League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Mateo County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Measure Y School Parcel Tax Jefferson Union High School District 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 12,544 / 67.3% Yes votes ...... 6,085 / 32.7% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure Y

Vote Yes on Y to prepare local high school students in Daly City, Pacifica, Brisbane, Colma, and Broadmoor for college and high-paying careers. Westmoor, Terra Nova, Jefferson, Oceana, and Thornton high schools provide a great education for students in our communities. Student achievement and test scores have increased significantly in recent years and three of our local high schools are California Distinguished Schools. Our schools need a stable source of funding to continue strong student achievement. The State has cut $3.4 million in annual funding from our local high schools since 2008 and may cut another $1.5 million next school year, jeopardizing important academic programs. We can't rely on the State to provide the quality education that our local high school students need. This is why your YES vote on Measure Y is critical. Every penny of Measure Y will go straight to our local high schools and cannot be taken away by the State. Vote Yes on Y to prepare local high school graduates for success: enhance math, science, reading, and writing programs attract and retain qualified teachers prepare students for college and high tech, 21st-century careers support educationally at-risk students to keep them on the right track Measure Y is fiscally responsible: all funds go directly to local high schools - the State can't take a single penny citizen oversight and annual audits ensure that all funds are used for voter-approved purposes no funds can be used for administrators' salaries senior citizens may receive an exemption expires in four years and cannot be renewed without voter approval Measure Y will continue great education in local high schools, keeping our schools strong and protecting property values for all of us, even residents without children in school. Join us and vote YES on Measure Y. http://www.protectourhighschools.org /s/ Suzan Getchell-Wallace, Business Woman /s/ Sergio Robledo, Teacher, Oceana High School, & Daly City resident /s/ Albert Teglia, Former Mayor of Daly City /s/ Eric Ruchames, Retired Police Sergeant /s/ Kalimuh Salahuddin, Terra Nova High Parent (No arguments against Measure Y were submitted)

Full Text of Measure Y

To protect quality education for all students, with funds that cannot be taken by the State, by: enhancing math, science, reading, and writing skills; providing career training, college preparation, and 21st century computer instruction; attracting and retaining qualified teachers; the Jefferson Union High School District proposes to establish an education parcel tax for a period of 4 years, beginning July 1, 2012, at a rate of $48 per year on each assessor's parcel located within the Jefferson Union High School District, with an exemption available for senior citizens and recipients of SSI for a disability, and to implement fiscal accountability measures in conjunction with the temporary levy, which will benefit all of the district's high schools - Jefferson, Oceana, Terra Nova, Westmoor, and Thornton. PURPOSES To provide local revenue that cannot be taken by the State and to maintain excellent public education in high schools which serve Pacifica, Daly City, Colma, Broadmoor, and Brisbane, the Jefferson Union High School District proposes to levy and collect an education parcel tax annually for four years as more fully described below under "EDUCATION PARCEL TAX AND PROCEDURES" and to implement accountability measures in connection with the education parcel tax and to provide oversight and accountability to ensure that funds are used only for the following specific purposes: enhance math, science, reading, and writing programs attract and retain qualified teachers prepare students for college and high-tech, 21st century jobs support educationally at-risk students to keep them on the right track. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL ANY OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE EDUCATION PARCEL TAX BE USED FOR ADMINISTRATORS' SALARIES. The Board of Trustees will not fund any program other than those listed above from the proceeds of the education parcel tax. EDUCATION PARCEL TAX AND PROCEDURES Amount of Education Parcel Tax. Subject to two-thirds approval of the voters, the education parcel tax of $48 per parcel (except exempt parcels as described below) shall become effective commencing with fiscal year 2012-13 and be collected by the San Mateo County Tax Collector at the same time as and along with, and shall be subject to the same penalties as general ad valorem taxes collected by said tax collector. Definition of Parcel. A parcel shall be defined as any unit of land in the District that receives a separate tax bill from the San Mateo County Tax Collector. Exemptions. The following exemptions shall apply to the levy of the qualified special tax: otherwise exempt property. All property that would otherwise be exempt from property taxes shall also be exempt from the education parcel tax. Senior Citizen Exemption. An exemption shall be available to persons who are 65 years or older and own and occupy as a principal residence a parcel subject to the education parcel tax. Supplemental Security Income Exemption. An exemption shall be available to persons who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for a disability, regardless of age, and own and occupy as a principal residence a parcel subject to the education parcel tax. Property owners seeking the Senior Citizen or SSI exemption must apply to the District for such exemption under procedures established by the District or otherwise as required by law or by the San Mateo County Tax Collector. Exclusive Procedures. The procedures described herein with respect to the levy and collection of the education parcel tax and exemptions, and any additional procedures established by the Board of Trustees of the District, shall be the exclusive claims procedure for claimants seeking an exemption, refund, reduction, or re-computation of the qualified special tax. Whether any particular claim is to be resolved by the District or by the County shall be determined by the District, in coordination with the County as necessary. The District's Board of Trustees may adopt such additional or supplemental procedures as it deems necessary or convenient for the administration of the education parcel tax. ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES Government Code Accountability. In accordance with the requiremenbts of California Government Code 50075.1 and 50075.3, the following accountability measures, among others, shall apply to the qualified special taxes levied in accordance with this Measure: the specific purposes of the education parcel tax shall be those prposes identified above under the heading "Purposes" the proceeds of the education parcel tax shall be applied only to those specific purposes identified above under the heading "Purposes" a separate, special account shall be created into which the proceeds of the education parcel tax must be deposited; and the chief fiscal officer of the District shall file an annual written report with the Board of Trustees showing (1) the amount of funds collected and expended from the proceeds of the education parcel tax and (2) the status of any projects, programs, or purposes identified above under the heading "Purposes". Citizens' Oversight Committee. In addition to the accountability measures required by the Government Code, an independent Citizens' Oversight Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees to advise the Board on the expenditures funded by the measure in order to ensure that said funds are spent for the purposes approved by the voters. The Citizens' 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. PROTECTION OF FUNDING Current law forbids any decrease in State or Federal funding to the District because of the District's adoption of an education parcel tax. However, if any such funds are reduced because of the adoption of this education parcel tax, then the amount of the education parcel tax will be reduced annually as necessary in order to restore such State or Federal funding. SEVERABILITY The Board of Trustees of the District hereby declares, and the voters by approving this measure concur, that every section, paragraph, sentence, and clause of this measure has independent value, and the Board of Trustees and the voters would have adopted each provision hereof regardless of every other provision hereof. Upon approval of this measure by the voters, should any part be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, all remaining parts hereof shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent allowed by law.