Berryessa Union School District Bond Issue, Measure L (November 2014)

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A Berryessa Union School District Bond Issue, Measure L ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the Berryessa Union School District in Santa Clara County, California. It was approved.

Measure L authorized the issuance of $77 million in bonds to benefit Berryessa Union School District. The funds were meant to increase school safety; keep schools clean and well-maintained; update classroom technology; maximize energy efficiency and renovate, acquire, construct and equip classrooms and facilities.

A 55 percent supermajority vote was required for the approval of Measure L.

Election results

Berryessa Union School District, Measure L
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		10,622	69.33%
No		4,698	30.67%

Election results via: Santa Clara County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot:

“

To improve schools and continue providing quality education for local students by upgrading school safety, including earthquake, fire and emergency systems, keeping schools clean and well-maintained, updating classroom learning technology, maximizing energy efficiency to save money, and renovating, acquiring, constructing, and equipping classrooms, sites and facilities, shall Berryessa Union School District issue $77 million in bonds at legal rates with citizen oversight, annual audits, no funds for administrators' salaries and all funds staying in local schools?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure L:

“	Upon approval of 55% of the votes cast by voters in an election and subject to specified accountability measures, California law permits school districts to issue bonds, secured by the levy of ad valorem taxes on property within a district, for the purpose of 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. The Board of Trustees (Board) of the Berryessa Union School District (District) proposes issuing bonds in the amount of $77,000,000. As identified in the measure, bond proceeds would be used for purposes including, but not limited to the following: (1) upgrading school safety, including earthquake, fire and emergency systems; (2) keeping schools clean and well-maintained, updating classroom learning technology, maximizing energy efficiency to save money; and (3) renovating, acquiring, constructing and equipping classrooms and facilities. A detailed list of projects and allowed expenditures is included within the full text of the measure. The District's resolution authorizing the sale and issuance of bonds does not include information about any other District debt obligations that may exist. The California Constitution provides that proceeds of school district bond measures cannot be used for teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses, and requires independent annual performance and financial audits. State law requires the establishment of an independent citizens' oversight committee for ensuring that bond proceeds are expended only for the school facilities on the bond project list included in Measure L. The District's best estimate of the maximum tax rate to be levied to fund the proposed bonds during each fiscal year is $28.00 per $100,000 of assessed value. This includes the fiscal year after the initial sale of the bonds (2015-2016), and the first fiscal year after the final sale of the bonds (2019-2020). Measure L was placed on the ballot by the Board. A "yes" vote is a vote to authorize the issuance and sale of the bonds in the amount of up to $77,000,000 to be secured by the levy of ad valorem taxes on property located within the District. A "no" vote is a vote to not authorize the issuance and sale of the bonds in the amount of up to $77,000,000 to be secured by the levy of ad valorem taxes on property located within the District.	”
—Orry P. Korb, County Counsel and Susan Swain, Lead Deputy County Counsel

Support

Supporters

• Kansen Chu, San Jose City Councilmember
• Linda V. Locke, Board Member, Berryessa Citizens Advisory Council
• Carl Guardino, President & CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group
• Jorge O. Licea, Committee Member, Berryessa Union School District Measure B Citizens' Oversight Committee
• Latoya Brown, Chair, Measure K Oversight Committee

Arguments

The following was submitted as the official arguments in favor of Measure L:

“	Vote Yes on Measure L to provide local elementary and middle school students with safe, modern schools and a 21st-century education. Whether or not you have children in school, investing in our elementary and middle schools makes sense. By keeping neighborhood schools strong, we help maintain high property values in our community. Berryessa Union School District provides local students with a strong academic foundation that prepares them for college and today's careers. However, our schools are between 39 and 59 years old and require essential repairs and upgrades to improve student safety and keep them well-maintained. To ensure every student learns in a safe and modern learning environment, Measure L is needed now. Measure L will replace old and inefficient heating, cooling and plumbing, and upgrade fire and seismic safety systems to ensure that classrooms, science labs and school facilities are safe and updated. Measure L will provide students with a 21st-century education and the skills needed to excel in today's economy by updating computers and other learning technology. Measure L Will: Upgrade school security, fire, earthquake and other emergency safety systems Update classroom learning technology and provide teacher training for new technology Upgrade classrooms to keep schools clean and well-maintained Replace inefficient electrical, heating and cooling systems to maximize energy efficiency and save money for academic programs and retaining qualified teachers Measure L Includes Strict Fiscal Accountability: All funds will benefit our Berryessa schools and cannot be taken away by the state No funds can be used for administrators' salaries, benefits or pensions Citizen oversight and annual public audits will ensure funds are spent appropriately Measure L will qualify our schools for millions in future state matching funds, which would otherwise not be available Join parents, teachers, seniors and local business and community leaders--vote Yes on L!	”
—Kansen Chu, Linda V. Locke, Carl Guardino, Jorge O. Licea and Latoya Brown

Opposition

Opponents

• Mark W.A. Hinkle, President: Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association
• Edward Leo Wimmers, Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County
• Dale Warner, District Resident

Arguments

The following was submitted as the official arguments in opposition to Measure L:

“	You should vote "NO" on Measure L because of poor management practices by the Berryessa Union Elementary School District board regarding the 1999 $48,000,000 bond. Much of that amount is still owed even after 14 years. The fundamental problem was the board's refusal to fully implement the services of a citizens' oversight committee over the long-term indebtedness, thus reducing transparency and accountability. The board eventually divided the 1999 debt into five accounts and appears to have suspended payments on three of the accounts. In the face of this debacle, the board adopted a policy (at the same meeting in June that placed Measure L on the ballot this November) mandating that the "board shall disband the citizens' oversight committee when all the bond projects have been completed..." This means that any citizen oversight will end within three or four years from now, while the bond indebtedness will continue for possibly another 25 years. Voters and taxpayers have to ask themselves, do we really want to shut the citizens' oversight committee out of long-term debt management? Borrowing $77,000,000 at 2% interest means $1,540,000 in annual interest payments for up to 25 years. The excessive overhang of debt from the 1999 bond is directly related to the absence of continuous citizen oversight on debt management. The fact is that superintendents and board members come and go, but only a continuously operating citizen oversight committee with revolving membership throughout the period of bonded indebtedness will blow the whistle on bad management. Send the BUESD board a message that voters and taxpayers want a continuous citizens' oversight committee beginning with borrowing and ending only when long-term debt is paid in order to enhance transparency and accountability. Make the board get it right. Vote "NO" on Measure L.	”
—Mark W.A. Hinkle, Edward Leo Wimmers, Dale Warner and Elizabeth C. Brierly

See also

• Local school bonds on the ballot
• Santa Clara County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters office website