League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Cruz County, CA November 17, 2015 Election
	Measure O Protection of Quality Education Act Santa Cruz City High School District 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 15,784 / 71.6% Yes votes ...... 6,251 / 28.4% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure O	Arguments Against Measure O
f you value protecting the quality of local schools + whether to prepare students for college and successful careers, keep kids safe and engaged in school, or simply to protect your property values - Measure O deserves your YES VOTE. Our local secondary schools work hard to prepare students from Santa Cruz, Soquel, Live Oak, Capitola, Bonnie Doon, Happy Valley and surrounding communities for college and career success. The high quality education at Branciforte and Mission Hill Middle Schools, and Harbor, Santa Cruz, and Soquel High Schools includes advanced courses and enrichment in math, science, technology, the arts, and career training. But State and County budget cuts are taking their toll, eliminating funding for secondary programs that contribute to a well-rounded education. As college admissions standards continue to rise, we need to give our kids a competitive edge by maintaining these important educational programs. Measure O will: Support science, technology, and engineering educational initiatives Preserve Career Technical Education (ROP) programs Continue visual and performing arts enrichment Support athletic programs that keep kids safe, healthy, and engaged in school Measure O is a wise investment. ALL Measure O funds stay LOCAL to support middle and high school classroom instruction and after-school programs. The cost is modest, just $6 a month for property owners, and it's temporary, lasting only eight years. By law, these funds CAN'T be taken away by the State or be used for other purposes. An independent Citizens' Oversight Committee ensures funds are spent as promised. Measure O provides an exemption for senior citizens. If we want our kids to be prepared for college and career success, they need to have a high quality education. Measure O will help. Teachers, parents, civic and business leaders throughout our community URGE YOUR SUPPORT. Please VOTE YES on O - for our local middle and high schools. http://www.FriendsOfSantaCruzSchools.com s/ John Leopold, Santa Cruz County Supervisor s/ Michael Watkins, Superintendent Santa Cruz County Office of Education s/ Geoffrey Dunn, Writer, Historian & Lifelong Resident s/ Kathy Ferraro, Parent at Harbor High s/ Leif L. "Hal" Rovick, Career Technical Education Instructor at Soquel High	(No arguments against were submitted)

Full Text of Measure O

To better prepare local middle and high school students for college and career success, the Santa Cruz City High School District shall preserve instructional and after-school programs in Career Technical Education, science, technology, engineering and performing arts, and support athletic programs to keep kids safe, healthy and engaged in school, by establishing a parcel tax of $72 per year for 8 years only, with exemptions for senior citizens, independent citizen oversight, and all funds benefitting local middle and high schools. Accordingly, moneys raised under this Measure shall be authorized to be used for the following purposes in accordance with priorities established by the Board and to the extent of available funds: (a) Supporting career-technical education, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs, visual and performing arts and job-training instructional programs; (b) Preserving after-school athletic and enrichment programs in middle and high schools to protect student safety, health and well-being. No parcel tax funds will be spent on administrative salaries. A. Amount and Basis of Tax This special tax shall authorize the Santa Cruz City High School District to levy a special tax of $72 per Parcel of Taxable Real Property beginning in July 1, 2016, and continuing for a period of eight (8) years. To the extent allowed by law "Parcel of Taxable Real Property" shall be defined as: (a) Any unit of real property in the District that receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the County Tax Collector. (b) All property that is otherwise exempt from or upon which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall not be considered a Parcel of Taxable Real Property for purposes of the special tax in such year. (c) Multiple parcels which are contiguous, under common ownership, and that constitute one economic unit, meaning that they have the same primary purpose as the principal parcel and are not separate and distinct properties that may be independently developed or sold, shall comprise a single Parcel of Taxable Real Property for purposes of the special tax. If any portion of this definition is deemed contrary to law, the Board declares and the voters by approving the Measure concur, that every other section and part of this definition has independent value, and the Board and voters would have adopted each other section and part hereof regardless of every other section or part hereof. If all sections or parts of this definition are deemed contrary to law, "Parcel of Taxable Real Property" shall be defined as any real property in the District assigned an assessor's parcel number. This special tax does not effect the continued authorization to levy a special tax of $38 per parcel for eight years as approved by District voters in 2012. B. Exemptions Under procedures adopted by the District, upon application or confirmation of a continuing exemption, an exemption from payment of the special tax may be granted on any parcel owned by one or more persons who is/are: 1. An individual who will attain 65 years of age prior to July 1 of the tax year, owns a beneficial interest in the parcel, and uses that parcel as his or her principal place of residence ("Senior Citizen Exemption"). 2. Receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age and occupying said parcel as a principal residence ("SSI Exemption"); or 3. Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, regardless of age, whose yearly income does not exceed 250 percent of the 2012 federal poverty guidelines issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services ("SSDI Exemption"). Any one application from a qualified applicant will provide an exemption for the parcel for the remaining term of the tax so long as such applicant continues to own and use the parcel as his or her principal residence. The District shall annually provide to the Santa Cruz County Tax Collector ("County Tax Collector") or other appropriate County official a list of parcels that the District has approved for an exemption. C. Claims / Exemption Procedures With respect to all general property tax matters within its jurisdiction, the County Tax Collector or other appropriate County tax official 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 special tax, including the Senior Citizen Exemption, the application of the definition of "Parcel of Taxable Real Property" to any parcel(s), the legality or validity of the special tax, or any other disputed matter specific to the application of the special tax, the decisions of the District shall be final and binding. The procedures described herein, and any additional procedures established by the Board shall be the exclusive claims procedure for claimants seeking an exemption, refund, reduction, or re-computation of the 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. D. Appropriations Limit Pursuant to California Constitution article XIIIB and applicable laws, the appropriations limit for the District will be adjusted periodically by the aggregate sum collected by levy of this special tax. E. Mandatory Accountability Protections 1.Specific Purposes. The proceeds of the special tax shall be applied only to the specific purposes identified above. 2. Annual Reports. The proceeds of the special tax shall be deposited into an account, which shall be kept separate and apart from other accounts of the District, pursuant to the Government Code. No later than December 31 of each year while the tax is in effect, the District shall prepare and file with the Board a report detailing the amount of funds collected and expended during the prior fiscal year, and the status of any project authorized to be funded by this measure. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period, as said officer shall determine, and may be incorporated into or filed with the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Board. 3. Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The independent community oversight committee that has been appointed by the Board of Education to oversee all expenditures funded by parcel taxes will continue to audit all funds in order to ensure that said funds are spent wisely and used only for the purposes approved by the voters. The oversight committee shall monitor the expenditures of these funds by the District and shall report on an annual basis to the community on how these funds have been spent. F. Protection of Funding Current law forbids any decrease in State or federal funding to the District resulting from the adoption of an education parcel tax. However, if any such funding is reduced or affected because of the adoption of this local funding measure, then the Board may reduce the amount of the special taxes levied as necessary in order to restore such State or federal funding and/or maximize the District's fiscal position for the benefit of the educational program. As a result, whether directly or indirectly, no funding from this measure may be taken away by the State or federal governments. G. Severability The Board hereby declares, and the voters by approving this Measure concur, that every section and part of this Measure has independent value, and the Board 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 of the Measure or taxing formula be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, all remaining parts of the Measure or taxing formula hereof shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent allowed by law.