This is an archive of a past election.
See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/mrn/ for current information.
LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
Marin County, CA November 8, 2005 Election
Measure A
Bonds
Reed Union School District

55% Approval Required

Pass: 3907 / 70.19% Yes votes ...... 1659 / 29.81% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Nov 29 4:45pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (12/12)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement | Full Text

To complete the Facility Master Plan that resulted in successfully rebuilding our schools, on budget and carefully monitored, shall Reed Union School District issue $13 million of bonds to complete the last set of improvements: upgrade science classrooms; renovate athletic fields for a safer environment; improve technology communication systems; build a middle school gymnasium; remove remaining dry rot; complete site access and landscaping plans and finish all necessary work related to the Facility Master Plan?

Impartial Analysis from PATRICK K. FAULKNER, County Counsel
If this Measure is approved by 55% of the vote, the Reed Union School District will be authorized to incur bonded indebtedness of Thirteen Million Dollars ($13,000,000) with an interest rate not to exceed the limit set by law. The proceeds of the proposed bonds must be used for the purposes set forth in the Measure and for no other purposes, and will be subject to oversight by a citizens' oversight committee and annual independent audits to assure that the funds are spent only for the school facilities projects listed in the Measure.

Dated: August 17, 2005

 
Suggest a link related to Measure A
Links to sources outside of Smart Voter are provided for information only and do not imply endorsement.

Arguments For Measure A
The Reed Union School District has provided outstanding management of its current modernization projects and now is the most efficient and economical time to complete the District's Facilities Master Plan to renovate and modernize our community's schools.

The proposed supplemental bond completes the final projects in the District's Facilities Master Plan and will:

Del Mar School:

Replace the deteriorating 40-year old multipurpose room with a new multipurpose building that includes a full size gymnasium and stage, physical education classroom, bathrooms and an outdoor covered eating shelter.

Provide, within the new multipurpose building, adequate space to support the school's official designation as the primary Red Cross Emergency Shelter for our community and house the fire department's emergency supplies and equipment.

Upgrade and modernize existing science classrooms.

Reed, Bel Aire and Del Mar Schools:

Renovate the 40- to 50-year old playing fields with natural turf to improve safety, provide efficient drainage/irrigation systems and bathrooms.

Update technology communication systems.

Update and complete landscaping plans.

Complete site protection plans to include lighting and security systems.

The District has responsibly managed its modernization plan through project consolidation, efficient design, well organized scheduling and diligent cost control. Substantial savings have resulted, allowing many projects scheduled for the final phase of the Facilities Master Plan to be completed during the first phase.

Voter approval of this supplemental bond will allow the District to complete the Facilities Master Plan's final phase of modernization projects sooner, and more economically, than originally projected.

A Citizens' Oversight Committee will be established to monitor and audit bond expenditures. Bond funds can only be spent on capital improvements.

Join us and vote YES on Measure A!

s/ Grace Livingston, President

RUSD Board of Trustees

s/ Jerry Riessen, Co-Chair

Last Chance Committee

s/ Sharon Bass

s/ Miles Berger

Mayor of Tiburon

s/ Barbara Morrison

Mayor of Belvedere

(No arguments against Measure A were submitted)

Tax Rate Statement from C.M. Carter, Superintendent Reed Union School District
An election will be held in the Reed Union School District (the "District") on November 8, 2005, to authorize the sale of up to $13,000,000 in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the proposition. If the bonds are approved, the District expects to sell the bonds in one series. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information is provided in compliance with sections 9400-9404 of the California Elections Code.

1. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 2.30 cents per $100 ($22.96 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2006-2007.

2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 2.30 cents per $100 ($22.96 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2006-2007.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, 2.30 cents per $100 ($22.96 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2006-2007.

The average tax rate is expected to be 1.09 cents per $100 ($10.95 per $100,000) of assessed valuation over the life of the bonds.

Voters should note that estimated tax rate is based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls, not on the property's market value. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District's projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those presently estimated, due to variations from these estimates in the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold and market interest rates at the time of each sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on need for construction funds and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale. Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: August 1, 2005

Full Text of Measure A
RESOLUTION NO. 1159-06 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE REED UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT ORDERING A SCHOOL BOND ELECTION, AND AUTHORIZING NECESSARY ACTIONS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees (the "Board") of the Reed Union School District (the "District"), within the County of Marin, California (the "County"), is authorized to order elections within the District and to designate the specifications thereof, pursuant to sections 5304 and 5322 of the California Education Code (the "Education Code");

WHEREAS, the Board is specifically authorized to order elections for the purpose of submitting to the electors the question of whether bonds of the District shall be issued and sold for the purpose of raising money for the purposes hereinafter specified, pursuant to section 15100 et seq. of the California Education Code;

WHEREAS, pursuant to section 18 of Article XVI and section 1 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution, and section 15266 of the California Education Code, school districts may seek approval of general obligation bonds and levy an ad valorem tax to repay those bonds upon a 55% vote of those voting on a proposition for the purpose, provided certain accountability measures are included in the proposition;

WHEREAS, the Board deems it necessary and advisable to submit such a bond proposition to the electors to be approved by 55% of the votes cast;

WHEREAS, such a bond election must be conducted concurrent with a statewide primary election, general election or special election, or at a regularly scheduled local election, as required by section 15266 of the California Education Code;

WHEREAS, on November 8, 2005, a statewide election is scheduled to occur throughout the District;

WHEREAS, pursuant to section 15270 California Education Code, based upon a projection of assessed property valuation, the Board has determined that, if approved by voters, the tax rate levied to meet the debt service requirements of the bonds proposed to be issued will not exceed $30 per year per $100,000 of assessed valuation of taxable property;

WHEREAS, section 9400 et seq. of the California Elections Code requires that a tax rate statement be contained in all official materials, including any ballot pamphlet prepared, sponsored or distributed by the District, relating to the election; and

WHEREAS, the Board now desires to authorize the filing of a ballot argument in favor of the proposition to be submitted to the voters at the election; and

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved, determined and ordered by the Board of Trustees of the Reed Union School District as follows:

Section 1. Specifications of Election Order. Pursuant to sections 5304, 5322, 15100 et seq., and section 15266 of the California Education Code, an election shall be held within the boundaries of the Reed Union School District on November 8, 2005, for the purpose of submitting to the registered voters of the District the following proposition:

BOND AUTHORIZATION

By approval of this proposition by at least 55% of the registered voters voting on the proposition, the Reed Union School District shall be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $13,000,000 in aggregate principal amount to provide financing for the specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List attached hereto as Exhibit A, subject to all of the accountability safeguards specified below. Bonds will be issued in one series.

ACCOUNTABILITY SAFEGUARDS

The provisions in this section are specifically included in this proposition in order that the voters and taxpayers of the Reed Union School District may be assured that their money will be spent wisely to address specific facilities needs of the Reed Union School District, all in compliance with the requirements of Article XIII A, section 1(b)(3) of the State Constitution, and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at section 15264 et seq. of the California Education Code).

Evaluation of Needs. The Board of Trustees has updated its facilities plan in order to evaluate and address all of the facilities needs of the Reed Union School District, and to determine which projects to finance from a local bond at this time. The Board of Trustees hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List contained in Exhibit A.

Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Board of Trustees shall establish an independent Citizens' Oversight Committee (section 15278 et seq. of the California Education Code), to ensure bond proceeds are expended only for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A. The committee shall be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board of Trustees.

Annual Performance Audits. The Board of Trustees shall cause to conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A.

Annual Financial Audits. The Board of Trustees shall cause to conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A.

Special Bond Proceeds Account; Annual Report to Board. Upon approval of this proposition and the sale of any bonds approved, the Board of Trustees shall take actions necessary to establish an account in which proceeds of the sale of bonds will be deposited. As long as any proceeds of the bonds remain unexpended, the Superintendent shall cause a report to be filed with the Board no later than January 1 of each year, commencing January 1, 2006, stating (1) the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in that year, and (2) the status of any project funded or to be funded from bond proceeds. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period as the Superintendent shall determine, and may be incorporated into the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Board.

BOND PROJECT LIST

The Bond Project List attached to this resolution as Exhibit A shall be considered a part of the ballot proposition, and shall be reproduced in any official document required to contain the full statement of the bond proposition.

The Bond Project List, which is an integral part of this proposition, lists the specific projects the Reed Union School District proposes to finance with proceeds of the Bonds. Listed repairs, rehabilitation projects and upgrades are expected to be completed as needed. Each project is assumed to include its share of costs of the election and bond issuance, architectural, engineering, and similar planning costs, construction management, and a customary contingency for unforeseen design and construction costs. The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized, construction bids are awarded, and projects are completed. Therefore the Board of Trustees cannot guarantee that the bonds will provide sufficient funds to allow completion of all listed projects.

FURTHER SPECIFICATIONS

No Administrator Salaries. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

Single Purpose. All of the purposes enumerated in this proposition shall be united and voted upon as one single proposition, pursuant to section 15100 of the California Education Code, and all the enumerated purposes shall constitute the specific single purpose of the bonds, and proceeds of the bonds shall be spent only for such purpose, pursuant to section 53410 of the California Government Code.

Other Terms of the Bonds. When sold, the bonds shall bear interest at an annual rate not exceeding the statutory maximum, and that interest will be made payable at the time or times permitted by law. The bonds may be issued and sold in several series, and no bond shall be made to mature more than 25 years (if issued pursuant to the provisions of the California Education Code) or 40 years (if issued pursuant to the provisions of the California Government Code) from the date borne by that bond.

Section 2. Abbreviation of Proposition. Pursuant to section 13247 of the California Elections Code and section 15122 of the California Education Code, the Board hereby directs the Registrar of Voters to use the following abbreviation of the bond proposition on the ballot:

"To complete the Facility Master Plan that resulted in successfully rebuilding our schools, on budget and carefully monitored, shall Reed Union School District issue $13 million of bonds to complete the last set of improvements: upgrade science classrooms; renovate athletic fields for a safer environment; improve technology communication systems; build a middle school gymnasium; remove remaining dry rot; complete site access and landscaping plans and finish all necessary work related to the Facility Master Plan?"

Section 3. Voter Pamphlet. The Registrar of Voters of the County is hereby requested to reprint Section 1 hereof (including Exhibit A hereto) in its entirety in the voter information pamphlet to be distributed to voters pursuant to section 13307 of the California Elections Code. In the event Section 1 is not reprinted in the voter information pamphlet in its entirety, the Registrar of Voters is hereby requested to print, immediately below the impartial analysis of the bond proposition, in no less than 10-point boldface type, a legend substantially as follows:

"The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure A. If you desire a copy of the measure, please call the Marin County Registrar of Voters at (415) 499-6456 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you."

Section 4. Required Vote. Pursuant to section 18 of Article XVI and section 1 of Article XIII A of the State Constitution, the above proposition shall become effective upon the affirmative vote of at least 55% of those voters voting on the proposition.

Section 5. Request to County Officers to Conduct Election. The Registrar of Voters of the County is hereby requested, pursuant to section 5322 of the California Education Code, to take all steps to call and hold the election in accordance with law and these specifications.

Section 6. Consolidation Requirement; Canvass.

(a) Pursuant to section 15266(a) of the California Education Code, the election shall be consolidated with the statewide election on November 8, 2005.

(b) The Board of Supervisors of the County is authorized and requested to canvass the returns of the election, pursuant to section 10411 of the California Elections Code.

Section 7. Delivery of Order of Election to County Officers. The Clerk of the Board of Trustees of the District is hereby directed to deliver, no later than August 12, 2005 (which date is not fewer than 88 days prior to the date set for the election), one copy of this Resolution to the Registrar of Voters of the County together with the Tax Rate Statement (attached hereto as Exhibit B), completed and signed by the Superintendent, and shall file a copy of this Resolution with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the County.

Section 8. Ballot Arguments. The members of the Board are hereby authorized, but not directed, to prepare and file with the Registrar of Voters a ballot argument in favor of the proposition contained in Section 1 hereof, within the time established by the Registrar of Voters.

Section 9. Further Authorization. The members of this Board, the Superintendent, and all other officers of the District are hereby authorized and directed, individually and collectively, to do any and all things that they deem necessary or advisable in order to effectuate the purposes of this resolution.

Section 10. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect upon its adoption.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this day, July 18, 2005, by the following vote:

AYES: Grace Livingston, Vickie Mavromihalis, Teri Jacks, Robert Weisberg

NAYS: None

ABSTAIN: None

ABSENT: Merrill Boyce

APPROVED:

s/ Grace K. Livingston
President of the Board of Trustees of the
REED UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT

Attest:

s/ Vickie K. Mavromihalis

Clerk of the Board of Trustees of the
REED UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT

CLERK'S CERTIFICATE

I, Vickie Mavromihalis, Clerk of the Board of Trustees of the Reed Union School District, of the County of Marin, California, hereby certify as follows:

The attached is a full, true and correct copy of a resolution duly adopted at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the District duly and regularly held at the regular meeting place thereof on July 18, 2005, and entered in the minutes thereof, of which meeting all of the members of the Board of Trustees had due notice and at which a quorum thereof was present. The resolution was adopted by the following vote:

AYES: Grace Livingston, Vickie Mavromihalis, Teri Jacks, Robert Weisberg

NOES: None

ABSTAIN: None

ABSENT: Merrill Boyce

At least 24 hours before the time of said meeting, a written notice and agenda of the meeting was mailed and received by or personally delivered to each member of the Board of Trustees not having waived notice thereof, and to each local newspaper of general circulation, radio, and television station requesting such notice in writing, and was posted in a location freely accessible to members of the public, and a brief description of the resolution appeared on said agenda.

I have carefully compared the same with the original minutes of the meeting on file and of record in my office. The resolution has not been amended, modified or rescinded since the date of its adoption, and the same is now in full force and effect.

WITNESS my hand this 18th day of July, 2005.

s/ Vickie K. Mavromihalis

Clerk of the Board of Trustees
REED UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT

EXHIBIT A

REED UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOND PROJECT LIST

Upgrade and modernize existing science classrooms at Del Mar Middle School.

Improve and complete technology communication systems at Reed, Bel Aire and Del Mar Middle Schools.

Relocate exterior wiring at Del Mar Middle School.

Install electronic white boards for classrooms at Del Mar and Bel Aire Schools.

Build a full size gymnasium at Del Mar Middle School that includes a classroom, storage, outdoor covered eating area, stage, fire department storage for emergency use, outdoor stage and amphitheater.

Purchase protective covering for gym floor.

Provide temporary gymnasium structure at Del Mar Middle School during construction period.

Paint and carpet classrooms in the portable wing at Bel Aire School.

Purchase chairs and racks for gymnasium.

Purchase additional Physical Education equipment, as needed.

Replace columns in covered walk way at Del Mar Middle School to remove dry rot.

Improve teachers' lounge, interior and exterior, at Del Mar Middle School.

Develop and implement improved color scheme at Del Mar Middle School to conform to new gym.

Reconfigure asphalt play area and improve all other asphalt and concrete areas at Del Mar Middle School.

Renovate existing playing fields with natural turf at Reed, Bel Aire and Del Mar Middle Schools to remove unsafe conditions such as gopher holes, uneven playing surfaces, and provide for new and improved drainage and irrigation systems.

Improve Del Mar School field to support track and field program such as sand pits or other necessary items, as needed.

Purchase bleachers, install dugouts with team benches and provide backstops for Bel Aire and Del Mar Schools.

Replace backstop on Reed School's field.

Renovate existing amphitheater at Bel Aire School.

Install running tracks around fields to support physical education programs at Bel Aire and Del Mar Schools.

Build restroom facilities, drinking fountains and provide electrical outlets adjacent to Bel Aire and Del Mar Schools fields.

Upgrade snack facility on Del Mar School field.

Update and complete landscaping plans at all schools.

Install irrigation system in classroom garden areas and renovate soil conditions.

Improve site access and expand employees' parking area at Del Mar Middle School.

Complete fencing and upgrade site protection plans to include lighting and security systems.

Install emergency supply storage shed at Reed School.


Marin Home Page || Statewide Links || About Smart Voter || Feedback
Created: January 28, 2006 14:43 PST
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://www.lwvc.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.