Commentary on Measure J

Are you sure you want vote to support this extravagant measure? It has no accountability.

This campaign was designed by a member of the school bonds cartel. We figured out just the right words to get you to you to open up your checkbook.

We'd also like to introduce you to our partners -- bond lawyers, brokers, wealthy investors, architects, management firms, construction companies, and trade unions. We all stand to make a ton of money on these bonds. Our profits come right off the top, before a penny is actually spent on improving the facilities.

We're not just doing it for the money. We like to show off our work in Architectural Digest and other places where the rich and famous congregate.

Remember, we've taken a lot of risk. We gave money to get your governing board members elected, so they'd be sure to remember us when we came around for a hand-out later.

It's just business-as-usual, here in sunny Corruptifornia.

Please don't read the fine print. That's just put in by the lawyers to make what we're going to do to for you legal.

When you see highlighting in the documents below, hover overCriticalExample commentary. it to see the commentary.

Measure J Question

"Fowler Unified School District General Obligation Bond Measure. To repair aging classrooms and facilities, deteriorating roofs, plumbing, and electrical systems, upgrade classrooms, science labs, career training facilities, and computer systems, and acquire, renovate, construct and equip facilities to support student achievement in reading, math, science, technology, the arts, and skilled trades, shall the Fowler Unified School District issue a maximum $42,000,000 in bonds, with legal interest rates, an oversight committee, annual audits, no money for salaries, and all money raised benefiting local students?"

Bonds—Yes Bonds—No

Impartial Analysis for Measure J

FOWLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
NOVEMBER 2016 BOND MEASURE

(IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS BY COUNTY COUNSEL PURSUANT TO
SECTION 9500 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE)

Voter approval of this Measure will authorize the governing board of the Fowler Unified School District (the "District") to issue and sell bonds in the maximum amount of Forty-two Million Dollars ($42,000,000.00), bearing interest at legal rates and with maturity dates within the legal limits. The bond proceeds may be expended to construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate or replace school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities within the District.

The bond project list in Exhibit A ("List") in the Measure describes the specific projects the District proposes to finance with proceeds from the sale of the bonds. The District may only use bond proceeds for the purposes specified in the Measure. The bond proceeds may not be used for any other purpose, including teacher or administrator salaries or other school operating expenses. Inclusion of a project on the List does not guarantee the project will be funded or completed.

This Measure would require annual independent performance and financial audits of the use of bond proceeds. In addition, a citizens' oversight committee will be established to ensure that bond proceeds are properly expended.

Information regarding the estimated tax rate to repay these bonds is found in the "Tax Rate Statement" prepared by the District. The projected tax rate is a best estimate from official sources. The actual tax rate necessary to pay the Bond Measure may vary depending on factors identified in the Tax Rate Statement.

The Measure makes no change to existing law and must be approved by at least 55% of the eligible votes cast or the bonds will not be issued. This Measure was placed on the ballot by order of the governing board of the District.

_______________________________
DANIEL C. CEDERBORG
Fresno County Counsel

Measure J Notice of Election

NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOND ELECTION AND DATE FIXED FOR SUBMITTING
ARGUMENTS ON THE FOWLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT GENERAL
OBLIGATION BOND MEASURE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all qualified electors of the Fowler Unified School District of Fresno County, California, that in accordance with the provisions of the Education Code of the State of California, and election will be held on November 8, 2016, within the District, at which election the following measures shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the District and voted upon:

"Fowler Unified School District General Obligation Bond Measure. To repair aging classrooms and facilities, deteriorating roofs, plumbing, and electrical systems, upgrade classrooms, science labs, career training facilities, and computer systems, and acquire, renovate, construct and equip facilities to support student achievement in reading, math, science, technology, the arts, and skilled trades, shall the Fowler Unified School District issue a maximum $42,000,000 in bonds, with legal interest rates, an oversight committee, annual audits, no money for salaries, and all money raised benefiting local students?"

Bonds—Yes Bonds—No

Arguments for or against the measure may be submitted to the Fresno County Clerk/Elections, 2221 Kern St., Fresno, CA 93721, no later than Friday, August 5, 2016. No argument shall exceed 300 words in length. Arguments may be submitted by the legislative body, or any member or members of the legislative body authorized by that body, or any individual voter who is eligible to vote on the measure, or bona fide association of citizens, or any combination of voters and associations. No more than five signatures shall appear with any argument submitted. If an argument is signed by more than five persons, the names of only the first five persons signing, determined by the order in which their signatures appear, shall be printed with the argument.

Only one argument for and one argument against each measure will be selected for printing and distribution to the voters. Preference and priority in selection will be given in the order named: (1) The legislative body, or member or members of the legislative body authorized by that body; (2) The individual voter or bona fide association of citizens, or combination of voters and associations, who are the bona fide sponsors or proponents of the measure; (3) Bona fide associations of citizens; (4) Individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure. Any argument submitted shall not be changed after August 5, 2016.

ALL ARGUMENTS submitted shall be verified in substantially the following form:

VERIFICATION

The undersigned author(s) of the _______(primary/rebuttal) argument______ (in favor of/against) ballot proposition (name or number) at the ______________(title of election) election for the _____________________ (jurisdiction) to be held on __________(date) hereby state that this argument is true and correct to the best of __________ (his/her/their) knowledge and belief.

Signed________________ Date_______________

Signed________________ Date_______________

The bonds shall bear interest at an annual rate not exceeding the statutory maximum. The maturity of the bonds shall not exceed the maximum term allowed by law at the time of issuance (currently 25 years if issued under Education Code section 15140, or 40 years if issued under Government Code section 53508, so long as the bonds are not capital appreciation bonds ("CABs", which CABS are limited to 25 years)). Accordingly, as further set forth in the tax rate statement, the ad valorem tax will be levied at such rates and for so long as may be required to meet the debt service needs of the bonds proposed to be issued, including such bonds that may be issued to refund any approved bonds.

All of the purposes enumerated in the foregoing measure shall be united and voted upon as one single measure, with precincts, places of holding the elections and officers appointed to conduct the elections to be the same as those provided for the statewide presidential general election to be held on November 8, 2016 under the Notice of Election published July 27, 2016.

This election has been called pursuant to a Resolution of the Board of trustees of the Fowler Unified School District, adopted on June 15, 2016. The Elections Official of the County of Fresno hereby gives formal notice of the election in accordance with the provisions of Education Code Section 15120.

Dated: July 27, 2016 Brandi L. Orth
County Clerk/Registrar of Voters

By
Felicia Sandoval
Elections Program Technician

Quienes deseen obtener la version espanola de este aviso legal pueden solicitar una copia de la misma Llamando al Departamento de Elecciones, (559) 600-8683.