63,010 / 65.8% Yes votes ...... 32,821 / 34.2% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

No funds derived from bond sales could be used for general school operating expenses, including administrator and teacher salaries, or for any purpose or project other than those expressly stated in the measure.

To assure that funds are spent only on school and classroom improvements and for no other purposes, thismeasure would require the District to: 1) deposit all bond sale funds into a specially created building fund account; 2) prepare an annual report on the amount of funds collected and expended and the status of any project required or authorized to be funded; 3) appoint a citizen's oversight committee; and 4) conduct annual independent performance and financial audits. The authority, responsibilities and membership composition of the citizen's oversight committee would be as prescribed by applicable state law.

The actual dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold would be governed by the District. The number of years that the whole or any part of such school district bonds are to run could not exceed the statutory maximum, calculated from the date of the bonds or any series thereof. lf Measure J is approved, the tax rate necessary for payment of principal and interest on any bonds sold will be largely dictated by the timing of the bond sales, the amount sold at a given sale, market interest rates at the time of each sale (although in no event greater than the maximum bond net interest rate allowed by law), as well as actual assessed valuation of taxable property in the District over the term of repayment.

In calculating the funds necessary to complete some or all of the proposed school facilities projects specified in Measure J, the District anticipates receipt of an unspecified share of State matching funds. Allocation of any amount of such State funding to the District is, however, entirely contingent upon appropriation by the Legislature and/or voter approval of a statewide bond measure. Therefore, approval of Measure J does not guarantee that the identified projects will be funded beyond local revenues generated by the bond sales.

Passage of Measure J requires approval by fifty-five percent of the voters voting thereon.

The Sacramento Bee

School bonds target repairs

Tuesday, October 8, 2002

Electrical systems need upgrading, new energy-efficient lighting installed, and outdated gas and water systems need replaced in many schools. Portable classrooms have a life span of 15 years. The District's portables are 20 to 25 years old and in very poor condition. Leaky roofs in portables have ruined books, teaching materials and children's work.

Some classrooms still do not have air conditioning. Learning is almost impossible when the weather gets too hot. Student bathrooms are old and need repaired. Toilets and plumbing systems frequently back up and fixtures are rusted. Measure J will provide improvements at every one of the District's 85 school sites:
1. Repair and replace portable classrooms;
2. Install new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems where needed;
3. Renovate student restrooms; and
4. Repair and replace deteriorated roofs as needed.

An independent Citizen's Oversight Committee of local citizens will ensure that all bond proceeds are spent according to the " Bond Project List." By law, every dollar will go towards critical school site improvements. No money will be spent on teacher salaries or district administration.

All funds raised by Measure J will be used in our local community on projects benefiting local students. Passage of Measure J will qualify our schools to receive state matching funds for school repairs.

Vote Yes on Measure J.

s/ Nancy Waltz, President, San Juan Teachers Association

/s Craig Faniani, Teacher of the Year

/s Bruce Pomer, Chairman, Education Committee, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce

/s Rita Hodgkins, Congress of California Seniors

Only four years ago, in 1998, voters in the San Juan Unified School District obligated their property for $157 Million in bonds "to improve school facilities." In the same election a statewide School Bond measure (Proposition 1A) in the amount of $9.2 Billion was passed. This money was to be "used only for eligible construction projects."

Two years prior the same San Juan Unified District received $75 Million from an earlier statewide School Bond measure, for the same purposes. How much from these sources has been spent and how much remains? Those expenditures don't count the dollars donated by PTA's, grants, neighborhood organizations and local governments to assist with improvement projects urgently and desperately needed by our schools.

The District's 1998 School Bond measure estimated a 2.9% property tax increase. That didn't sound so bad. Unfortunately if you look at your tax bill that bond actually increased our taxes by 3.44%. The District is as bad at estimating taxes as they are at applying a budget.

Measure J is almost double the 1998 School Bond measure. It can mean, if passed, that the District's estimated 5.6% tax increase would be added to the current 3.44% property owners are already assessed each year. Depending upon the assessed value of our properties, the annual dollar amounts could increase substantially and burden us and our families for twenty years or more!

This measure can pass with only a 55% vote in favor. No longer is our District confined to the 2/3's vote we are accustomed to. Don't let them take another dollar from us, our children, or our grandchildren. It's time to vote no.

/s Franklin D. McClure, Citizens Against New Taxes

/s Merrillyn M. Carson, Former Board Member, San Juan Unified School District

/s Laura A. Taylor, Parent & Property Owner

/ sRobert V. Weston III, Parent & Property Owner

/s Carl A. Burton, Assistant to the C.E.O. People's Advocate, Inc.