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Santa Barbara County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
Measure X2012
Elementary School Funding
Santa Barbara Elementary School District
Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required

Fail: 9498 / 65.01% Yes votes ...... 5112 / 34.99% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures
Results as of Jun 5 11:28pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (47/47)
Information shown below: Official Information | Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

To offset severe state budget cuts to our elementary schools; protect class size; enhance elementary math, science and technology education; and offer classroom music and performing arts programs at the elementary level, shall Santa Barbara Unified School District be authorized to implement a $54 annual parcel tax for four years, with an available exemption for senior citizens, with independent citizen oversight, without administrative salaries, and with every dollar staying in our local elementary schools?

Official Sources of Information

Impartial Analysis from Gustavo E. Lavayen, Chief Deputy County Counsel
The California Constitution, Article XIIIA, section 4 and the California Government Code (Section 50075 et seq.) authorize a school district, upon approval by a two-thirds vote (2/3) of the voters within the district, to impose a special tax on real property parcels within the district.

This measure, if approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the voters within the boundaries of the former Santa Barbara Elementary School District, will authorize the Santa Barbara Unified School District (the "District") to levy a parcel tax of $54 per year against each parcel of land that lies wholly or partially within the boundaries of the former Santa Barbara Elementary School District that has been assigned an assessor's parcel number. (The full text of the measure is printed in the ballot pamphlet.)

The parcel tax is to be levied for four (4) fiscal years, without increase, beginning in the fiscal year starting July 1, 2013 and ending in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016. The parcel tax would be in addition to the parcel tax proposed by the District in Measure W2012 if Measure W2012 is approved by the voters. The parcel tax shall be collected in the same manner and will be subject to the same interest and penalties as general property taxes and the proceeds will be deposited into a separate restricted account and shall be used only for the following specific elementary level educational purposes:

Enhancing math and science education Offering classroom music and performing arts programs Enhancing computer and educational technology for students Reducing class size to foster student achievement Attracting and retaining quality teachers with no funding of administrator salaries Providing a citizens oversight committee Providing independent financial audits

An annual written report will be made to the District's Board of Education (the "Board") showing (1) the amount of funds collected and expended from tax proceeds, (2) the status of any projects or programs funded by the parcel tax listed above, and (3) an annual independent financial audit. Tax proceeds shall not be spent on administrative salaries.

The oversight committee shall advise the Board on expenditures funded by the measure to ensure funds are only spent by the District for the purposes stated in the measure. Elementary charter schools authorized by the District shall share in the tax funding, proportional to the enrollment of students from the District and will report annually to the Board and community on how tax funds have been spent.

Any owner that is 65 years of age or older of a parcel used solely for owner-occupied single-family residential purposes may receive an exemption from the parcel tax by annually submitting an application by June 15 of each year to the Board in accordance with the Board's adopted rules and regulations.

A YES vote means the measure and parcel tax are APPROVED.

A NO vote means the measure and parcel tax are NOT APPROVED.

Gustavo E. Lavayen Chief Deputy County Counsel

  
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Arguments For Measure X2012
Due to substantial state budget cuts, local schools now more than ever need local funding for programs that provide our students with the highest quality education. For nearly four years elementary school students have benefited from local funding through Measure I. Measure I is expiring, but we have the opportunity to continue that funding and ensure that our children have access to excellent public schools.

Santa Barbara students in grades K-6 count on this local funding for programs that they would not otherwise receive. By supporting Measure X2012, our community will guarantee that approximately $1.3 million per year will flow into classrooms and reach each of the nearly 5,000 elementary students in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.

Measure X2012 will allow the Santa Barbara Unified School District to continue to:

  • Maintain smaller class sizes;
  • Enhance math and science education;
  • Provide classroom music teachers;
  • Purchase and repair musical instruments;
  • Enhance computer and educational technology.

Measure X2012 will continue to improve student achievement by:
  • Maintaining school programs, such as music and performing arts;
  • Enhancing standards-based instruction and best teaching practices for student achievement;
  • Providing support to all elementary schools, including charter schools.

Measure X2012 protects taxpayers by:
  • Requiring that all funds be used locally to improve the Santa Barbara Unified School District, with no money spent on administrator salaries;
  • Creating an independent citizen oversight committee;
  • Requiring annual reporting and an annual independent financial audit;
  • Expiring in four years unless reauthorized by voters;
  • Providing an exemption for senior citizens.

Measure X2012 is the best investment we can make in our community; there is no better way we can have a positive impact on our children's lives.

Please join us in voting Yes on Measure X2012.

The undersigned authors of the argument in favor of Ballot Measure X2012 at the Primary Election for the Santa Barbara Unified School District to be held on June 5, 2012, hereby state that such argument is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief.

/s/Salud Carbajal, 1st District Supervisor, Santa Barbara County

/s/Lynn Rodriguez, President, Santa Barbara Education Foundation

/s/Peter R. MacDougall, President-Emeritus, Santa Barbara City College

/s/Helene Schneider, Mayor, City of Santa Barbara

/s/Phil Bugay, Former Councilmember, City of Santa Barbara

(No arguments against Measure X2012 were submitted)

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Created: July 26, 2012 13:01 PDT
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