Glendora Unified School District, Bond Issue, Measure GG (November 2017)
| Measure GG: Glendora Unified School District Bond Issue |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 7, 2017 |
| Status: |
 DefeatedMajority required: 55% |
| Topic: |
| Local school bonds Tax: $49 per $100,000 in value Matures in: Legal limit |
| Related articles |
| Local school bonds on the ballot November 7, 2017 ballot measures in California Los Angeles County, California ballot measures |
| See also |
| Glendora Unified School District, California |
A bond issue was on the ballot for Glendora Unified School District voters in Los Angeles County, California, on November 7, 2017. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the district to issue $98 million in general obligation bonds—a type of public debt—to fund capital improvements to school facilities. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the district to issue $98 million in general obligation bonds—a type of public debt—to fund capital improvements to school facilities. |
District officials estimated the total repayment cost for this bond measure at $178,532,415—principal and interest.[1] A 55 percent supermajority vote was required for the approval of Measure GG.
Election results
| Measure GG | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 2,763 | 52.89% | ||
| Yes | 2,461 | 47.11% | ||
- Election results from Los Angeles County Office of the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[2]
| “ |
To upgrade and modernize classrooms, science labs, career training facilities, computer systems, and instructional technology to support high quality instruction/student achievement in science, technology, engineering, math/skilled trades, acquire, construct, and repair classrooms, facilities, sites/equipment, repair aging plumbing, electrical, heating/ventilation systems, improve student safety and campus security systems, shall Glendora Unified School District issue $98,000,000 in bonds at legal interest rates, with independent citizen oversight, no money for administrator salaries and all money staying local?[3] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Los Angeles County Counsel:
| “ |
Approval of Measure GG (“Measure”) would authorize the Board of Education (“Board”) of Glendora Unified School District (“District”) to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $98,000,000. This Measure was placed on the ballot by Resolution No. 1 of the Board. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by the Measure shall be used only for the purposes specified in the Measure, including, but not limited to, providing basic school repair and upgrade projects to modernize science labs, classrooms, and career technical education facilities; updating classrooms, computer systems, and instructional technology for science, technology, engineering, and math; repairing or replacing plumbing, electrical, heating, and ventilation systems; upgrading facilities and equipment for music and performing arts; creating multi-use classrooms to support instruction; replacing portable classrooms with new classrooms; upgrading security lighting, security cameras, emergency communications systems, smoke detectors, fire alarms, and sprinklers; and upgrading playground equipment and play areas to meet current health and safety standards. No funds shall be used for teacher or administrator salaries or other school operating expenses. The Board shall cause independent performance and financial audits to be conducted annually to ensure bond proceeds are spent only for the projects identified in the Measure. The Board shall appoint a Citizens’ Oversight Committee (“Committee”) in accordance with Education Code section 15278 within 60 days after the Board enters the election results in its minutes. The Committee must include representatives of a bona fide taxpayers’ association, a business organization, and a senior citizens’ organization. The maximum rate of interest on any bond shall not exceed the rate allowed by the Education and Government Codes. The tax levy authorized to secure the bonds shall not exceed the Proposition 39 limits per $100,000 of taxable property in the District when assessed valuation is projected by the District to increase. According to the District’s Tax Rate Statement, the best estimate of the highest tax rate required to fund the bonds, based on the assessed valuations available at the time of the election and taking into account future growth, is $49.00 per $100,000 of the assessed value of taxable real property within the District. Estimated total debt service, including the principal and interest, is $178,532,415. This Measure requires a fifty-five percent (55%) vote for passage.[3] |
” |
| —Los Angeles County Counsel[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[1]
- Rev. Karen K. Davis, Glendora City Council member; pastor, First Christian Church
- Joseph Cina, president/CEO, Glendora Chamber Of Commerce; past president, Glendora Rotary Club
- Douglas R. Ferrell, former GUSD board member; small business owner; lifelong Glendora resident
- Lisa Rosales, chief of police, city of Glendora
- Gordon G. Norman, Glendora citizen of the year 2008; 50-year resident; past board member education foundation
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
Glendora Unified Schools are the cornerstone of our community, and represent the future of our city. In order to continue providing our students a high-quality education, we need modern, safe facilities and up-to-date technology. Measure GG provides a prudent, responsible plan to address our most critical needs. Academic standards are rising for what it takes to compete in the 21st-century global economy. In addition, career technical education has grown in rigor, complexity, and skills required to prepare students for well-paying careers. Measure GG will give our students access to the education, facilities, and technology they need to be successful in college and their careers. Measure GG will: - Provide the facilities and technology needed to support high-quality instruction in math, science, engineering, and technology, as well as music and art; - Upgrade and modernize classrooms, science labs, career-training facilities, computer systems and instructional technology; - Repair aging plumbing, electrical, heating and ventilation systems; - Improve student safety and campus security systems, including security lighting, security cameras, emergency communications systems, smoke detectors, fire alarms and sprinklers. Measure GG requires a clear system of accountability, including a project list detailing how money will be allocated. It includes a Citizens’ Oversight Committee and independent audits to ensure the money is spent properly. Measure GG funds stay in the District to support Glendora students; they cannot be taken away by the State. By law, all funds must be used to improve our classrooms and school facilities; none will be used for administrator salaries. Even if you do not have school-age children, Measure GG is a wise investment. Good schools improve our quality of life in Glendora and protect the value of our homes. For our students and our community, please vote YES on GG. www.YesForGlendoraSchools.org[3] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- F. Dan Fernandes, Past Chair, Libertarian Party of the East San Gabriel Valley
- Matthew Russell, aerospace engineer
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
Are you parents? Do you hold your children accountable? While we support schools, we don’t support wasting your money on vague, unenforceable promises. Don’t be deceived by District’s campaign funded by businesses that will likely benefit from bond money. (Isn’t that called pay-to-play?) Beware of high-priced marketers masquerading as “parents, teachers, and community leaders.” Why Vote No on Measure GG? - It’s virtually, word-for-word, identical to every other bond measure written by lawyers (bond counsel) who make tens of thousands of dollars every time bonds are issued. - Did you hear about a list of projects? Why isn’t it in Measure GG? Because it would restrict the District to spend the money ONLY on those things? - Can you trust District? For months it showed off specific projects Measure GG would fund. Why aren’t they in Measure GG? - Were you surveyed? Did you get a fancy mailer from District? YOU PAID FOR IT ALL. Is that fair? Using your money for campaign purposes? - Why has District scrubbed its website of previous Measure G? Proposition 39 permits a bare majority of voters (55%) to approve these bonds. “To ensure that before they vote, voters will be given a list of specific projects their bond money will be used for,” it requires that the proposal provide a “list of the specific school facilities projects to be funded.” (Source: Proposition 39 ballot measure) Measure GG’s vague language gives the District a BLANK CHECK with NO ACCOUNTABILITY. Don’t vote to waste your taxes on vague promises. Did the District keep its promises from Measure G (2005)? It spent $41,310,000 and still has “leaky roofs.” Bond money is like drugs. Don’t give the District another fix. VOTE NO on Measure GG. |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Glendora Unified School District, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Glendora Unified School District Local school bonds Measure GG. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Los Angeles County Elections, "Sample Ballot/Polling Place Look Up," accessed September 23, 2017
- ↑ Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, "Local and Municipal Consolidated Elections November 7, 2017," accessed September 22, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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