5,669 / 72.4% Yes votes ...... 2,163 / 27.6% 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. If Measure M 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 the proposed school facilities projects specified in Measure M, the District may be anticipating some amount of State matching funds. Allocation of any 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 M does not guarantee that the identified projects will be funded beyond local revenues generated by the bond sales.

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

The passage of Measure M will raise $45 million to make much-needed improvements and repairs to every Natomas School. lt will also fund the construction of new schools including a second high school adjacent to a planned college campus that will allow our students to attend community college classes. Upgrading our schools is critical to prepare our children for the future. Funding is needed to replace temporary portables with permanent classrooms, build new libraries, and install computer labs for the technology of the 21st century.

New schools are needed to alleviate the overcrowding caused by the ongoing growth in our community.Wemust act now to avoid the problems that are plaguing schools in other communities.While homebuilders are contributing the maximum allowed under state law to help build new schools, additional funding is needed for new construction and to repair and upgrade all of Natomas' existing schools.

A Citizens' Oversight Committee composed of parents, seniors, taxpayer advocates, and business leaders will ensure that every penny is spent wisely. Measure M prohibits using any funds for administrators' salaries or other school operating expenses; guaranteeing that all money will benefit local children.

We can all be proud of our students who have stepped up their efforts and improved test scores for several years in a row. Now it is our turn to make sure our kids have the kind of schools they need to prepare them for future success. Natomas has a tradition of putting kids first. Please continue your support by voting Yes on Measure M. Our community deserves the best schools for our children.

/s Heather Fargo, Mayor of Sacramento

/s Bob Moreno, Past President, Natomas Business Association

/s Robert Lake, Retired Lieutenant, Sacramento Police Department

/s Mary Ellis, President, Natomas Teachers Association

/s Ted Ternes, President, Natomas Community Association