MEASURE L San Benito High School District | |
Ballot Question | |
To strengthen student safety by installing secure school entrances, fencing/cameras; to construct a multipurpose building/cafeteria for assembly, nutrition and healthy meals to support learning; and to install solar panels for clean energy and lower utility costs, shall the San Benito High School District measure authorizing $30,000,000 in bonds at legal rates be adopted, levying approximately 1.3 cents per $100 assessed value ($1,650,000 annually) while bonds are outstanding, with citizen oversight, annual audits, and all funds staying local? | |
What your vote means? | |
BONDS YES | BONDS NO |
If fifty-five percent (55%) of all voters casting ballots in the District in both San Benito and Santa Clara Counties vote “Bonds – Yes” the bond issuance will be approved. | If less than fifty-five percent casting ballots vote “Bonds – Yes” the bond issue fails. |
Approval of Measure L does not guarantee that the proposed project(s) in the San Benito High School District that are the subject of bonds under Measure L will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure L. The school district’s proposal for the project(s) may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure. | |
What will you find in this pamphlet? | |
County Counsel’s Impartial Analysis Tax Rate Statement Argument in Favor (NO Argument Against was Filed) Full Text of Measure | |
COUNTY COUNSEL’S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE L | |
The San Benito High School District (“District”) Board of Trustees (“Board”) placed Measure L on the ballot to authorize the issuance of Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.00) in bonds to finance construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities. Projects to be funded are specified on a District-approved bond project list, that is available for review with the full text of the measure, and those Projects may include but are not limited to:
According to a tax rate statement prepared by the District, the estimated average annual tax needed to repay the principal and interest on the bonds would be one and three tenths cent ($.013) per $100 of assessed value ($13.00 per $100,000), generating $1,650,000 annually. The estimated maximum tax rate is two cents ($.02) per $100 of assessed valuation ($20 per $100,000). The final fiscal year in which the tax is anticipated to be collected is 2049-50. The District estimates that the total amount repayable during the life of the bond, including principal and interest, will be approximately $49,500,000. Use of the bond proceeds is restricted to projects on the approved bond project list, and is subject to annual performance and financial audits, review by the Board, and oversight by an independent citizens’ oversight committee. No administrator or teacher salaries may be paid from bond proceeds. If fifty-five percent (55%) of all voters casting ballots in the District in both San Benito and Santa Clara Counties vote “Bonds – Yes” the bond issuance will be approved. If less than fifty-five percent casting ballots vote “Bonds – Yes” the bond issue fails. BARBARA THOMPSON, County Counsel By: s/JOEL ELLINWOOD, Assistant County Counsel | |
TAX RATE STATEMENT FOR MEASURE L | |
An election will be held within the boundaries of the San Benito High School District (“District”) on March 3, 2020 to authorize the sale of up to $30,000,000 in general obligation bonds. If the bonds are approved, the District expects to sell the bonds in multiple series. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property located within the District. The following information is provided in compliance with Sections 9400 to 9404, inclusive, of the California Elections Code.
Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that while the foregoing information includes conservative projections and estimates of assessed value, market interest rates, and the timing and amount of bonds issued in the future, the District will only issue bonds if the tax rate is at or below the maximum set forth above. The County Assessor is responsible for determining assessed value, the San Benito County and Santa Clara County Auditor-Controllers are responsible for setting tax rates, and the San Benito County and Santa Clara County Treasurer-Tax Collectors are responsible for the collection of taxes. The actual tax rates may vary over time based on changes in assessed value, and actual debt service may vary based on market interest rates and the timing of when the bonds are issued. The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on need for construction funds and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on bond market conditions 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. The District is responsible for the timing and amount of bonds to be issued, which the District will only undertake if tax rates meet the parameters set forth in the above tax rate statement. s/ SHAWN TENNENBAUM, Superintendent November 12, 2019 | |
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE L | |
Vote YES on Measure L to provide students with a safe and healthy learning environment. Measure L will allow San Benito High School District (SBHSD) to complete the final phase of its facility master plan by improving campus safety and provide a multi-functional and energy-efficient space that will include a centralized cafeteria, serving area, and indoor/outdoor areas for meetings, student activities and community events. Measure L will expand safety measures to provide a safe haven for the campus community to interact in a central location. San Benito High School is an award-winning school providing high-quality education to students in our community. SBHSD has stewarded voter-approved bond resources to maintain fiscal solvency, maximize state funding, and stretch every dollar through planning and efficiency measures. SBHSD has constructed state-of-the-art classrooms and learning environments to educate all students to their greatest potential upon graduation. Measure L will complete the commitment to our community’s students by providing the following final phase improvements:
SAN BENITO HIGH SCHOOLTEACHERS ASSOCIATION (SBHSTA) s/ Mark Krause, President SAN BENITO HIGH SCHOOL CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE s/ Mary Damm, President SAN BENITO COUNTY LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS (LULAC) s/ Richard Perez, President s/ CAPTAIN ERIC TAYLOR Captain, San Benito County Sheriff s/ WILLIAM G. TIFFANY, Attorney at Law Former San Benito High School District Trustee | |
NO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE L WAS FILED | |
FULL TEXT OF MEASURE L | |
By approval of this proposition by at least 55% of the registered voters voting thereon, the San Benito High School District shall be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $30 million in aggregate principal amount to provide financing for the specific school facilities projects listed below in the Bond Project List, subject to all of the accountability safeguards specified herein. SECTION I: KEY FINDINGS
SECTION II: ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES The provisions in this section are included in this proposition in order that the voters and taxpayers of the District may be assured that their money will be spent to address specific facilities needs of the District, all in compliance with the requirements of Article XIII A, section 1(b)(3) of the State Constitution, and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at section 15264 et seq. of the California Education Code). Evaluation of Needs. The Board of Trustees has evaluated the facilities needs of the District, and determined which projects to finance from a local bond measure at this time. The Board of Trustees hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List. Independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. The Board of Trustees shall establish or empower an existing independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee to ensure bond proceeds are expended only for the school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List. The committee shall be established or empowered within 60 days of the date when the Board of Trustees enters the results of the election in its minutes. Annual Performance Audit. The Board of Trustees shall conduct or cause to be conducted an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects described in the Bond Project List. Annual Financial Audit. The Board of Trustees shall conduct or cause to be conducted an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects described in the Bond Project List. Annual Report to Board. Upon approval of this measure and the sale of any bonds approved, 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 no later than January 1 of each year, commencing on the first January 1 after bonds have been issued and proceeds spent, stating (1) the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in the past year, and (2) the status of any project funded or to be funded from bond proceeds. The report may relate to the fiscal year or other appropriate annual period as the Superintendent shall determine, and may be incorporated into the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Board. SECTION III: BOND PROJECT LIST This Bond Project List, which is an integral part of this measure, describes the projects the District proposes to finance with proceeds of the bonds. All information contained within this “Section III: Bond Project List” (hereinafter “Bond Project List”) comprises the list and description of permissible projects and expenses that may be paid from bond proceeds. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this measure shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities on the Bond Project List, including the furnishing and equipping of said school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for said school facilities, and not for any other purpose, including teacher or administrator salaries and other school operating expenses. In order to meet all identified facility needs, the District intends to complete the following projects using a combination of funding sources. Other anticipated sources may include joint-use funds, development impact fees, state funds, and other available funds. The District will pursue state matching funds if and when they become available, and if received, they will be used for and mainly applied to projects on the Bond Project List or other high priority capital outlay expenditures as permitted in Education Code section 17070.63(c) or as otherwise permitted by law and regulation. While the District has budgeted to complete specific projects, due to potential cost escalation, unforeseen conditions, and other factors, placement of a project on the Bond Project List is not a guarantee that every project listed will be completed. Furthermore, while no specific project is dependent on the receipt of state funding for completion,approval of this measure does not guarantee that all projects on this Bond Project List at all listed sites will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by this measure. The District’s proposal for the projects assumes the receipt of some state matching funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure. Specific projects to be funded by the bond measure may include, without limitation, and in no particular order, the following: Category 1: Projects to Enhance 21st Century Learning Environments and Foster Collaboration, Group Learning, and Building Community
Each project is assumed to include its share of costs of bond issuance, architectural, engineering, legal and similar planning costs, construction management, bond project staff and consultants, staff development and training expenses associated with learning construction techniques and approaches and new bond-funded equipment and systems, the furnishing and equipping of all projects, including equipment to maintain facilities in a safe and clean condition, and a customary contingency for unforeseen design and construction costs. Payment of the costs of preparation of facilities planning and project implementation studies, feasibility and assessment reviews, master planning, environmental studies, permit and inspection fees, Division of State Architect (DSA) – related requirements, studies and assessments, including ADA and seismic, and temporary housing and relocation costs for dislocated programs or activities caused or necessitated by projects on the Bond Project List are permissible bond expenditures. The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized and projects are completed. Based on the final costs of each project, certain of the projects described above may be delayed or may not be completed. Necessary site preparation, grading or restoration may occur in connection with acquisition of property, new construction, modernization, renovation or remodeling, or installation or removal of modular classrooms, including ingress and egress, removing, replacing or installing irrigation, utility lines, trees and landscaping, relocating fire access roads and acquiring any necessary easements, leases, licenses or rights of way to the property. SECTION IV: ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATIONS No Administrator Salaries. Proceeds from the sale of Bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities on the Bond Project List, including the furnishing and equipping of said school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for said school facilities, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses. Single Purpose. All of the purposes enumerated in this proposition shall be united and voted upon as one single proposition, pursuant to Section 15100 of the California Education Code, and all the enumerated purposes shall constitute the specific single purpose of the bonds and proceeds of the bonds shall be spent only for such purpose. Other Terms of the Bonds. The bonds may be issued and sold in several series, and in accordance with a financing plan determined by the Board of Trustees pursuant to requirements of law. When sold, the bonds shall bear interest at an annual rate and with a term not exceeding the statutory maximum. Furthermore, the weighted average maturity of each issue of bonds will not exceed 120 percent (120%) of the average reasonably expected economic life of the projects financed by the bonds, consistent with federal tax law. Bond funds may be used to reimburse the District for Bond Project List expenditures incurred prior to the election and bond issuance, in accordance with federal tax law. 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, nor are the summary estimates, if any, provided in the Ballot Label. The actual tax rates, debt service 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 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. In preparing this information, the District obtained reasonable and informed projections of assessed property valuations that took into consideration projections of assessed property valuations made by the County Assessor, if any, in accordance with Education Code Section 15100(c) |