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Santa Clara County Voters Consider School Bonds, Parcel Taxes

SAN JOSE (BCN) -- Voters around Santa Clara County will be considering seven school-related measures - four bonds and three parcel taxes - in the Nov. 2 election.

Measure E is a special parcel tax that would provide funding for the Foothill-De Anza Community College District.

The tax would be levied on each parcel of taxable property within the district. Owners would annually pay $69 per parcel for a period of six years, commencing July 1, 2011.

The measure requires two-thirds voter approval to pass.

The money from the tax would fund core academic classes, and be used to increase the number of classes and lab offerings, improve support services for students with disabilities, keep libraries open, maintain job retraining programs and provide essential student and support services.

Opponents of the measure have said the measure will increase property tax and that homeowners already bear a significant tax burden in the district.

In Measure G, the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District is asking for voter approval to issue a $268 million bond to improve school facilities. The measure requires 55 percent voter approval to pass.

If Measure G is approved, property owners would pay an estimated annual tax of $9.60 per $100,000 of assessed value of property.

The bond money would be used to update labs for science and medical training programs, upgrade facilities to improve energy efficiency, repair aging classrooms, upgrade classroom instructional technology, upgrade classrooms and facilities to meet current fire and safety codes and to provide access for students with disabilities.

Opponents claim the district does not have fiscal credibility and that it has been financially irresponsible, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on ill-conceived projects, credit card misuse, lavish expenses and trips, high-paid consultants, cost overruns, and attorney's fees.

Measure H is a school bond measure for the Santa Clara Unified School District.

The district is asking for voter approval to issue an $81.1 million bond to upgrade and install school fire safety and security systems, renovate and reopen closed school sites, improve or install systems to reduce energy costs, acquire sites for future schools, renovate and repair outdated classrooms and add classrooms as needed.

If the measure passes, property owners would pay an estimated annual tax of $16.40 per $100,000 of assessed value of property.

Opponents of the measure, which requires 55 percent voter approval to pass, have argued that the money must be repaid with interest and that the real cost could be $160 million or more.

They claim that the school district has failed to prioritize these improvements and repairs in their annual budgets and is now asking residents to bear the costs.

Measure I is a special parcel tax for the East Side Union High School District.

The tax would be levied on each parcel of taxable property within the district. Owners would annually pay $98 per parcel for a period of six years, beginning July 1, 2011.

The measure requires two-thirds voter approval to pass.

The money from the tax would help retain and attract excellent teachers and staff, increase student access to core academic classes, keep guidance counselors, continue to fund art, music and athletics, and keep schools safe and secure.

Opponents of the measure have claimed that the school district is asking for more money on top of the $349 million bond money it asked for in February 2008. They have argued that California teachers are the second highest-paid in the country after New York teachers with pension benefits that are costing cities and counties.

Measure J is a school bond measure for the Franklin-McKinley School District.

The district is asking for voter approval to issue a $50 million bond to fund seismic upgrades to schools and classrooms, upgrade and maintain technology equipment, wireless systems, network connections and upgrade or replace computers, upgrade or repair classroom infrastructure, and undertake energy efficiency projects.

If the measure passes, property owners would pay an estimated annual tax of $5.80 per $100,000 of assessed property value for 2011 to 2012, an estimated $16.90 per $100,000 of assessed property value for 2019 to 2020 and an estimated $30 per $100,000 of assessed property value for 2024 to 2025.

The measure requires 55 percent voter approval to pass.

Opponents of the measure have said that the money must be repaid with interest and that the real cost of the bond measure, with interest and principal, could be $100 million or more.

They claim the school district has not given earthquake safety, school security and improved fire alarms priority in their current budget.

In Measure K, the Moreland Elementary School District is asking for voter approval to issue a $55 million bond to upgrade classrooms and science labs and invest in districtwide energy efficiency and water conservation.

The measure requires 55 percent voter approval to pass.

If Measure K is approved, the district estimates that the tax rate resulting from this bond issue will not exceed $65.70 per $100,000 of assessed value of property, a rate previously approved by voters in the March 2002 election.

Opponents of the measure have argued that the money must be repaid with interest and that the real cost of the bond measure, with interest and principal, could be $110 million or more.

Measure L is a special parcel tax for the Cambrian School District.

The tax would be levied on each parcel of taxable property within the district. Owners would annually pay $96 per parcel for a period of six years, commencing July 1, 2011.

The measure requires two-thirds voter approval to pass.

The money from the tax would help the district provide core academic programs, attract and retain qualified experienced teachers, improve access to computers and technology, and maintain libraries.

Opponents of the measure have said that the school district is tricking voters into paying a tax that would only increase the salaries of teachers who are already highly paid.

(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)

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