Pass: 1586 / 81.13% Yes votes ...... 369 / 18.87% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

The Shoreline Unified School District has called an election on a special tax measure to fund educational programs. State law requires voter approval before a school district can impose a special tax.

Proceeds of the tax would be placed in a special fund and could only be used for the purposes set out in the measure, which include maintaining existing school programs; hiring qualified personnel; purchasing updated textbooks and materials for math, reading, and writing courses; and enhancing school programs such as computer science, library, music, physical education, foreign language study, and art.

State law establishes accountability measures which require filing of an annual report by the chief fiscal officer of the district stating the amount of funds collected and expended, and the status of any project required or authorized to be funded by the tax measure.

The tax would begin on July 1, 2007, and would remain in effect for no more than six years. The tax would be collected and administered in the same manner as regular ad valorem property taxes, under the provisions of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

If two-thirds of the voters in the Shoreline Unified School District who vote on this measure vote "yes," the measure will pass and the special tax will be levied.

s/PATRICK K. FAULKNER
Marin County Counsel

s/STEVEN WOODSIDE
Sonoma County Counsel

Our community has wisely supported a local parcel tax since 1984. This support has enabled the Shoreline Unified School District to maintain quality programs in the areas of school libraries, art, drama, music, foreign language, counseling, and technology. Your parcel tax has also helped to continue supporting the hiring of classroom aides where needed. The purchase of current textbooks and materials to enhance math, reading and writing courses has also been supported by the previous parcel taxes.

Measure A will allow the community's students to continue receiving services and instruction in these areas, along with continuing specialty programs that enrich their total educational experience.

The programs that are supported by Measure A can only be maintained by the continuation of this Parcel Tax. These important programs cannot be maintained through the general budget.

As the challenges of maintaining a strong quality public education for our community's children continue to build, so does the importance of maintaining these important programs. Our children must be able to compete in a very demanding world. These programs help give students a well-rounded quality education. A balanced education is critical in order for students to develop into educated and contributing members of our society.

Remember, Measure A is a continuation of the support the community has given to its schools since 1984. Please continue this important support by voting YES on MEASURE A.

s/CAROL J. FRIEDMAN
Director, Dance Palace Community Center

s/MICHAEL WHITT
MD

s/JAMES G. LINO
S.U.S.D. Trustee

s/CLAIRETTE C. WILSON
MCOE Trustee

s/TIM FURLONG
Contractor

(No arguments against Measure A were submitted)

Shoreline Unified School District Resolution No. 4

Resolution ordering a special tax election, establishing specifications of the election order, and requesting consolidation with other elections

WHEREAS, a high quality, free and community-supported elementary and secondary public school system is essential to the preservation and growth of a strong, stable and democratic society; and

WHEREAS, the ability of society's political, social and economic institutions to adapt and effectively function in a world of rapid change depends upon an informed and well- educated citizenry; and

WHEREAS, a high-quality local public school program is vital to a community's well-being because among other effects, it fosters growth of the greatest natural human resource any society can have + the minds of its youth, it strengthens the ability of its younger members to cope successfully in a competitive society, it preserves and enhances real property values, it promotes civic pride and participation in community affairs, it reinforces traditional moral values, it increases individual awareness of the duties and responsibilities of citizenship in a participatory system of government, and because it attracts to the community new members who share these goals; and

WHEREAS, the Shoreline Unified School District is a small rural district which in serving a large geographic area must maintain a number of facilities which results in unique operational costs; and

WHEREAS, it is the goal of the Shoreline Unified School District to provide a rich, fully integrated and comprehensive academic program for students through the hiring of qualified personnel and the purchase of equipment and material as recommended by each School Site Council; and

WHEREAS, Section 4 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution and Government Code sections 50075, 50076, 50077, 50079 and 53720 et seq. authorize school districts to levy a special tax to raise funds for the purpose of conducting its business upon the approval of two-thirds of the votes cast by voters voting upon such a special tax proposal; and

WHEREAS, the Shoreline Unified School District Board of Trustees explicitly recognizes that it may not impose an ad valorem real property tax to meet its special needs; and

WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Governing Board of the Shoreline Unified School District to conduct an election to maintain and expand school programs on November 7, 2006, at which time the registered voters of the Shoreline Unified School District will be given an opportunity to vote on a qualified special tax assessment; and

WHEREAS, the General Election will take place on November 7, 2006, and it is the desire of the governing board of the Shoreline Unified School District that this election to maintain and expand school programs be consolidated with the General Election, and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Governing Board of the SHORELINE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT as follows:

Section 1. An election is hereby called to be held within the boundaries of the Shoreline Unified School District to maintain and expand school programs, and is requested to be consolidated with the General Election to be held on November 7, 2006. The following measure shall be submitted to the registered voters within the Shoreline Unified School District at this election:

Said election is hereby called to be held within the boundaries of the Shoreline Unified School District at which election shall be submitted to the qualified voters within the Shoreline Unified School District the following measure, to wit:

MEASURE A
To maintain existing school programs and improve the quality of education; to provide funds to buy updated textbooks and materials for math, reading, and writing courses; and to enhance critical computer science, library, and arts programs, shall the Shoreline Unified School District extend the existing $151.82 a year parcel tax, increasing annually at 4%, for no more than six years?
The parcel tax revenue shall be allocated to provide a rich, fully integrated and comprehensive academic program for students through the hiring of qualified personnel and the purchase of equipment and materials as recommended by each School Site Council in the following areas:

• Library Program
• Computer Science and Technology
• Music
• Art
• Foreign Language
• Classroom Aides
• Counseling
• Drama
• Field Trips
• Physical Education
• Nutrition Education
• Support Other Academic/Educational Programs (not to exceed 10% of the total parcel tax revenue)

Section 2. The revenue derived from this qualified special tax assessment to maintain and expand school programs shall be used solely and exclusively for the purposes set forth above.

Section 3. If any provision of this section or of any other section of this Resolution or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this section or of any other section of this Resolution which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end, the provision of this section and other sections of this Resolution are severable.

Section 4. The text of the measure as displayed on each individual ballot shall be abbreviated and shall read as follows:

SHORELINE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
QUALIFIED SPECIAL TAX ASSESSMENT FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

"To maintain existing school programs and improve the quality of education; to provide funds to buy updated textbooks and materials for math, reading, and writing courses; and to enhance critical computer science, library, and arts programs, shall the Shoreline Unified School District extend the existing $151.82 a year parcel tax, increasing annually at 4%, for no more than six years?

YES NO

Section 5. Commencing on July 1, 2007, the special tax collected annually on all assessor's parcels at the rate specified above, shall be collected and administered in the same manner as ad valorem property taxes are fixed and collected under provisions of the California Revenue and Taxation Code.

Section 6. The Marin County and Sonoma County Boards of Supervisors are hereby requested and authorized to consolidate this election with any elections to be held on this same date. The County Clerks are hereby requested and authorized to: 1) set forth all sample ballots relating to said election to be mailed to the qualified electors of the Shoreline Unified School District; and 2) to provide absent voter ballots for said special tax election for use by qualified electors of the Shoreline Unified School District who are entitled thereto in the manner provided by Law.

Section 7. The Clerk of the Shoreline Unified School District Governing Board is hereby authorized and directed to certify to the due adoption of this Resolution and to transmit a copy hereof so certified to the Election offices of Marin and Sonoma Counties.

The foregoing Resolution was moved by Board Member Tim Kehoe, seconded by Board Member Spirito Ballatore and adopted by roll-call vote on May 18, 2006, by the following vote:

Board Member Tim Furlong, Aye
Board Member Tim Kehoe, Aye
Board Member Kerry Weir, Absent
Board Member James Lino, Absent
Board Member Spirito Ballatore, Aye
Board Member Jane Healy, Aye
Board Member Madeline Hope, Aye
AYES: 5 NOES: 0 ABSENT OR NOT VOTING: 2

WHEREUPON, the President declared the foregoing Resolution duly adopted and SO ORDERED.

s/TIM FURLONG
President, Board of Trustees

s/KERRY WEIR
Clerk, Board of Trustees