Pass: 48916 / 67.47% Yes votes ...... 23586 / 32.53% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote on this measure means:

A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the Sweetwater Union High School District to issue and sell $644,000,000 in general obligation bonds.

A NO vote on this measure means:

A "no" vote is a vote against authorizing the Sweetwater Union High School District to issue and sell $644,000,000 in general obligation bonds.

Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition may be used by the School District only for the construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of its school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of its school facilities, acquisition, or lease of real property for its school facilities and construction management by School District personnel.

The interest rate on any bond, which is established at the time of bond issuance, cannot exceed 12% per annum. The final maturity date of any bond could be no later than 25 years after the date of bonds issued pursuant to the Education Code or not later than 40 years after the date of bonds issued pursuant to the Government Code. Principal and interest on the bonds would be paid by revenue derived from an annual tax levied upon the taxable property within the School District in an amount sufficient to pay the interest as it becomes due and to provide a fund for payment of the principal on or before maturity.

Article XIII A of the California Constitution exempts from the one percent property tax rate limitation ad valorem taxes to pay the interest and redemption charges on any bonded indebtedness for the acquisition or improvement of real property, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, when approved by 55% of the voters if: (a) the proceeds from the sale of the bonds are used only for the purposes specified, (b) the School District, by evaluating safety, class size reduction, and information technology, has approved a list of specific projects to be funded, (c) the School District will conduct an annual, independent performance audit, and (d) the School District will conduct an annual, independent financial audit. If a bond measure is approved by 55% of the voters, state law requires the governing board of the District to establish an independent citizens' oversight committee. The School District has made this ballot proposition subject to these requirements.

Approval of this proposition does not guarantee that the proposed projects in the School District that are the subject of these bonds will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by this proposition.

Sweetwater Union High School District

Proposition BB, overwhelmingly supported by local residents in 2000, provided critically needed repairs, renovated existing schools and constructed new classrooms. Proposition O is now needed to complete the job of repairing and improving our schools ensuring all Sweetwater students attend safe, secure schools that fully support their educational needs.

Too many of our students still attend school in classrooms and labs that lack computers and upto- date technology. Decades old restrooms, deteriorating plumbing, inefficient heating, ventilation and other building systems need to be repaired or completely replaced. Proposition O funds will be used to upgrade fire safety systems, remove asbestos and other health hazards, improve handicap accessibility and complete earthquake retrofitting.

Proposition O will upgrade vocational classrooms, giving students the opportunity to learn valuable job and technical skills preparing them for success in the workforce.

All schools and students in the Sweetwater District will benefit from Proposition O.

Proposition O will:

• Upgrade classrooms/restrooms/science labs/technology
  
• Improve handicap accessibility
  
• Remove asbestos/lead paint
  
• Upgrade fire and life safety systems
  

Quality school facilities help retain and attract qualified teachers. Good schools maintain local quality of life and strong values. We respectfully urge your support and YES vote for Proposition O.

GREGORY R. COX
San Diego County Supervisor
NORMA L. HERNANDEZ
Superintendent/President (Retired)
Southwestern College
DIANNE BLIVEN
2006 Teacher of the Year
Sweetwater Union High School District
RAQUEL MARQUEZ
President, Board of Trustees
San Ysidro School District
ROGER CAZARES
CEO (Retired), MAAC Project

• This year, education spending jumped dramatically. Some estimates of total federal, state and local spending on California K-12 education now exceed $11,000 per student. This amount is considerably higher than the average private school tuition. The last thing we should be considering is even higher taxes for education.

• The Sweetwater district's share of standard property tax revenue has zoomed upward. It is almost 5 times more than it was 20 years ago - more than doubling in just the last six years. It is growing FAR faster than population and inflation combined. Yet the district says we need to pay even HIGHER property taxes! No, we don't.

• Ask yourself this question: If the district really needs these bonds, why can't they issue them now, making the bond payments out of the existing tax revenue sources? After all, private schools, which on average charge considerably less than $11,000 tuition, fund their capital costs out of their budgets without raising taxes. Can't public schools, which have much more money, do the same?

• District bureaucrats seeking higher taxes always point to buildings in disrepair. It's a standard pitch. We give them tons of tax money, and they can't maintain our schools. Their solution? Give `em even MORE money. What does that teach our kids about accountability?

• Education is critically important. But paying even higher taxes is not the answer.

BONNEY T. WIKKERING
Retired
JESSE THOMAS
Candidate, State Senate 40th District
EDWARD TEYSSIER
National City Business Owner
WILLIAM J. BILBRAY

• Apparently politicians believe that money DOES grow on trees. Why else would we see over forty BILLION dollars' worth of state bonds on the ballot? Plus two major statewide tax increases and a massive oil "fee" increase?

• In San Diego County, we have no less than 6 bond measures totaling over 3 BILLION dollars - all of which involve tax increases.

• You'd think that there's a shortage of revenue - that somehow we taxpayers are not paying our "fair share." But the truth is that government revenue streams are growing nicely WITHOUT new taxes being levied or raised. Compared to other states, our state and local taxes are quite high already.

• It's become a cliché but it is still true - we don't have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem!

• That being said, do we need to spend more money on education - issuing school bonds? No!

• Over 90% of private schools in San Diego County charge less tuition than what we taxpayers are now spending on public school students. Usually a LOT less - often more than 60% less than public schooling's total costs

• Yet these private schools obviously do a good job. Otherwise the parents wouldn't be paying for private education that their kids could get free at government schools.

• The LAST thing we need to do is throw more money into public schools. It's time for bureaucrats to better utilize the money that we ALREADY spend on education.

If you think that your taxes are already too high, or just feel that taxes are high enough, you should vote NO.

Please vote NO! on O.

For more information, contact Bonney Wikkering
BonneyWikkering@EconomyTelcom.com 858-530-3027

BONNEY T. WIKKERING
Retired
JESSE THOMAS
Candidate, State Senate - 40th District
EDWARD TEYSSIER
Business Owner, National City

• They have not studied the needs of Sweetwater's neighborhood schools. In fact, their argument does not even specifically address our local schools or community.

• They are part of a group that submitted the identical argument against school bonds throughout San Diego County, regardless of the facts.

Neighborhood middle and high schools are well maintained. All have benefited from improvements through judicious use of local resources/state money when available. However, most of our schools are old. The undisputed need for significant renovation is critical to ensure safe, modern schools for local students.

Proposition O is the only way to ensure students throughout our communities have access to:

• Up-to-date classrooms, asbestos free, earthquake/fire safe
  
• Technology/computers necessary to succeed in school, college, the workplace
  
• Science labs equipped for hands-on instruction
  
• Vocational classrooms for technical/workplace preparation

Proposition O has broad-based, community support. Good schools are essential to maintain local property values and quality of life for local residents.

As Sweetwater residents, we strongly urge your YES vote on Proposition O.

GREGORY R. COX
San Diego County Supervisor
NORMA L. HERNANDEZ
Superintendent/President (Retired)
Southwestern College
DIANNE BLIVEN
2006 Teacher of the Year
Sweetwater Union High School District
RAQUEL MARQUEZ
President, Board of Trustees
San Ysidro School District
KILE MORGAN
Mayor, City of National City (Retired)

(a) The best estimate from official sources 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 the bonds based on assessed valuations available at the time of the election or a projection based on experience within the same jurisdiction or other demonstrable factors is $0.027 per $100 ($27.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation.

(b) It is anticipated that the bonds will be sold in series. The best estimate from official sources of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the last sale of the bonds is $0.027 per $100 ($27.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation.

(c) The best estimate from official sources of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the term of the bond issue, based on assessed valuations available at the time of the election or a projection based on experience within the same jurisdiction or other demonstrable factors, is $0.027 per $100 ($27.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation. It is estimated that the highest tax rate would apply in the 2018-2019 tax year based on assessed valuations available at the time of the election or a projection based on experience within the same jurisdiction or other demonstrable factors.

Voters should note that these estimated tax rates are based on the assessed value of taxable property within the District as shown on the official rolls of San Diego County, not on the property's market value. In addition, taxpayers eligible for a property tax exemption, such as the homeowner's exemption, will be taxed at a lower effective rate than described above. Certain taxpayers may also be eligible to postpone the payment of taxes. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills and tax advisors to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that these estimates are based on projections derived from information obtained from official sources. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary depending on the timing of any bond sales, the amount of bonds sold, and actual increases in assessed valuations. The timing of the bond sales and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be governed by the needs of the District. Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined by the San Diego County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: July 25, 2006

Julian T. Lopez, Ph.D.
Interim Superintendent
Sweetwater Union High School District