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Contra Costa County, CA November 7, 2006 Election
Measure K
Bond
Liberty Union High School District

55% Approval Required

Fail: 12,156 / 53.21% Yes votes ...... 10,689 / 46.79% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Dec 4 7:35am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (104/104)
Information shown below: Yes/No Meaning | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement |

To build a fourth high school to prevent overcrowding at Liberty, Freedom and Heritage High Schools, build new classrooms, science and computer labs at Liberty High School, build a theater at Freedom High School, and acquire land for a fifth high school, shall Liberty Union High School District be authorized to repair, replace, acquire, construct and renovate school facilities and issue $85,000,000 in bonds at legal interest rates and create an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee to monitor bondexpenditures?

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote on this measure means:
A "yes" vote is in favor of authorizing the bonded indebtedness.

A NO vote on this measure means:
A "no" vote is against authorizing the bonded indebtedness.

Impartial Analysis from County Counsel
Under California law, school districts are authorized to incur bonded indebtedness to construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, replace, furnish, and equip school facilities, or to acquire or lease real property for school facilities, if approved by the voters. By resolution, the Board of Trustees of the Liberty Union High School District has proposed that the District incur bonded indebtedness.

This ballot measure would authorize bonded indebtedness not to exceed eighty-five million dollars ($85,000,000) with interest not to exceed the maximum legal rate. In exchange for money received from a holder of the bonds, the District will promise to pay to the holder interest for a certain period of time and to repay the loan on the expiration date. Bonds will have a maturity date (the date the District has to pay back the money it borrowed).

The ballot measure states that the money raised would be used "to build a fourth high school to prevent overcrowding at Liberty, Freedom and Heritage High Schools, build new classrooms, including science and computer labs, at Liberty High School, build a theater at Freedom High School, and acquire land for a fifth high school." The specific projects are set forth in the Bond Project List attached to the resolution of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees evaluated safety, class size reduction, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List. The money raised would only be used for the listed projects and not for any other purpose, such as teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses. The ballot measure states that the District intends to complete the listed projects using a combination of funding sources, including developer fees and state funds.

The ballot measure also calls for the establishment of an independent citizens' oversight committee to ensure that the money raised is expended only on the listed projects. In addition, the Board of Trustees will be required to conduct an annual independent performance audit to ensure that the funds are expended only on the listed projects, and to conduct an annual independent financial audit of the money raised until it has been spent on the listed projects.

To pass, 55% of those voting on the measure must approve the measure.

A "yes" vote is in favor of authorizing the bonded indebtedness.

A "no" vote is against authorizing the bonded indebtedness.

  News and Analysis

Contra Costa Times

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Arguments For Measure K
A Yes vote on Measure K is a vote to avoid serious overcrowding at Liberty, Freedom and Heritage High Schools. Measure K will raise the funds needed to build a fourth high school. In addition, bond funds will also be used to build new, permanent classrooms at Liberty High School, including science and computer labs, a theater at Freedom High School, and purchase land for a fifth high school.

Voter approval of Measure K is critical. Enrollment in the district has grown by more than 1,900 students in the past five years. Over the next five years the district must provide classroom space for more than 2,500 additional students.

With strong support from local voters, the district has been able to build the schools needed to avoid overcrowding. Since 1996, enrollment in the district has increased by 3,400 students, a 115% increase. To continue to provide adequate classroom space for the high school students in our district, we must build a new high school. If we want state funds and developer fees to help build the new high school, we must vote Yes on Measure K.

The new high school will be built by combining bond funds with developer fees and state matching funds. All bond funds will be used for local school construction projects. None of the funds will be used for administrator or teacher salaries.

Measure K also provides for strict accountability. An Independent Citizens Oversight Committee will monitor all expenditures and annual independent audits will ensure bond funds are spent appropriately.

Please join us and vote Yes on Measure K.

Brian Swisher
Mayor City of Brentwood

Kathy Leighton
Byron MAC board

Pat Anderson
Councilmember, City of Oakley

Enrico E. Cinquini
Oakley Businessman

William B. Bristow
Educator, Retired

(No arguments against Measure K were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement from Superintendent, Liberty Union High School District
An election will be held in the Liberty Union High School District (the "District") on November 7, 2006, to submit to electors of the District the question of whether to authorize the sale of up to $85,000,000 in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the ballot measure. If the bonds are approved, the District expects to sell the bonds in two or more series over time. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The information contained in numbered paragraphs 1 + 3 below is provided in compliance with Sections 9400- 9404 of the Elections Code of the State of California. Such information is based on the best estimates and projections presently available from official sources, upon experience within the District and other demonstrable factors.
    1. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 2 cents per 100 dollars ($20.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2007-08.

    2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 2.5 cents per $100 ($25.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2009-10.

    3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 2.5 cents per $100 ($25.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2009-10.

    4. The best estimate of the average annual tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue through the entire repayment period, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 2.5 cents per $100 ($25.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation.

Voters should note that the estimated tax rates are based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls, not on the property's market value. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District's projections and estimates only, which is not binding upon the District. The actual tax rates 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 its need for construction funds and other factors, including the legal limitations on bonds approved by a 55% vote. 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.

Dated: July 20, 2006.

Daniel M. Smith
Superintendent , Liberty Union High School District


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