Cajon Valley Union School District Bond Issue, Proposition C (November 2014)

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A Cajon Valley Union School District Bond Issue, Proposition C ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the Cajon Valley Union School District in San Diego County, California. It was defeated.

Proposition C would have authorized the district to increase its debt by $20 million through issuing general obligation, short-term bonds.

A 55 percent supermajority vote was required for the approval of Proposition C.

Election results

Cajon Valley Union School District, Proposition C
Result		Votes	Percentage
d No		13,884	50.92%
Yes		13,382	49.08%

Election results via: San Diego County Registrar of Voters

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot:

“

To increase student access to computers; maintain and upgrade educational technology; keep pace with 21st century technological innovations; implement statewide technology requirements for testing and learning; and significantly reduce borrowing costs, shall Cajon Valley Union School District issue $20,000,000 of short-term bonds with the interest rates at or below the legal limit, independent citizen oversight, and no money for administrator/teacher salaries, so long as all funds are spent locally and cannot be taken by the State?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure C:

“	This measure was placed on the ballot by the governing board of the Cajon Valley Union School District (“District”). This measure, if approved by 55% of the votes cast on the measure, will authorize the District to issue and sell $20,000,000 in general obligation bonds. The sale of these bonds by the District is for the purpose of raising money for the District, and represents a debt of the District. In exchange for the money received from the holders, the District promises to pay the holders of the bonds an amount of interest for a certain period of time, and to repay the bonds on the maturity date. Voter approval of this measure will also authorize an annual tax to be levied upon the taxable property within the District. The purpose of this tax is to generate sufficient revenue to pay interest on the bonds as it becomes due and to provide a fund for payment of the principal on or before maturity. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this measure may be used by the District to modernize, replace, renovate, acquire, install, equip and otherwise improve educational technology equipment projects and supporting systems and software within the District. The interest rate on any bond, which is established at the time of bond issuance, could not exceed 12% per annum. The final maturity date of any bond could be no later than 5 years after the date the bonds are issued as determined by the District, and the bonds shall be issued as current interest bonds and not as capital appreciation bonds. The tax authorized by this measure is consistent with the requirements of the California Constitution. The California Constitution permits property taxes, above the standard one percent (1%) limitation, to be levied upon real property to pay the interest and redemption charges on any bonded indebtedness for, inter alia, the rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, when approved by 55% of the voters if: (1) the proceeds from the sale of the bonds are used only for the purposes specified, (2) the District, by evaluating safety, class size reduction, and information technology needs, has approved a list of specific projects to be funded, (3) the District will conduct an annual, independent performance audit, and (4) the District will conduct an annual, independent financial audit. If a bond measure is approved, state law requires the District to establish an independent citizens’ oversight committee. The District has made this ballot measure subject to these requirements. Approval of this measure does not guarantee that the proposed projects in the District that are the subject of these bonds will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by this measure. A “YES” vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the District to issue and sell $20,000,000 in general obligation bonds. A “NO” vote is a vote against authorizing the District to issue and sell $20,000,000 in general obligation bonds.	”
—County Counsel

Support

Supporters

The following individuals signed the official arguments in favor of Measure C:

• Gregory Stein, chairman of the board, San Diego County Taxpayers Association
• Linda Webb, CVUSD PTA Council President
• Noori Barka, President, Calbiotech, Inc.
• Lori Copeland, V. President/Skyline Sunrooms
• Steven Devan, President/CEO Grossmont Schools FCU, Federal Credit Union

Arguments in favor

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

“	Measure C will allow the students of Cajon Valley’s public schools to keep pace with rapidly changing educational technology while saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in reduced borrowing costs. In today’s global economy, it is critical that our children learn how to use and master modern technology. However, statewide funding for classroom technology has simply failed to meet the educational needs of our children. Measure C solves this shortfall by providing a locally controlled source of technology funding, allowing our students to compete in today’s marketplace and become the innovators of the economy of tomorrow. In addition, Measure C makes financial sense. By using short-term, low-interest bonds, funds that would have been used to make interest payments will now be available for local school technology projects. Measure C improves school technology by: • Increasing student access to computers • Upgrading educational software • Complying with statewide technology requirements for testing and learning • Keeping pace with 21st century innovations Measure C protects taxpayers by: • Funding technology with short-term bonds so taxpayers won’t be making payments for equipment that’s obsolete and no longer in use • Creating an independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee to review and annually audit all expenditures • Guaranteeing that funds are spent locally and not taken by the State and spent elsewhere The schools of Cajon Valley are our most treasured asset, producing high achieving students and increasing property values. With Measure C, we will have the resources available to ensure our children are trained and capable technology users ready to compete and succeed in the economy of tomorrow. VOTE YES ON MEASURE C.	”
—Gregory Stein, Linda Webb, Lori Copeland, Steven Devan

Opposition

Opponents

• Barbara Stevens, Director, CA Taxpayer Action Network, signed the official arguments in opposition to Measure C.

Arguments against

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

“	MEASURE C IS A BLANK CHECK TO CONTINUE WASTEFUL SPENDING Cajon Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) wasted prior bond funds awarding tens of millions in construction contracts without competitive bidding. Now they are asking for more. Who care…the taxpayers are paying for it!!! The Voice of San Diego’s February 19, 2013 article, “School Bonds, Big Donor Often Win Big Contracts” reported “West Coast Air Conditioning, donated $10,000 to [CVUSD]’s Proposition D campaign in 2007. [The owner’s] family trust donated another $20,000 on the same day. West Coast Air was subsequently awarded a lease-leaseback to build the Cajon Valley Middle School, the largest project built with Proposition D dollars.” Campaign finance disclosures and recent news articles show bond underwriters, consultants, architects, contractors and lawyers who receive bond proceeds are the biggest contributors and promoters of school bonds and are using well-meaning school officials as their profit making puppets. Like pigs at an empty trough they want more!	”
—Barbara Stevens

See also

• Local school bonds on the ballot
• School bond elections in California
• San Diego County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• San Diego County Elections Office website