League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA May 5, 2009 Election
	Measure B Parcel Tax Cupertino Union School District 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 18011 / 70.0% Yes votes ...... 7717 / 30.0% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure B

Arguments Against Measure B

Our excellent neighborhood elementary and middle schools in the Cupertino Union School District serve students in Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, San Jose, and Santa Clara. Our schools do a great job educating local students. Qualified and experienced teachers, as well as smaller class sizes, top-notch academic programs, and parent support help students achieve academic excellence. Our schools are among the best in the state and are part of the reason our community is a desirable place to live. However, nearly a decade of declining education funding is threatening our schools and student success. Our schools have saved over $13 million by improving efficiencies and making cuts that didn't impact the classroom. Ongoing declines in state funding are now affecting teachers and academics. We simply cannot rely on the state to adequately fund the high-quality education we expect and admire in our local schools. Measure B is critical. It will maintain our excellent schools by retaining teachers and protecting educational programs, including math, science, reading, writing, music, and the arts. All Measure B funds will go directly to our neighborhood elementary and middle schools + the state cannot take a single penny. Vote YES on Measure B Retain qualified and experienced teachers Ensure new teachers are adequately trained and supported Keep schools safe and clean Maintain smaller class sizes Protect high-quality educational programs, including science, math, art, and music Fiscal Accountability All funds will stay in our schools and cannot be taken by the state A citizens oversight committee will ensure funds are spent as promised No money can be spent on administrator salaries Senior citizen homeowners and persons with disabilities can receive an exemption Join us: vote YES on Measure B to protect great teachers and excellent academics in our local schools. /s/ Steve Ting Community Leader, 22-Year Cupertino Resident /s/ Maria M. Segal Cupertino/Fremont/Sunnyvale Council PTA Executive Board /s/ Dianne McKenna Former Sunnyvale Mayor and Santa Clara County Supervisor /s/ Neal Wooley President, Cupertino Education (Teachers) Association /s/ Roberta Hollimon Retiree, 48-Year Cupertino Resident

No argument against was submitted.

Full Text of Measure B

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 and experienced teachers, ensuring new teachers are adequately trained and supported, keeping schools safe and clean and technology current and maintaining high quality academic programs, including art and music programs, the Cupertino Union School District proposes to establish an education parcel tax for a period of six years, beginning July 1, 2009, at the rate of $125 per year, on each assessor's parcel located within the Cupertino Union 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 and experienced teachers; Ensure new teachers are adequately trained and supported; Keep schools safe and clean and keep technology current; Maintain high quality academic programs, including music and art programs; and Maintain smaller class sizes. AMOUNT OF EDUCATION PARCEL TAX; PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT The education parcel tax shall be $125 (or less as provided below) per year for six (6) 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 Cupertino Union 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 Education of the Cupertino Union 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 Education of the Cupertino Union School District. 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 Cupertino Union School District during the period of the education parcel tax. In the event that the levy and collection does have such an effect, the Cupertino Union 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. 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 Education 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 Education of the District to review the expenditures funded by the measure in order to ensure that said funds were 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.