Cinnabar School District Bond Issue, Measure J (November 2014)

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A Cinnabar School District Bond Issue, Measure J ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the Cinnabar School District in Sonoma County, California. It was approved.

Upon its approval, Measure J was designed to authorize the district to increase its debt by $2.5 million through issuing general obligation bonds in that amount. District officials estimated the additional annual property tax rate required to repay these bonds at $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

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

Election results

Measure J
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		494	61.1%
No		314	38.9%

Election results from Sonoma County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot:

“

To improve the quality of education with funding that cannot be taken by the state; repair or replace leaky roofs; modernize and renovate outdated classrooms, restrooms and school facilities; replace outdated heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems; and improve P.E. fields and facilities for school and community use; shall the Cinnabar Elementary School District issue $2,500,000 of bonds at legal interest rates, have an independent citizens’ oversight committee and have no money used for administrative salaries?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure J by the office of the county counsel:

“	The California Constitution allows school districts to borrow money by issuing bonds to pay for construction, repair, replacement, and acquisition of school facilities if 55 percent of the voters who vote on the measure approve the sale of the bonds. The Cinnabar School District Board of Trustees has called for an election and placed on the ballot the question of whether to issue bonds in the amount of $2.5 million for repairs and improvements of District classrooms and school facilities. Money raised by bond sales can be used for the purposes and projects stated in the Bond Project List set forth in the Measure. Projects include repairing leaky roofs; upgrading existing classrooms and other facilities; replacing outdated heating and air conditioning systems; improving P.E. fields and facilities; and making technology, security, accessibility, and other improvements. As required by state law, the measure prohibits using bond proceeds for teacher or administrator salaries or other operating expenses. The inclusion of a project on the Bond Project List is not a guarantee that the project will be funded or completed. The Bond Project List is a statement of present intention of the District’s Board, and does not imply any particular prioritization among improvements. If the Measure is adopted, the District’s Board will conduct annual, independent financial and performance audits to ensure that bond proceeds have been expended only on the projects on the Bond Project List. In addition, a Citizens’ Oversight Committee will be established within sixty days of the entry of the election results on the Board’s minutes. The proceeds of the bonds will be maintained in a separate account in the County Treasury, and the Board must receive an annual report on the status of projects undertaken and the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in that year. If the Measure is approved, the District expects to sell the bonds in series over time. The funds to repay the bonds would be raised by an increase in property taxes based upon the value of land and improvements in the District. The interest rate on the bonds would depend on the market rate at the time the bonds are sold, but cannot exceed the rate set by state law. The Tax Rate Statement prepared by the District Superintendent, which follows this analysis, estimates the property tax levies required to pay off the bonds. The estimated tax levies are a projection, and could go up or down, depending on a number of factors including the timing and amount of bond sales, and changes in assessed value of property in the District.	”
—Jeffrey M. Brax, Sonoma County Deputy Counsel

Support

Supporters

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

• Cheryl L. Hlebakos, high school counselor
• Patty Murch, Cinnabar School Business Manager
• Ken Ishizu, board member/business owner
• Karl W. Bundesen of Century 21
• Anthony Lukas, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Arguments in favor

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

“	Our school is the most important asset in our community and should be our number one priority. From higher achieving students, to greater neighborhood safety and improved property values, quality schools make a difference. While our teachers and staff do a great job in educating our children, many classrooms and school facilities at the Cinnabar Elementary School District are outdated and inadequate to provide children with the facilities they need to succeed. This is why our children need your Yes vote on Measure J! Although our elementary school has been well maintained over the years, aging classrooms and facilities must be upgraded since many do not meet 21st century standards. Measure J would allow the District to improve our elementary school and the quality of education provided to children. By investing in our school, we can meet today’s safety, technological, and educational standards and better our community. If passed, Measure J will provide funding to make facility improvements at Cinnabar Elementary School including; repairing or replacing leaky roofs, modernizing and renovating outdated classrooms, restrooms and school facilities, repairing or replacing outdated heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, and improving P.E. fields and facilities for school and community use Measure J makes financial sense and protects taxpayers. All funds must be spent locally and cannot be taken by the State. By law, spending must be reviewed and annually audited by an independent citizens’ oversight committee. Funds can only be spent to improve our local elementary school, not for teacher or administrator salaries. Measure J upgrades and renovates old and inadequate school facilities, improves the education of children, and maintains the quality of our community. That’s something we can all support. Please join us and Vote Yes on Measure J!	”
—Cheryl L. Hlebakos, Patty Murch, Ken Ishizu, Karl W. Bundesen and Anthony Lukas

Opposition

Opponents

Jack Atkin, president of the Sonoma County Taxpayers' Association, signed the official arguments in opposition to Measure J.

Arguments against

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

“	Taxpayers have a right to expect school districts will not raise taxes through bond sales every time a school roof or a heating system needs replacing. They also have a right to expect, when bonds are used to finance school improvements, that those bonds will be repaid over the useful lives of the improvements the bonds finance, and not stretch payments for short-lived assets over 30 years or more. To structure a long term bond to fund things like technology improvements that have a notoriously short lives, is similar to using a 30 year mortgage to purchase a car. The car will long be retired when the mortgage is still being repaid. The Cinnabar District cannot meet the minimum basic requirements for a supportable bond measure. The District has not performed a reserve study, does not have a reserve fund dedicated for replacement of major building components. The District does purport to have a reserve fund, but if it were adequate why are they not using the reserve to fund improvements, rather than electing to raise your taxes? Unlike the Santa Rosa School District, which has structured its bonds to repay for technology improvements over three years, the Cinnabar bond has no such protective structure. Therefore, we oppose this proposed tax increase, and urge the District to implement a prudent reserving practice and to restructure any future bond proposals.	”
—Jack Atkin, president of the Sonoma County Taxpayers' Association

Project list

The following project list is included in the full text of Measure J:

“

Bond proceeds will be expended to modernize, replace, renovate, expand, construct, acquire, equip, furnish and otherwise improve the classrooms and school facilities of the District. The specific school facilities projects to be funded include, but shall not be limited to: Repair or replace leaky roofs Modernize/renovate outdated classrooms, restrooms and school facilities Repair or replace outdated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems with building code compliant, energy efficient systems Upgrade, renovate and equip multipurpose room, gymnasium, food service facilities, and other school facilities Improve P.E. fields and facilities for school and community use Federal and State-mandated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility upgrades including site access, parking, staff and student restrooms, relocation of some existing electrical devices, drinking fountains, playground equipment, etc. Improve technology infrastructure and increase student access to computers and modern technology Make health and safety improvements throughout the District Make security improvements throughout the District, such as installing security fencing, cameras, lighting, and fire alarm and security systems Repair and upgrade roofs, walls, and floors Increase student safety by improving drop-off and pick-up areas Repair deteriorating plumbing, sewage and irrigation systems Make facility improvements to increase the District’s energy efficiency, including replacing outdated lighting and windows Upgrade school site parking, utilities and grounds Remove all dry rot and repair damage caused by dry rot Replace existing wiring systems to meet current electrical and accessibility codes and increased capacity Federal and State-mandated Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) safety upgrades including playground equipment replacement Abate and remove hazardous materials identified prior to or during construction Repair, replace and/or upgrade paved surfaces, turf, and other grounds to eliminate safety hazards and improve outside instructional areas Each project includes the expenses of furnishing and equipping, architectural, engineering, design and planning costs, program/project management expenses (including project management performed by District personnel) and a customary contingency for unforeseen design and construction costs. In the event a project has been financed on an interim basis, including through the issuance of certificates of participation or other financing vehicle, the bond project includes the payment of such interim financing. Each bond project described above includes all work incidental to such projects, including but not limited to, demolition, rental or construction of storage facilities and other space on an interim basis and interim classrooms for students and school functions or other storage for classroom materials displaced during construction, addressing unforeseen conditions revealed by construction/modernization and other necessary improvements required to comply with existing building codes, including the Field Act and access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, installation of irrigation and utility lines, governmental fees and permit costs, and all costs relating to the issuance of the bonds authorized hereunder and the costs of preparing the performance and financial audits required by this measure. Some projects may be undertaken as joint use projects in cooperation with other local public or nonprofit agencies. The order in which school facilities projects are listed above does not suggest an order of priority. Project priorities will be determined by the District Board. The District is unable to anticipate all unforeseen circumstances, which may prevent some of the projects listed above from being undertaken or completed. (quote)

”

See also

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

External links

Suggest a link

• Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office website