Santa Clara Unified School District Bond Issue, Measure H (November 2014)

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

Measure H authorized the issuance of $419 million in bonds to benefit the Santa Clara Unified School District. The bonds were meant to fund improvements, such as repairing roofs, plumbing and wiring; removing asbestos, lead and hazardous materials; upgrading classrooms and training facilities; acquiring, renovating or constructing classrooms and facilities to relieve overcrowding and attract quality teachers.

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

Election results

Santa Clara Unified School District, Measure H
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		18,958	69.39%
No		8,362	30.61%

Election results via: Santa Clara County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot:

“

To repair or replace deteriorating roofs, plumbing and wiring, remove asbestos, lead and hazardous materials; to upgrade outdated classrooms and career training facilities to support 21st century learning and prepare students for college and careers; to acquire, renovate, construct/equip classrooms and facilities to relieve overcrowding and attract quality teachers, shall the Santa Clara Unified School District issue $419 million in bonds at legal rates, with independent citizen oversight, no money for administrators and all money staying local?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure H:

“	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 Education (Board) of the Santa Clara Unified School District (District) proposes issuing bonds in the amount of $419,000,000. As identified in the measure, bond proceeds would be used for purposes including, but not limited to: (1) repairing roofs, plumbing and wiring; (2) removing asbestos, lead and other hazardous materials; (3) upgrading classrooms and career training facilities to support 21st century learning and prepare students for college and careers; and (4) acquiring, renovating, constructing and equipping classrooms and facilities to relieve overcrowding and attract teachers. 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 H. The District's best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds (fiscal year 2015-2016) is $47.40 per $100,000 of assessed value. The best estimate of the tax rate required to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale after the last series of bonds (fiscal year 2021-2022) is $47.60 per $100,000 of assessed value. The best estimate of the highest tax rate required to fund the bond issues is $47.60 per $100,000 of assessed value. Measure H 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 $419,000,000 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 $419,000,000 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

• Carl Guardino, President & CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group
• Teresa O'Neill, Santa Clara City Council Member
• Steve Lodge, Former Santa Clara Police Chief
• Robert E. Buchser, Retired Educator, 51 Year Santa Clara Resident
• Christine Koltermann, President of the School Board

Arguments

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

“	Protect the outstanding education children receive in the Santa Clara Unified School District, VOTE YES on Measure H. Santa Clara Unified has spent the past year identifying the most critical facility needs in our schools and the results are clear: our schools are overcrowded and require needed basic repairs to roofs, electrical systems, safety issues and more. We will add over 1,000 students to Santa Clara Unified Schools in the coming years. Measure H will allow us to build and upgrade classrooms to lower class sizes and prepare students for college and careers. Measure H will also provide funds to repair basic infrastructure at all of our schools to keep our students safe. Specifically, Measure H will maintain high quality education by: Providing classrooms and labs for career and technology education, including advanced courses required for college admission; Repairing leaky roofs, old plumbing, failing electrical systems, safety hazards, playground equipment, and other facilities to ensure student safety; Improving access to school facilities for students with disabilities; Replacing aging portables with permanent classrooms and constructing new classrooms; Upgrading school safety systems and pick-up and drop-off zones for safety; Supporting energy efficient upgrades. ALL Measure H funds MUST stay in the District, benefitting ONLY Santa Clara Unified Schools. These funds cannot be taken away by the State. Taxpayer protections are REQUIRED. Measure H is for school facilities only. NO funds are allowed for administrators' salaries and an independent citizens' oversight committee and independent audits are required to ensure these funds are spent properly. Protecting the quality of our schools is a wise investment. Good schools protect property values and the longer we wait to make these improvements, the more expensive they will be. Join teachers, parents, and civic leaders and vote YES on H to reduce overcrowding, fix facilities, and modernize our classrooms.	”
—Carl Guardino, Teresa O'Neill, Steve Lodge, Robert E. Buchser and Christine Koltermann

Opposition

Opponents

• Mark W.A. Hinkle, President: Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association
• Edward Leo Wimmers, Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County
• Donald Joseph Raymond Cormier, Jr., District Resident

Arguments

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

“	Bond measures, such as the Measure H, being proposed, saddle the District with new debt that must be serviced. To service the new debt and pay it back, the District either has to divert existing revenues used to provide education services or force all property owners in the district pay additional property taxes. And servicing the debt is really expensive. 3% interest on $419,000,000 bond means paying $12,570,000 in annual interest for 25-30 years. The total cost of the bond measure in today's dollars is $534,737,137.00 if serviced at 3% and paid back after 25 years. We, the taxpayers must ask whether the District put its existing debt to good use. Does the school District really need this new bond debt? Let's look at the history. Just 4 years ago, voters passed a $81,000,000 bond measure to "renovate" schools and 10 years ago voters passed a $315,000,000 bond measure to "repair facilities" and in 1997 voters passed another $145,000,000 bond measure for "renovation". So, they have already spent a whopping $541,000,000 to upgrade facilities and now they want to add $419,000,000 to do the same thing all over again. What did they do with more than half a billion dollars? Remember, school bonds are mortgages in that they have to be paid back, in full, plus interest. These interest payments don't go to teachers, library books, computers, or maintenance, etc.; they just go to service the debt. If this keeps going, eventually, all of the revenue of the district will be needed to service bonds and not educate kids. Is this the best use of your tax dollars? At some point, enough is enough! If you disagree, please vote NO on Measure H. You can be for schools, for students, and against Measure H.	”
—Mark W.A. Hinkle, Edward Leo Wimmers and Donald Joseph Raymond Cormier

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