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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
San Diego County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
Proposition R
Classroom Repair and Job Training Measure
Southwestern Community College District

55% Approval Required

Pass: 95460 / 71.41% Yes votes ...... 38221 / 28.59% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Results as of Jan 24 10:40am
Information shown below: Yes/No Meaning | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement |

To improve affordable, South Bay community college education/job training, qualify for state matching grants, upgrade nursing, firefighter/police academy training, repair classrooms, science labs/technology, fix plumbing, bathrooms, roofs, wiring, improve fire/earthquake safety, heating/security systems, remove asbestos; acquire, construct, repair, equip classrooms, sites, facilities, improve handicapped accessibility/energy efficiency to reduce costs; shall Southwestern Community College District issue $389,000,000 in bonds, at legal rates, required citizen oversight, annual audits and no money for administrators' salaries?

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote on this measure means:
A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the Southwestern Community College District to issue and sell $389,000,000 in general obligation bonds.

A NO vote on this measure means:
A "no" vote is a vote against authorizing the Southwestern Community College District to issue and sell $389,000,000 in general obligation bonds.

Impartial Analysis from County Council
This proposition, if approved by 55% of the voters voting on the proposition, would authorize the Southwestern Community College District ("District") to issue and sell $389,000,000 in general obligation bonds. The sale of these bonds by the District will raise money for the District, and represents a debt of the District. In exchange for the money received from the bondholders, the District promises to pay the bondholders an amount of interest for a certain period of time, and to repay the loan on the maturity date.

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

California Constitution Article XIII A 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 community college 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 District, by evaluating safety, class size reduction, and information technology, has approved a list of specific projects to be funded, (c) the District will conduct an annual, independent performance audit, and (d) the 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 District has made this ballot proposition subject to these requirements.

  Local News and Analysis

ABC 10 News San Diego

KPBS San Diego Public Broadcasting NBC San Diego
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Arguments For Proposition R Arguments Against Proposition R
With the state facing a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, the Governor has already proposed funding cuts that could result in Southwestern College losing millions of dollars next year.

And as the cost of a 4-year college education continues to increase, more local students are relying on Southwestern College - the only public institution of higher education in the South Bay - for an affordable education.

Improve Southwestern College! Vote YES on R.

YES on R allows Southwestern College to meet the increasing demand of local students who need a high-quality education they can't otherwise afford.

YES on R increases opportunities for local students to earn college credits, certifications and job skills at a reasonable price.

YES on R upgrades Southwestern College's firefighter training academy and creates partnerships with our local fire districts to enhance the training firefighters receive to rapidly respond to emergencies and wildfires.

YES on R ensures that we provide a positive alternative for students who need to work and attend school, seek vocational training or learn new job skills later in life. YES on R provides Southwestern College with the funds needed to create job training and education programs to prepare students for careers in today's economy.

YES on R funds essential repairs, including fire safety, fixing bathrooms and leaky roofs, improving energy efficiency, upgrading wiring and ventilation, and repairing classrooms and labs.

YES on R requires published audits and oversight by an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee to ensure all funds are spent properly. NO money can be spent on administrators' salaries.

Proposition R qualifies Southwestern College for millions in state matching funds that would otherwise go elsewhere, and generates millions in local construction projects, strengthening our local economy.

Whatever you do, find R on your ballot and vote YES.

DAVID BEJARANO
Chief, SDPD (Retired)

DITAS YAMANE
President
National City Chamber of Commerce

LISA COHEN
CEO Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce

PETER S. MABREY
Physician Relations Manager
Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista

ADRIAN DEL RIO
Former Student Trustee Chair, San Diego County Unified Disaster Council

No argument against the proposition was filed
in the office of the Registrar of Voters.

Tax Rate Statement
An election will be held in the Southwestern Community College District (the "District") on November 4, 2008, for the purpose of submitting to the electors of the District the question of issuing bonds of the District in a principal amount not to exceed $389,000,000. If such bonds are authorized and sold, the principal thereof and interest thereon will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information regarding tax rates is given to comply with Section 9401 of the California Elections Code. Such information is based upon the best estimates and projections presently available from official sources, upon experience with the District, and other demonstrable factors.

Based upon the foregoing and projections of the District's assessed valuation, and assuming the entire debt service will be paid through property taxation:

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 sale of the first series of bonds based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement is 1.96 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for fiscal year 2009-10.

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 sale of the last series of bonds based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement is 1.96 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for fiscal year 2022-23.

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 years in which that rate will apply, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of the filing of this statement is again 1.96 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, which is projected to be the same in every fiscal year that the bonds remain outstanding.

Attention to all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District. The actual timing of bond sales and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be governed by the needs of the District, the state of the bond market, and other factors. The actual interest rates on any bonds sold will depend upon market conditions and other factors at the time of sale. The actual assessed valuations in future years will depend upon the value of property within the District as determined in the assessment and equalization process. Therefore, the actual tax rates and the years in which such rates are applicable may vary from those presently estimated as stated above.

Raj K. Chopra, Ph.D.

Superintendent/President

Southwestern Community College District

STATEMENT REQUIRED BY EDUCATION CODE SECTION 15122.5

Approval of Measure R does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Southwestern Community College District that are the subject of bonds under Measure R will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure R. The district's proposal for the project or projects may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.


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Created: January 24, 2009 10:40 PST
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