League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Sonoma County, CA March 3, 2009 Election
	Measure A Continue Educational Programs Gravenstein Union School District Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required Fail: 1,019 / 61.8% Yes votes ...... 629 / 38.2% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure A

Arguments Against Measure A

Please vote Yes on Measure A to help maintain a strong education for our local Gravenstein students and schools. Measure A renews the current parcel tax of $36/year with no increase and no new taxes. It is limited to eight years. Senior homeowners 65 and older qualify for an exemption, and contiguous parcels are assessed only once. Measure A funds go straight to our local schools. Your neighbors who serve on our local Gravenstein school board will decide how these funds are spent--not Sacramento legislators or bureaucrats. Do taxpayers get their money's worth from our local schools? Yes! Despite limited state funding that ranks California 47th out of 50 states, Gravenstein students have topped West Sonoma County in reading and math test scores for six straight years. Hillcrest Middle School students have led all of Sonoma County for four of the last eight years. Their success helps keep our enrollment stable and our property values strong. Unfortunately, deep cuts in state education funding are expected over the next two years or more as the state struggles to balance its budget. If we lose our local parcel tax as well--about half a million dollars over the next eight years--it will be very tough to maintain the quality education our kids deserve and our future depends on. Remember, Measure A is a renewal with no increase and no new taxes. Please support our local schools by voting Yes on Measure A! Thank you very much. GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL BOARD s/ Jim Horn, President s/ Jeff Weaver, Trustee Gravenstein Union School District GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT s/ Linda J. LaMarre, Superintendent s/ Julie Patt 4-H Community Leader

No argument was submitted against Measure A.

Full Text of Measure A

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009 This Proposition may be known and referred to as the "GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009" or as Measure A. TERMS OF GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009 Terms and Purposes. Upon approval of two-thirds of those voting on this measure, the District shall be authorized to levy a qualified special tax of $36 per year on each parcel of taxable real property in the District for no more than eight years, commencing July 1, 2009, after the expiration of the existing parcel tax. The qualified special tax shall be known and referred to as the "GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009." To the extent such funds are available; proceeds of the "GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009" shall be authorized to keep music and art programs and technology instruction available for all students. Senior Citizen Exemption. In order to provide tax relief to senior citizens in the community, any parcel owned and occupied by a person 65 years of age or older shall be exempt from the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009 upon proper application to the District. Anyone claiming an exemption must apply to the District on or before May 1, 2009 or May 1 of any succeeding assessment year. Any one application from a qualified applicant will provide an exemption for the parcel for the remaining term of the assessment so long as such applicant continues to qualify for the exemption. ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISIONS Specific Purposes. All of the purposes named in the measure shall constitute the specific purposes of the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009, and proceeds of the tax shall be applied only for such purposes. Annual Audit. Upon the levy and collection of the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009, the Board of Trustees shall cause an account to be established for deposit of the proceeds. For so long as any proceeds of the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009 remain unexpended, the Superintendent or chief financial officer of the District shall cause its auditor to prepare a report to be filed with the Board of Trustees no later than December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 2009, stating (1) the amount of GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009 received and expended in such year, and (2) the status of any projects or description of any programs funded from proceeds of the tax. 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 or filed with the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Board of Trustees. LEVY AND COLLECTION The GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009 shall be collected by the Sonoma County Treasurer-Tax Collector at the same time and manner and shall be subject to the same penalties as ad valorem property taxes collected by the Treasurer-Tax Collector. Unpaid taxes shall bear interest at the same rate as the rate for unpaid ad valorem property taxes until paid. The collection of GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009 shall not decrease the funds available from other sources of the District in any period from the effective date hereof. "Parcel of taxable real property" shall be defined as any unit of real property in the District which receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the Sonoma County Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office. All property which is otherwise exempt from or on which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall also be exempt from the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009 in such year. Parcels owned and occupied by persons 65 years of age or older are exempt from the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009 as described above. Multiple parcels, which are contiguous and are part of one economic unit under the same name and ownership, shall be charged as one parcel. The District shall annually provide a list of parcels which the District has approved for a Senior Citizen Exemption from the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009 as described above to the Sonoma County tax collection officials. The Sonoma County Assessor's determination of exemption or relief for any reason other than the Senior Exemption of any parcel from taxation shall be final and binding for the purposes of the GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009. Taxpayers wishing to challenge the County Assessor's determination must do so under the procedures for correcting a misclassification of property pursuant to Section 4376.5 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code or other applicable procedures. Taxpayers seeking a refund of GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT PARCEL TAX OF 2009 paid shall follow the procedures applicable to property tax refunds pursuant to the California Revenue and Taxation Code. SEVERABILITY The Board of Trustees hereby declares, and the voters by approving this measure concur, that every section and part of this measure has independent value, and the Board of Trustees and the voters would have adopted each provision hereof regardless of every other provision hereof. Upon approval of this measure by the voters, should any part be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, all remaining parts hereof shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent allowed by law.