the current local educational funding to maintain programs in your local schools.  Without Measure G, the district will be forced to make significant cuts to critical programs that our students can’t afford.
Vote YES on Measure G to protect our schools and help local students.
www.ProtectWestCountySchools.com
McKinley Williams		Maria Saxton
Retired President		Teacher, Washington Elementary
Contra Costa College		School, WCCUSD Teacher of the
				Year
John Gioia
Contra Costa County Board	Ben Steinberg
of Supervisors, District 1	Parent, Mira Vista K-8 School

Charles E. Toombs
President, Kensington Police
Protection and Community
Services District
									
REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF
PARCEL TAX  MEASURE [ LETTER ]

[ Text or None filed ]

ARGUMENT AGAINST
PARCEL TAX MEASURE G

Less than 6 months ago, voters rejected Measure K.  And now the school district presents another parcel tax measure. We believe WCCUSD spends too much on consultants and surveys - money that should be going into the classroom.   We owe over a BILLION dollars in debt that has us paying every year until 2027 and beyond. 
 
Are the students getting a better education for this?  Without good management, and a good plan, instead of improving education, the school district has run wild with spending. Oversight doesn’t seem to help, as debt continues to mount and accountability is sparse.  Throwing money at problems is not a solution.

Want to know how much the WCCUSD costs you?  The County Treasure/Tax Collectors Office can help you, or you can look online at www.Westcountyforum.com.  Remember to look at bonds from 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2010 and MRAD (“WCCUSD Assessment”) and 2008 parcel tax.  

Taxpayers have been generous to WCCUSD, but as communities strain to maintain streets, lighting, utilities, safety and more, the District needs to reexamine their resourcefulness, and question their methods and priorities.  You are the source of their funds.  Is your financial support unending?  We say no.  

Many other school districts appear to perform better at less cost.  WCCUSD doesn’t seem to know how that happens. It’s no wonder that parents seek alternatives to education with home-schooling, charter and private schools while still paying their taxpayer obligations.  In this period of declining enrollment and financial crisis for so many, demand quality education, demand accountability, demand better.  Say NO to      Measure G.

Susan L. Pricco			Margie Liberty
Homeowner			Property Owner

Thomas Lynden
Business Owner CPA

									
REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST
PARCEL TAX  MEASURE [ LETTER ]

[ Text, if applicable ]
									
FULL TEXT OF 
PARCEL TAX  MEASURE [ LETTER ]

The following is the full ballot text of the proposition to be presented to the voters by the West Contra Costa Unified School District in the ballot pamphlet:

To maintain quality education with local funding the State cannot take away, including:

•	protecting core academics - reading, writing, math, science, 

•	attracting and retaining quality teachers,

•	providing smaller class sizes for the youngest children,

•	preparing students for college and the workforce,

•	improving safety on and around school campuses,

shall West Contra Costa Unified School District renew its existing parcel tax for five years, with no funds for administrator salaries, exempting seniors and requiring citizen oversight?

The purpose of the special tax is to improve the quality of education in the District by supporting the following programs:

•	protecting core academics – reading, writing, math and science, 

•	attracting and retaining qualified teachers,

•	preparing students for college and the workforce,

•	providing smaller class sizes for the youngest children,

•	providing classroom computers and technology,

•	improving safety on and around our campuses,
•	supporting after-school programs to keep kids away from gangs and drugs,

•	supporting science laboratories, materials and activities,

•	supporting libraries.

An exemption shall be granted annually on any single family residential parcel or multi-family dwelling unit owned by one or more persons 65 years of age or older or persons who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for a disability, regardless of age, who occupies said parcel or unit as a principal residence, upon annual application to the District for exemption.

 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.

Accountability

The proceeds of the special tax shall be applied only for the specific purposes identified above.  The proceeds of the special tax shall be deposited into an account, which shall be kept separate and apart from other accounts of the District.  No later than January 1 of each year while the tax is in effect, commencing January 1, 2014, the chief fiscal officer of the District shall prepare and file with the Board of Education a report detailing the amount of funds collected and expended during the prior fiscal year, and the status of any project or description of any programs authorized to be funded by this measure.  Parcel Tax funds shall also be subject to an annual independent financial audit which shall be made public, including oversight by the Community Budget Advisory Committee and posting on the District’s website.

Basis of Tax

The current parcel tax shall be maintained at an annual tax of 7.2 cents per square foot of total building area on each parcel of taxable real property within the District or a tax of $7.20 per unimproved parcel of taxable real property.  The District shall provide the Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector a report indicating the parcel number and amount of tax for each parcel of taxable real property.  The number of square feet of total building area on improved real property shall be obtained from the Contra Costa County Tax Assessor.  If that information is missing from the tax assessor’s records, the number of square feet of total building area shall be based upon the records of the building department for the applicable jurisdiction. 
 
Definition of Parcel of Taxable Real Property

“Parcel of taxable real property” shall be defined as any unit of real property in the District that receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office.  All property that is otherwise exempt from or on which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall also be exempt from the parcel tax in such year.  Parcels owned and occupied by persons 65 years of age or older or persons receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability regardless of age, may be exempt from the parcel tax, subject to annual application, as described above. 

For purposes of this special tax, any such “Parcels” which are (i) contiguous, (ii) used solely for owner-occupied, single-family residential purposes, and (iii) held under identical ownership may, by annually submitting an application of the owners thereof by July 1 of any year to the Board of Education be treated as a single “parcel” for purposes of the levy of this education parcel tax.

Severability

The Board of Education hereby declares, and the voters by approving this measure concur, that every section and part 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.