League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Contra Costa County, CA May 5, 2015 Election
	Measure A Renewal of Expiring Education Tax San Ramon Valley Unified School District Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required FINAL OFFICIAL RESULTS Pass: 19,618 / 75.0% Yes votes ...... 6548 / 25.0% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure A	Arguments Against Measure A
Vote Yes on A to safeguard quality teachers and educational programs in our local San Ramon, Danville, Alamo and Dougherty Valley schools, without increasing taxes by a single penny. Our community's excellent schools make our neighborhoods desirable places to live. By keeping our schools strong, we keep our community strong and protect property values for all, whether or not we have children in school. Since 2004, our San Ramon Valley Unified School District has relied upon crucial, voter-approved, local funding to strengthen and maintain core academic programs, prepare students for college and careers and retain and attract quality teachers to support the success of all SRVUSD students. This funding is due to expire next school year. Measure A continues existing, local funding that directly benefits our SRVUSD schools and cannot be taken away by the state. Measure A provides stable, locally-controlled funding our schools can rely on every year, providing protection from the instability of the state budget situation, and keeping our schools on top. Vote Yes on A to protect academic excellence in our schools. Maintain core academic programs in reading, writing, math and science Prepare students for 21st century college and careers by protecting Advanced Placement and career technical programs Recruit and retain qualified teachers Measure A includes important fiscal safeguards and does not increase taxes. Every penny of Measure A goes directly to our local schools and cannot be taken by the state The independent Citizens' Oversight Committee ensures all funds are spent as promised No funds can be used for administrators' salaries Homeowners age 65 and older are eligible for an exemption Measure A will expire in 9 years and cannot be renewed without voter approval Our schools provide an excellent education for our children, preparing them for success in today's competitive economy. Keep our schools strong--vote Yes on A. Marilyn Cachola Lucey, Parent/Executive Vice President, San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs Elaine Betts, Chairman, San Ramon Chamber of Commerce Andy Li, President, Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association Tri-Valley Chapter (APAPA TVC) San Ramon Valley Education Association, Ann Katzburg, Teacher/President Don Ritchey, Retired Retail Executive and Former Danville Mayor Rebuttal to Arguments For None filed.	None filed. Rebuttal to Arguments Against None filed.

Full Text of Measure A

FULL TEXT OF MEASURE A SAN RAMON VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LOCAL EDUCATION FUNDING RENEWAL MEASURE OF 2015 TERMS AND PURPOSES Terms. Upon approval of twothirds of those voting on this measure (this "Measure"), the San Ramon Valley Unified School District (the "District") shall be authorized to levy a qualified special tax (the "Education Parcel Tax") of $144 per year on each parcel of taxable real property in the District for no more than nine (9) years, commencing July 1, 2016, upon the expiration of the existing education parcel tax of $144 per year approved by the voters of the District in 2009. Purposes. The proceeds of this Measure shall be authorized to be used to fund: (a) core academic programs in reading, writing, math and science; (b) Advanced Placement (AP) courses and other programs to prepare all students for success in college and careers; (c) ongoing teacher training and development to attract and retain teachers; and (d) career and technical training courses. Exemptions - Senior Citizens; Recipients of Supplementary Security Income. In order to provide tax relief to senior citizens within the District, any parcel owned and occupied by a person 65 years of age or older shall be exempt from the Education Parcel Tax upon proper applica- tion to the District. Persons receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age, shall also be exempt upon proper application to the District. Either exemption shall be available pursuant to procedures to be prescribed by the Board of Education of the District (the "Board of Education") or otherwise as required by law or by the Tax Collector (the "Tax Collector") of the County of Contra Costa (the "County"). Senior citi- zens with a current valid exemption under the Excellence in Education Act of 2009 shall continue to be exempt and not be required to reapply, subject to those procedures. ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISIONS Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Board of Education shall establish an independent citizens' oversight committee comprised of such members as the Board of Education shall determine to review expenditures of the moneys raised under this Measure in order to ensure that such moneys are applied only to authorized purposes. Independent Annual Audit. Upon the levy and collection of the Education Parcel Tax, the Board of Education shall cause an account to be established into with the proceeds shall be deposited. For so long as any proceeds remain unexpended, the Superintendent of the District shall cause an independent financial auditor to prepare a report to be filed with the Board of Education no later than December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 2016, stating (a) the amount collected and ex- pended in such year, and (b) the status of any projects or description of any programs required or authorized to be funded under this Measure. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period as the Superintendent of the District shall determine, and may be incorporated into or filed with the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Board of Education. Use Limited to Specific Purposes. All of the purposes named in this Measure shall constitute the specific purposes of the Education Parcel Tax, and proceeds of the tax shall be applied only for such purposes. LEVY AND COLLECTION The Education Parcel Tax shall be collected by the Tax Collector at the same time and manner and shall be subject to the same penalties as ad valorem property taxes collected by the Tax Collector. Unpaid taxes shall bear interest at the same rate as the rate for unpaid ad valorem property taxes until paid. The collection of the Education Parcel Tax shall not decrease the funds available from other sources of the District in any period from the effective date hereof. "Parcel of taxable real property" shall be defined as any unit of real property in the District which receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the Tax Collector's Office. All property which is otherwise exempt from or on which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall also be exempt from the Education Parcel Tax in such year. Parcels owned and occupied by persons 65 years of age or older and per- sons receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age, shall be exempt from the Education Parcel Tax as provided in this Measure. The District shall annually provide a list of parcels which the Dis- trict has approved for a senior citizen or Supplemental Security Income for a disability exemption from the Education Parcel Tax to the County tax collection officials. The County Assessor's determination of exemption or relief for any reason other than the senior citizen or Supplemental Secu- rity Income for a disability exemption of any parcel from taxation shall be final and binding for the purposes of the Education Parcel Tax. Taxpayers wishing to challenge the County Assessor's determination must do so under the procedures for correcting a misclassification of property pursuantto Section 4876.5 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code or other applicable procedures. Taxpayers seeking a refund of Education Parcel Taxes paid shall follow the procedures applicable to property tax refunds pursuant to the California Revenue and Taxation Code. SEVERABILITY The Board of Education hereby declares, and the voters by ap- proving this Measure concur, that every section and part of this Measure has independent value, and the Board of Education 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.