League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA May 5, 2009 Election
	Measure A Parcel Tax Moreland School District 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 5415 / 69.1% Yes votes ...... 2425 / 30.9% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure A

Arguments Against Measure A

The elementary and middle schools in our neighborhoods provide high-quality education for local students, with excellent teachers and strong academic programs in science, math, reading, writing and other subjects. In fact, all of our neighborhood elementary schools in the Moreland School District have received the California Distinguished School Award for excellence in education. Our local schools in the Moreland School District have good student test scores, excellent teachers and strong parent support but state budget cuts have forced the district to close schools and reduce services. Your YES vote on Measure A will allow our schools to maintain the quality of education that local students receive by retaining qualified teachers, protecting basic academic programs and keeping class sizes as small as possible. Best of all, every penny of Measure A funds goes directly to our local elementary and middle schools to support academics and teachers, and cannot be taken by the state. No funds can be spent on administrators' salaries. Vote YES on Measure A to help local school students continue to succeed. Retain and attract qualified teachers Maintain high-quality academic programs including reading, writing, math and science Keep school libraries open and accessible to students Keep class sizes as small as possible Measure A Provides Strong Fiscal Accountability Measures All funds go directly to local elementary and middle schools and cannot be taken by the state Citizen oversight and mandatory audits will ensure all funds are spent on voter-approved programs No funds will pay for administrators' salaries Measure expires in eight years and cannot be renewed without voter approval Senior citizens can receive an exemption Our high quality schools are part of our community and make our neighborhoods desirable places in which to live. Join us to protect high quality education in our community - vote YES on Measure A. /s/ Kim Lawrence Moreland Teachers Association President /s/ Terry W. Hickman San Jose Business Owner/Registered Voter In District /s/ Nick Perusina Retired Commander Santa Clara County Sheriff/Registered Voter In District /s/ Julie Heale Moreland School District Parent /s/ Loretta M. Carter Retired 15-year Moreland Neighborhood Resident

No arguments against were submitted.

Full Text of Measure A

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE To ensure reliable funding to maintain quality education and protect neighborhood elementary and middle schools from State budget cuts by attracting and retaining qualified teachers, maintaining math and science programs, including classroom technology for instruction, keeping school libraries open and keeping class sizes as small as possible, the Moreland Elementary School District proposes to establish an education parcel tax for a period of eight years, beginning July 1, 2009, at the rate of $95 per year, on each assessor's parcel located within the Moreland Elementary School District, with an exemption available for senior citizens and recipients of SSI for a disability, and to implement accountability measures in connection with the temporary levy that are over and above those required by law, including the appointment of an independent citizen oversight committee to provide oversight and accountability to ensure the funds are used to: Retain and attract qualified teachers; Maintain reading, math and science programs, including classroom technology for instruction; Keep school libraries open; and Keep class sizes as small as possible; AMOUNT OF EDUCATION PARCEL TAX; PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT The education parcel tax shall be $95 (or less as provided below) per year for eight (8) full years assessed against each parcel. The proceeds of the education parcel tax shall be deposited into a separate account created by the District. DEFINITION OF "PARCEL" For purposes of this special tax, the term "Parcel" means any parcel of land which lies wholly or partially within the boundaries of the Moreland Elementary School District, that receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the Santa Clara County Assessor/Tax Collector. All property that is otherwise exempt from or upon which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall also be exempt from the education parcel tax in such year. EXEMPTION FOR CONTIGUOUS PARCELS For purposes of this special tax, any such "Parcels" which are (i) contiguous, and (ii) used solely for owner-occupied, single-family residential purposes, and (iii) held under identical ownership may, by submitting an application of the owners thereof by June 15 of each year to the Board of Trustees of the Moreland Elementary School District in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Board, be treated as a single "parcel" for purposes of the levy of the education parcel tax. EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS AND SSI RECIPIENTS Pursuant to California Government Code Section 50079 (b), any owners of a Parcel used solely for owner-occupied, single-family residential purposes and who are either (a) 65 years of age or older or (b) persons receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age, may obtain an exemption from the education parcel tax by annually submitting an application, by June 15 of each year, to the Board of Trustees of the Moreland Elementary School District in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Board. With respect to all general property tax matters within its jurisdiction, the Santa Clara County Assessor/Tax Collector, or other appropriate County tax officials shall make all final determinations of tax exemption or relief for any reason, and that decision shall be final and binding. With respect to matters specific to the levy of the education parcel tax, including the Senior Citizen Exemption and the SSI Exemption and the classification of property for purposes of calculating the tax, the decisions of the District shall be final and binding. REDUCTION IN TAX IF RESULT IS LESS OTHER GOVERNMENT SUPPORT The collection of the education parcel tax is not intended to decrease or offset any increase in local, state or federal government revenue sources that would otherwise be available to the Moreland Elementary School District during the period of the education parcel tax. In the event that the levy and collection does have such an effect, the Moreland Elementary School District shall cease the levy or shall reduce the education parcel tax to the extent that such action would restore the amount of the decrease or offset in other revenues. The ability of the District to maintain small class size depends, in part, on ongoing funding of class size reduction by the State. If such State support is diminished, the District may not be able to maintain current class sizes. ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES In accordance with the requirements of California Government Code Sections 50075.1 and 50075.3, the following accountability measures, among others, shall apply to the education parcel tax levied in accordance with this Measure: (a) the specific purposes of the education parcel tax shall be those purposes identified above; (b) the proceeds of the education parcel tax shall be applied only to those specific purposes identified above; (c) a separate, special account shall be created into which the proceeds of the education parcel tax must be deposited; and (d) an annual written report shall be made to the Board of Trustees of the District showing (i) the amount of funds collected and expended from the proceeds of the education parcel tax and (ii) the status of any projects or programs required or authorized to be funded from the proceeds of the education parcel tax, as identified above. In addition to the accountability measures required by law, an independent citizen oversight committee shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees of the District to ensure that said funds are spent for the purposes approved by the voters. The oversight committee will monitor the expenditures of these funds by the District and will report on an annual basis to the Board and community on how these funds have been spent.