1176 / 61.73% Yes votes ...... 729 / 38.27% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Expenditures of the money raised by the bonds will be subject to annual independent performance and financial audits as well as review by an independent citizen's oversight committee.

The maximum amount of the proposed bonded indebtedness is $6.5 million, the maximum interest rate will not exceed the maximum interest rate permitted by law, and the maximum duration of the bonds is 25 years. The exact effect that the issue and sale of the bonds will have on tax rates cannot be determined until the bonds have been sold. Estimates of the tax rates are provided in the Tax Rate Statement.

A "yes" vote is a vote to authorize the Buellton Union School District to issue and sell the bonds.

A "no" vote is a vote not to authorize the Buellton Union High District to issue and sell the bonds.

This analysis is submitted by the office of the Santa Barbara County Counsel pursuant to the requirements of Section 9500 and following of the Elections Code of the State of California.

s/ Clare H. Macdonald, Chief Assistant County Counsel

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure U2004. If you desire a copy of the measure, please call the elections official's office at (805) 568-2200 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.

As taxpayers, we all agree in the importance of a child's education and the value of quality schools. Children in Buellton have received a good education since 1962. Our students have tested well and Jonata School has earned distinction. Today, District classrooms are at capacity and some of them are in need of major improvements. To ensure we maintain small class sizes and bring all classrooms up to current standards, the District needs to complete Oak Valley School and upgrade Jonata School.

MEASURE "U" WILL IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS AND ENSURE SMALL CLASS SIZES:
- Completes construction of Oak Valley School including library, science and computer labs
- Upgrades systems to improve access to computers and modern technology
- Makes health and safety improvements to meet current safety standards
- Upgrades and modernizes 41-year-old classrooms and facilities

Our schools qualify for over $3,700,000 in State Aid for needed improvements; but a local match is required to access these funds. Your YES vote will provide the required match.

MEASURE "U" MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE:
- Improves property values in our community and homes
- Provides local funds that cannot be taken by the State
- Makes improvements now instead of later when they will cost more

BY LAW, MEASURE "U" HAS TAXPAYER SAFEGUARDS:
- A citizens' oversight committee to ensure funds are spent as committed to voters
- Annual independent performance and financial audits
- Be used only to improve our schools + not for salaries.

Measure "U" will maintain our schools as a center point of our community, improve property values, and allow for the continued quality education of our children. Invest in Buellton's future by voting YES ON MEASURE "U".

s/ Joel Williamson + Educator

s/ Gerald Anderson + Local Business Owner/School Board Member

s/ Jake Willemsen + Retired Businessman

s/ Joyce A. Azevedo + Registered Nurse

s/ Mark Ream + Former School Board President/Deputy Sheriff

(No arguments against Measure U2004 were submitted)

1. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the first sale of bonds based on a projection of future assessed valuations is $0.02792 per $100 of assessed valuation in Fiscal Year 2004-2005.

2. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the last sale of bonds if the bonds are sold in series, and an estimate of the fiscal year in which that rate will apply, based on a projection of future assessed valuations is $0.02792 per $100 of assessed valuation in Fiscal Year 2016-17.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue and an estimate of the fiscal year in which that rate will apply, based on a projection of future assessed valuations, is again $0.02792 per $100 of assessed valuation, which is projected to be the same in every fiscal year.

Attention of all voters is directed to the facts that the foregoing is based upon projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District. The actual tax rates and 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 at any given sale, and the actual assessed valuation over the term of the repayment of the bonds. The actual time of sales of said bonds and the amount sold at any given time will be governed by the needs of the District and other factors (including market rate variations in the interest rate on general obligation bonds). Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined in the assessment and equalization process.

s/ Tom Cooper, Superintendent, Buellton Union School District

FINDINGS

The Buellton Union School District (the "District"), which serves the community of Buellton and portions of unincorporated Santa Barbara County, is a recognized leader in providing top quality education to Santa Barbara county students for over a century. Recently, Jonata School received the California Distinguished Schools award.

The achievements have been accrued by the District as a result of the long history of visionary leadership from the Board of Trustees of the District (the "Board"), as well as from staff members, parents, and members of the District communities. During its long history, the District has benefited from a community that supports its educational institutions by establishing high standards for academic achievement and the arts while at the same time providing the means required to meet and even to surpass those expectations.

In order to provide our local students with the same classrooms and school facilities as other California school districts, major repairs, upgrades, and new classroom construction are necessary to ensure these buildings will remain functional for future generations.

The Board has prepared a facilities plan and identified significant repairs, upgrades, and classroom construction needs due to aging facilities as well as increased enrollment that are more than the District is able to fund from currently available sources or annual revenues.

The District has sought, and continues to seek, all available outside sources of funding to improve our school buildings, including local, state, and federal grants and state bond funds. The State requires that local school districts provide local funds as a condition of receipt of state matching funds. The District is eligible for $3.7 million in State matching funds.

It is necessary to seek voter approval of a bond measure in order to provide the local funding for identified school facility repairs, modernization projects, and growth needs to address student enrollment.

BOND AUTHORIZATION

By approval of this proposition by at least 55 percent of the registered voters voting on the proposition, the District shall be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $6,500,000 in principal at interest rates below the legal limit, to provide financing for the specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List attached hereto as Exhibit A-1, subject to all the accountability requirements specified below.

BOND PROJECT LIST

The Bond Project List attached to this resolution as Exhibit A-1 shall be considered a part of the ballot proposition and shall be reproduced in any official document required to contain the full statement of the bond proposition.

Approval of this Bond Measure (the "Measure") does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the District that are the subject of bonds under the Measure will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by the Measure. If state matching funds become available, they will be used for and applied to the Bond Project List as per Exhibit A-1. The District's proposal for the project or projects assumes the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.

ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS

The provisions in this section are specifically included in this proposition in order that the voters and taxpayers in the District may be assured that their money will be spent wisely to address specific facilities needs of the District all in compliance with the requirements of Article XlllA, Section 1(b)(3), of the State Constitution and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at Education Code Sections 15264 and following.)

Evaluation of Needs. The Board, after a year long process involving staff members, parents, students, and community members at each school site throughout the District, has prepared an updated facilities plan in order to evaluate and address all of the facilities needs of the District and determine which projects to finance from a local bond at this time. The Board hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction, enrollment growth, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List contained in Exhibit A-1.

Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Board shall establish an Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee pursuant to Education Code Section 15278 and following to ensure bond proceeds are expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1. The committee shall be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board.

Performance Audits. The Board shall conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1.

Financial Audits. The Board shall conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A-1.

Special Bond Proceeds Account: Annual Report to Board. Upon approval of this proposition and the sale of any bonds approved, the Board 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 of the District shall cause a report to be filed with the Board annually, stating (1) the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in that year, and (2) the status of any project funded or to be funded from bond proceeds. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period as the Superintendent shall determine and may be incorporated in the annual budget, audit or another appropriate routine report to the Board.

FURTHER SPECIFICATIONS

No Administrator Salaries. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of school facilities including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities or acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities and construction management by district personnel and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

The proceeds of the bonds will be deposited into a Building Fund to be held by the Santa Barbara County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code.

EXHIBIT A-1 BOND PROJECT LIST

The District intends to complete the following projects, using a combination of funding sources. It is anticipated that bond proceeds will contribute $6,500,000 to said total cost. Other anticipated sources include state aid matching funds and other available funds.
- Complete the construction of Oak Valley School including library, science and computer labs, and new classrooms
- Modernize and upgrade classrooms at Jonata School
- Make health and safety improvements to meet current standards
- Upgrade outdated electrical systems
- Upgrade classroom systems to accommodate classroom computers and modern technology
- Renovate playfields to improve student safety
- Purchase school facilities the District is currently leasing
- Modernize and renovate the multipurpose/cafeteria at Jonata School to accommodate student needs as well as renovate, expand, and construct student support facilities
- Furnish and equip schools to the extent permitted by law