5,597 / 72.5% Yes votes ...... 2,125 / 27.5% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

A "yes" vote is a vote to authorize the issuance and sale of the general obligation bonds not to exceed the principal amount of $35,000,000 for the uses specified.

A NO vote of this measure means:

A "no" vote is a vote not to authorize the issuance and sale of said bonds.

The Constitution permits the debt service on such bonds to be paid through the imposition of ad valorem property taxes on property located within the district. The maturity of any such bonds issued would not exceed 40 years for those bonds issued pursuant to the Government Code, at a rate of interest within the legal limit. The tax rate is estimated not to exceed the amounts provided in the Tax Rate Statement. Since the interest rate on the bonds is determined when the bonds are sold, the exact amount of the tax increase can only be determined after the bonds are sold.

The bonds would be used to repair and renovate elementary schools, provide safety upgrades, repair roofs, and upgrade electrical, heating and plumbing systems, construct classrooms and provide for energy efficiency.

A "yes" vote is a vote to authorize the issuance and sale of the general obligation bonds not to exceed the principal amount of $35,000,000 for the uses specified.

A "no" vote is a vote not to authorize the issuance and sale of said bonds.

Ann Miller Ravel, County Counsel

By: Kathryn A. Berry, Deputy County Counsel

Please note

The material about this Measure has been retyped from Registrar of Voters' material. There could be errors. The official material can be obtained from the Registrar of Voters.

Pros & Cons meeting

Feb. 21 - 7:30 - 9:30 pm

Saratoga Community Center
19655 Allendale Ave.
sponsored by AAUW and LWV

Libertarian Party of Santa Clara Co. - Vote No on J

Since the last bond was passed in 1995, the Moreland School District has made facilities upgrades throughout the district. Six of our nine schools have been modernized, with updated and improved wiring, roofs, seismic and fire safety, plumbing and heating systems, classroom space, libraries, media centers, and computer labs. All schools have received some necessary improvements.

Measure J would allow Moreland to finish the job and bring all nine school facilities to the same standard ... without increasing the tax rate beyond the 1995 level.

Here's what's left to do:

• Modernize the last three of our nine schools which have received only minor improvements since being built over 35 years ago
• Upgrade wiring in older schools to allow new computers and technology
• Modernize kitchens which date from the early 1960s
• Improve campus health and safety through better lighting, improved security, asbestos removal
• Install central energy management systems to ensure schools are energy-efficient
• Replace old windows, doors, and roofs

Measure J would also allow the district to apply for $3.5 million more in matching funds from the State.

State law requires that all bond funds must be used for facility and classroom improvements. Absolutely none of the funds raised by Measure J can be used for administrative salaries or district overhead expenses.

Every dollar will be used only on projects that directly improve the quality of learning in the classroom. And every dollar raised by Measure J will stay right here in our community to fix our local Moreland schools.

Please join local teachers, parents. and business people in voting Yes on Measure J.

Jim Beall, Member, Board of Supervisors

Linda J. LeZotte, San Jose City Council Member

Susan C. Zimmer, President, Moreland Board of Trustees

Sherri Vasquez, Moreland Teacher

Richard L. Zea, Jr., Parent, Chair, Moreland Bond Committee

Why hasn't Moreland School District made the important repairs from the budget? If all budget expenditures during the last few years have been more important than the repairs and replacements they want to make now, what makes, them suddenly more important? If families must move away because high taxes have put them out of work, won't enrollments decline, making repairs and upgrades wasteful?

We should use the current budget to pay for teachers and make important repairs as needed. With whatever money is left, we should pay for whatever administration Moreland School District can afford.

Make your vote count. Keep the Moreland School District accountable. While businesses are intent on cutting costs, don't let the school budget balloon out of control.

VOTE NO ON MEASURE J!

For more information visit http://www.VoteNOonJ.org .

H. Raymond Strong, Chair. Libertarian Party Of Santa Clara County

Elizabeth C. Brierly, MBA, Libertarian Candidate, State Board of Equalization

Dennis Michael Umphress, Candidate for Congress, District 16

A $35 million bond issue paying, for example, 5 percent simple interest for 25 years would mean $43.75 million in interest payments, plus $35 million in principle for a total of $78.75 million. As a consumer and taxpayer, you deserve to know the truth about these high costs. The annual interest payment of $1.75 million in the example is money that must be collected in taxes but goes to pay off bond holders, and is NEVER used for teacher salaries or classroom improvements. These interest payments are the cost of deficit financing. You, the taxpayers, pay this cost whenever your school board departs from the prudent and fiscally responsible practice of paying NOW for what is needed NOW, and budgeting to save for what will be needed in the future. Like the fiscally naive credit card holder, the school board could be tempted to spend this large sum of $35,000,000 unwisely, because it was viewed as easily obtained and they believe there will always be more available. Don't make it so easy. Vote NO on this enormous sum.

What's more important to you:

1. spending $1.75 million a year, for example, on teachers salaries and better schools, or

2. spending $1.75 million a year, for example, to provide interest income for bond holders?

Vote FOR responsible and effective spending for education:

Vote NO on Measure J.

For more details, please visit our website at http://www.VoteNOonJ.org/ .

H. Raymond Strong, Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County

Dennis Michael Umphress, Candidate for Congress, 16th District

Jeff Landauer, Candidate for Congress, 15th District

Elizabeth C. Brierly, Business Analyst, MBA

High-quality facilities directly impact the quality of education. Since the last bond was passed in 1995, Moreland test scores reflect dramatic improvement in student performance. In the last ten years, all Moreland schools have been named California Distinguished Schools.

Measure J will provide today's students the safe, efficient, modern facilities they need to compete in the 21st Century ... without Increasing the tax rate beyond the 1995 level.

The Moreland School District has an excellent record of fiscal responsibility. All the funds raised will be spent on facilities projects which directly affect the quality of education in the classroom. State law prohibits using bond funds for administrative salaries or district overhead.

In order to achieve these important goals without raising the tax rate, Measure J must receive YES votes from 2/3 of our community - not only 55% as with many other districts. Your vote will make a difference.

Please join local teachers, parents, neighbors and businesspeople in voting Yes on Measure J.

James T. Beall, Jr., Member, Board of Supervisors

Linda J. LeZotte, San Jose City Council Member

Susan C. Zimmer, President, Moreland Board of Trustees

Sherri Vasquez, Moreland Teacher

Richard L. Zea, Jr., Parent, Chair, Moreland Bond Committee

The following information regarding tax rates is given to comply with Sections 9400 et seq. of the California Elections Code. Such information represents the District's best estimates and is based upon actual assessed valuations available at the time of this election and projections of future assessed valuations based upon experience within the District and upon other demonstrable factors. These estimates assume the entire bond debt service will be repaid from property tax revenues.

1. The best estimate of the tax rate that will be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds is 1.00 cent per $100 of assessed valuation (or, stated another way, $10 per $100,000 of assessed valuation) in the fiscal year 2002-03.

2. The best estimate of the tax rate that will be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply is 2.00 cents per $100 of assessed valuation (or, stated another way, $20 per $100,000 of assessed valuation) in the fiscal year 2012-13.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate that will be required to be levied to fund the bond issue and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply is 6.57 cents per $100 assessed valuation (or, stated another way, $65.70 per $100,000 of assessed valuation) for the fiscal year 2026-27.

Attention to all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information represents the District's best estimates and is based upon certain projections and estimates. These estimates are not binding upon the District. Variations in the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at each bond sale, the structure of repayment for each series of bonds, future assessed valuations, and market interest rates at the time of each sale will affect these estimates. The actual date of the sales of said bonds, the amount sold on any given date, and the structure of repayment will be governed by the needs of the District and other factors (including tax rate impact). The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold, which in any event will not exceed the maximum permitted by law, will depend upon the market for the bonds at the time of each sale. Actual assessed valuation in future years will depend upon the value of property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process. Hence, the actual tax rates and the years in which such rates are applicable may vary from those presently estimated above.

Jim Ritchie, Superintendent, Moreland School District

1. The specific purpose of the bonds is to finance the completion of repair, renovation and upgrading of the District's remaining unmodernized elementary schools, including safety upgrades to reduce danger from earthquakes, repair of leaky roofs, upgrades to inadequate and unsafe electrical, heating and plumbing systems, the construction of additional educational facilities, and additional upgrades of remaining schools, including energy efficient systems;

2. The proceeds from the sale of the District's bonds will be used only for the purposes specified in the Measure, and not for any other purpose;

3. The proceeds of the Bonds will be deposited into a Building Fund to be held by the Santa Clara County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code; and

4. The Superintendent of the District shall file an annual report with the Governing Board of the District, commencing not later than January 1, 2003, and annually thereafter, which report shall contain pertinent information regarding the amount of funds collected and expended, as well as the status of the projects listed in the Measure.