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Smart Voter
Orange County, CA June 8, 2010 Election
Measure A
Safety and Repair Measure
Garden Grove Unified School District

55% Approval Required

Pass: 21,149 / 63.8% Yes votes ...... 12,019 / 36.2% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Aug 20 9:40pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (155/155)
30.1% Voter Turnout (482,708/1,603,312)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement | Full Text

To provide Garden Grove Unified School District students with competitive classrooms and school facilities, improve student health /safety, qualify for $200,000,000 in State funds, shall Garden Grove Unified School District repair, renovate, acquire, construct and equip classrooms, sites, school facilities, make earthquake safety improvements, repair/replace aging roofs, plumbing, heating/ventilation systems, upgrade electrical wiring, fire, security equipment by issuing $250,000,000 of bonds at legal rates, with mandatory audits, citizen oversight, and no money for administrators' salaries?

Impartial Analysis
The California Constitution provides that school districts may issue general obligation bonds for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities, with the approval of 55% of the voters of the district, voting at an election for that purpose. The California Constitution further provides that the bond measure must include a requirement that the bond proceeds will be used only for the permitted purposes and other requirements designed to ensure accountability.

The Garden Grove Unified School District has proposed to the voters that general obligation bonds of the school district be issued in an amount up to $250,000,000 and that ad valorem taxes be levied upon taxable property in the school district to repay the bonded indebtedness. The measure provides that proceeds from the sale of the bonds will generally be used for the repair and replacement of heating and ventilation systems; renovation of student restrooms and plumbing systems; installation or upgrade of electrical system wiring to safely accommodate computers, technology and other electrical devices; repair and replacement of worn-out roofs, windows, walls and doors; repair and replacement of fire alarms, emergency communications and security systems; interior and exterior painting; repair of rubberized play apparatus surfaces; demolition; structural/seismic safety improvements as necessary; asbestos and mold abatement; improved access for people with disabilities; and, construction of various forms of storage and support space, upgrade classrooms, interior and exterior lighting, replace water and sewer lines and outdated security fences.

The measure provides that a citizens' oversight committee will be established to ensure that bond proceeds are properly expended. In addition, annual performance and financial audits will be conducted. The measure further provides that bond proceeds will not be used for teacher or administrator salaries or other school operating expenses.

The Board of Trustees of the Garden Grove Unified School District has called the election for the purpose of submitting the measure to the voters within the school district. If 55% of the voters of the school district voting on the measure vote yes, the school district may proceed to sell the bonds and levy the related taxes as estimated in the tax rate statement. A no vote on this measure will disapprove the issuance of the bonds and the levy of the taxes for such bonded indebtedness.

Approval of Measure A does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the school district that are the subject of bonds under Measure A will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure A. The school 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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Arguments For Measure A
The Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) is committed to providing all students a quality education within a safe learning environment. It's necessary GGUSD schools receive vital repairs and improvements to maintain the District's academic reputation, provide students the educational tools necessary to prepare for college and the workforce, and ensure student/staff safety.

School buildings are old and need repair. Thirty-nine of the sixty-nine schools are over 50 years old. Roofs desperately require replacement. Old restrooms are failing. Plumbing and heating systems are deteriorating. Many of our schools have never been significantly upgraded. Measure A provides funding to repair each GGUSD elementary, middle and high school.

$200 Million dollars in State Grants - for our local schools

GGUSD is eligible for $200,000,000 in state grants. Local voters must pass Measure A to receive these funds. If voters don't approve Measure A, our $200,000,000 will be given to other school districts that passed bond measures.

"All money raised by Measure A will stay in our community to benefit local children, our sixty-nine neighborhood schools and our communities." + Laura SchwaIm, Superintendent, GGUSD.

Measure A will:

  • Upgradeagingclassroomstomeetcurrentstandards
  • Providecompliancewithmodernfire,health/safetystandards
  • Replaceantiquatedelectricalsystems,andprovidetechnologyaccess
  • Repairleakyroofsanddamagedceilings
  • Replaceoutdatedheatingandventilationsystems
  • Replaceoutdatedplumbing,sewersystems,includingagingrestrooms

Taxpayer Accountability

An independent Citizens Oversight Committee will audit all Measure A projects to ensure repairs are completed on time and within budget. GGUSD students need your help today. On June 8th, please vote to repair and upgrade our local schools and to receive $200,000,000 in State grants.

Vote YES on Measure A. Visit http://www.gardengrovekids2010.com

s/ Quyen Di Chuc Bui
Professor, U.C.L.A.
s/ Dennis M. Ellsworth
Boys and Girls Clubs Of Garden Grove, Past President
s/ Kenneth H. Slimmer
Retired Attorney and Strawberry Festival Board Member
s/ Erin K. Taylor
President, Garden Grove Unit Council - Parent/Teacher/Student Association (PTSA)
s/ Jim Tortolano
Editor & Publisher, Garden Grove Journal

(No arguments against Measure A were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement
An election will be held in the Garden Grove Unified School District of Orange County on June 8, 2010, to authorize the sale of $250,000,000 in general obligation bonds. The following information is submitted in compliance with Sections 9401 and 9404 of the California Elections Code.

1. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required 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 3.500 cents per $100 ($35.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2010-11.

2. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing this statement, is 3.500 cents per $100 ($35.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2019-20.

3. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required 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 3.500 cents per $100 ($35.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2019-20.

4. Based on the District's estimate of when bonds will be sold, the interest rates prevailing at the time of such bond sales, and the projected growth in assessed valuation, the best estimate of the average tax rate which would be required to fund this bond issue is 3.500 cents per $100 ($35.00 per $100,000) of assessed valuation.

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 bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at each sale, 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 assessed valuations will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: March 10, 2010
s/ Laura Schwalm,
Superintendent Garden Grove Unified School District

Full Text of Measure A
Link to FULL TEXT


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Created: August 20, 2010 21:40 PDT
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