Fail: 747 / 42.18% Yes votes ...... 1024 / 57.82% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

The Board of Trustees of the Sierra Joint Community College District (the "Board"), has, in its role as legislative body for SFID #3, by resolution (#2006-03), ordered an election to submit to the voters of SFID #3 a measure that would authorize the sale of general obligation bonds in the amount of seventy-eight million, two hundred thousand dollars ($78,200,000). The bonds would have an interest rate that does not exceed the legal maximum and would mature in no more than 25 years. Ad valorem taxes would be levied upon taxable property within the boundaries of SFID #3 to repay the bonds. A tax rate statement is included within this Ballot Pamphlet.

The Board has specified the facilities to be financed by the proceeds of the $78.2 million in bonds. These facilities include the acquisition of equipment and technology enhancements, the construction, renovation and modernization of facilities including the classrooms, labs, library and student service facilities, parking facilities, recreational and outdoor learning facilities, job training facilities, including fire fighting training grounds and college transfer counseling facilities. The measure, as well as state law, prohibits using any of the bond proceeds for faculty and administrator salaries and other District operating expenses.

The measure requires the District to take certain steps to account for the use of the proceeds from the sale of the bonds as set forth in Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3) of the California Constitution and Education Code sections 15264 et seq. The Board of Trustees will appoint a citizens' oversight committee and conduct annual independent audits to assure that funds are spent only for the purposes included in this measure and for no other purposes.

A "YES" vote is a vote to authorize the issuance and sale of up to $78,200,000 of general obligation bonds to be repaid through a property tax based upon the assessed value of taxable property in SFID #3.

A "NO" vote is a vote not to authorize the issuance and sale of the bonds.

This measure passes if 55% of those voting on the measure vote "yes."

Louis B. Green
County Counsel

Like any 40 year old home, Sierra College needs repairs to continue to house local students.

Most of Sierra College's classrooms and buildings are over 40 years old and in desperate need of repair and renovation. Measure B will repair sewer systems, leaky roofs, decaying walls and outdated electrical systems.

Sierra College is a low funded district. Its conservative Board of Trustees has always had as its goal to keep local property taxes as low as possible. But the facts are, there is no State funding available for the repair and renovation of Sierra College. It's up to local residents to meet the challenge.

Thousands of local students use Sierra College for the career and job training they need to succeed. Sierra College trains our local nurses, police officers, firefighters, accountants, computer programmers and dozens of other professionals.

Measure B will ensure that Sierra College has the modern classrooms, computer and science labs, and technology that our students need.

Measure B will repair and upgrade classrooms needed to train students in emergency medical services and allow Sierra College to expand its Nursing Training Program.

There are taxpayer safeguards within Measure B. Not one penny can be spent on routine administrative programs or salaries. A Citizens' Taxpayer Oversight Committee will be formed and independent audits will be conducted to ensure that Measure B is being used as promised. It's a committee with teeth.

A broad coalition of community and business leaders - Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike - have thrown their support behind Measure B.

Measure B is about the basics of what Sierra College needs to remain a thriving place to learn job and career skills.

Tim Leslie
State Assemblyman

Kristina L. Mapes
Accountant

Ken Wagner
President, Placer Co. Fire Chiefs Assoc.

Nicholas S. Willick
Retired Police Chief

Bill Halldin
Chairman, Rocklin Area Chamber of Commerce

. . . Lincoln area students attend Sierra College, but Lincoln area property owners will not bear the tax burden with us. They have been excluded by the formation of this special tax district.

The bond is for routine maintenance and repairs that the Board of Trustees should have been doing all along. Raising taxes and Throwing money at the problem will not solve the problem. The Board Spent big bucks on a new stadium which could have been used to fix leaky roofs and pipes, decaying walls, sewers, and electrical wiring.

The Board needs to direct its attention to more efficient operations before they can expect more money from the public.

There are major problems with the Board's priorities and until those are worked out, more money will not help.

Bottom line - IT'S AN UNFAIR TAX.

Vote NO Measure B

George A. Magnuson
Mayor, City of Rocklin

Carole Vaillancourt
President, Sun City Roseville Rep. Group

Terry Dee Webb
Realtor and Former Chair, West Placer Municipal Advisory Council

Wally Reemelin
President, League of Placer County Taxpayers

Phil Ozenick
Former Roseville Mayor and Placer County Board of Supervisors member, District 1

Lincoln area voters will NOT pay the tax because a special district was formed to exclude them. Why not exclude Sun City Roseville as well. When polled, the Lincoln area voters were decidedly against a property tax to be used for neglected maintenance problems. Other property owners, located in a narrow band from within Sacramento through Placer and El Dorado counties were singled out to pay the 25-year property tax.

That is discrimination.

Lincoln area students, and those outside the district, make up a significant number of the students attending the Rocklin campus. The tax burden of the bond should be carried by all.

A new Math/Tech four-story $18 million building is under construction. The State provided $15 million and $3 million is coming from the college budget. Classrooms are being added.

But the cry to repair leaky roofs, plumbing, decaying walls, heating and wiring systems, leaking water pipes, and failing sewers is looking for your sympathy. This is a ploy to get your vote. Routine maintenance should have corrected these problems.

And, bond (tax) money should not be used for routine maintenance.

The Measure says no bond money will go to teacher and administrator salaries, but faculty salaries have already been negotiated - that money is gone. Also gone is the $350,000 buyout of former President Ramirez - this money could have made many repairs. Now we are expected to make up the difference with a 25 year-TAX..

Land development brings people and people attend Sierra College, but is development paying for a part of the college's operation? If they are, are they paying enough?

Another tax on your property. Where will it end?

Join us in voting NO on Measure B.

George A. Magnuson
Mayor, City of Rocklin

Carole Vaillancourt
Roseville Resident

Terry Dee Webb
Realtor and Former Chair, West Placer Municipal Advisory Council

Wally Reemelin
President, League of Placer County Taxpayers

Phil Ozenick
Former Roseville Mayor and Placer County Board of Supervisors member, District 1

Don't be fooled. The chief opponent of Measure B actually supported a bond measure five times as large just two years ago. His opposition is based on petty politics, not on principle.

The truth is that conservatives are largely supportive of Measure B.

Because of the district's conservative tax rates, Sierra College is the lowest funded educational institution in Placer County and nearly the lowest funded in the state.

Measure B is only about the basics: repairing, renovating and modernizing sewer systems, leaky roofs, decaying walls and outdated electrical systems.

Not a penny of Measure B funds will be used to pay for routine administrative salaries or programs. A citizen's oversight committee will be appointed with the authority to audit the expenditures and ensure that promise is kept.

Measure B: It's small, efficient, cost-effective and conservative. It's only about the basics of what Sierra College needs to help create a 21st Century educated work force.

That's why it has earned our support, and we hope it earns your support as well.

Tim Leslie
California State Assemblyman

Jerry Simmons
President, Sierra College Board of Trustees

Aaron Klein
Sierra College Trustee

Scott Leslie
Sierra College Trustee

1.The best estimate of the tax 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 $0.00694 per $100 ($6.94 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2006-07.

2.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 last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.00694 per $100 ($6.94 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2009-10.

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, is $0.00703 per $100 ($7.03 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2008-09.

These estimates would result in an average annual tax rate over the life of the bonds of $0.00692 per $100 of assessed valuation. Based on these tax rates, the estimated average annual tax over the term of the bonds would be $6.92 for $100,000 of assessed valuation for property in Improvement District No. 3.

Voters should note that the estimated tax rates are based on the assessed value of taxable property on the official tax rolls of the respective counties, not on the property's market value. In addition, taxpayers eligible for a property tax exemption, such as the homeowner's exemption, will be taxed at a lower effective tax rate than described above. Certain taxpayers may also be eligible to postpone payment of taxes. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills and tax advisors 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 College District's projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the College 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 College 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 Improvement District No. 3 as determined by the respective County Assessors in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

Submitted by the Board of Trustees of the Sierra Joint Community College District

Sierra College Rocklin Campus Safety, Repair and Improvement Measure: "To prepare students for jobs and transfer to four-year colleges, plan for growth, improve safety by repairing sewers, leaky roofs, decaying walls, plumbing and electrical systems, constructing, repairing classrooms, labs, sites, nursing/police/fire safety facilities, purchasing equipment, upgrading computer technology and providing training, shall Sierra College School Facilities Improvement District No. 3 of Sierra Joint Community College District issue $78,200,000 in bonds, at legal rates, with citizen oversight, guaranteed annual audits, and no money for administrators' salaries?"

The Board of Trustees of the Sierra College School Facilities Improvement District No. 3 of the Sierra Joint Community College District evaluated the District's urgent and critical facility needs on the Rocklin Campus, including safety issues, enrollment growth and computer technology, in developing the scope of projects to be funded, as outlined in the Sierra College Facilities Master Plan 2015, approved by the Board of Trustees on October 14, 2003, incorporated herein, and as shall be further amended from time to time. In developing the scope of projects the faculty, staff and students have prioritized the key health and safety needs so the most critical needs are addressed. The Board conducted independent facilities evaluations and received public input and review in developing the scope of college facility projects to be funded, as listed in the Facilities Master Plan 2015 which was unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees. This input of faculty, community and business leaders concluded that if these needs were not addressed now, the problems would only get worse. In preparing the Facilities Master Plan 2015 the Board of Trustees made four important determinations:

(i)in tough economic times community colleges, including Sierra College, are critically important to re-train people who want to expand their job skills;

(ii)essential repairs, such as improving drainage, plumbing, electrical, heating and ventilation systems, leaking roofs and decaying walls are critical for extending the useful life of Sierra College's existing buildings; and

(iii)it would be less expensive to upgrade and repair aging community college buildings and classrooms now, than in the future; and

(iv)upgrading Sierra College's computer and technology capacity is essential for the ongoing training and education of students of the region.

The Facilities Master Plan 2015 is on file at the District's Office of the Superintendent/President, and includes the following projects:

SIERRA COLLEGE - ROCKLIN CAMPUS

Repair, Upgrade, and/or Replace Obsolete Classrooms, Math and Computer Labs, Instructional Facilities, Sites and Utilities:

Repair, upgrade and/or replace deteriorating roofs, windows, plumbing, sewer, drainage, electrical systems, wiring, unsanitary and run-down bathrooms, heating, ventilation and cooling systems, gas and sewer lines, dorms, telecommunication systems, security systems, fields and grounds, science laboratories, lecture halls, gyms, locker rooms, outdoor learning centers, and other instructional facilities, wire classrooms for computers and technology, increase safety, increase energy efficiency, reduce fire hazards, reduce operating costs so more classes and job training can be offered, improve academic instruction, and meet legal requirements for disabled access.

Expand Classroom and Facility Capacity:

Increase classroom capacity for academic classes and job training, including math and technology, science labs, nursing and police training programs.

Repair, Replace and Upgrade Electrical and Mechanical Systems to Reduce Energy Consumption and Utility Bills.

Build a Firefighter Training Center:

Build a training facility that will accommodate training and continuing education required by law for firefighters employed by Placer County and all of its cities.

Safety Improvements:

Upgrade existing fire alarms, fire hydrants, sprinklers, smoke detectors, intercoms and fire doors, safety access routes and gates; install security systems, exterior lighting, emergency lighting, door locks and fences; repair cracked sidewalks, remove or encapsulate unsafe asbestos; repair termite damage and dry rot.

Technology Upgrades:

Upgrade Internet and cable technology; improve distance learning; upgrade telecommunication systems; campus-wide technology upgrades, computers; software implementation services; replace outdated equipment.

Listed building, repair, and rehabilitation projects and upgrades will be completed as needed. Each project is assumed to include its share of furniture, equipment, architectural, engineering, and similar planning costs, construction management, and a customary contingency for unforeseen design and construction costs. The allocation of bond proceeds will be affected by the District's receipt of State bond funds and the final costs of each project. The budget for each project is an estimate and may be affected by factors beyond the District's control. The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized, construction bids are awarded, and projects are completed.

FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY. THE EXPENDITURE OF BOND MONEY ON THESE PROJECTS IS SUBJECT TO STRINGENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS. BY LAW, PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL AUDITS WILL BE PERFORMED ANNUALLY, AND ALL BOND EXPENDITURES WILL BE MONITORED BY AN INDEPENDENT CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT FUNDS ARE SPENT AS PROMISED AND SPECIFIED. THE CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MUST INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, REPRESENTATION OF A BONA FIDE TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION, A BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND A SENIOR CITIZENS ORGANIZATION. NO DISTRICT EMPLOYEES OR VENDORS ARE ALLOWED TO SERVE ON THE CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

NO ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES. PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE BONDS AUTHORIZED BY THIS PROPOSITION SHALL BE USED ONLY FOR THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION, OR REPLACEMENT OF COLLEGE FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF COLLEGE FACILITIES, AND NOT FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, INCLUDING TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES. BY LAW, ALL FUNDS CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.