Commentary on Measure E

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

This campaign was designed by Isom Advisors (Greg). 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 E Question

Sonoma County 49-509 9335
VOTER'S PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND ARGUMENTS
(whichever is applicable to your ballot)
Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors.
SONOMA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
MEASURE E
E

To upgrade classrooms, science labs and school facilities to meet safety and academic standards; repair/replace leaky roofsCriticalIs it a coincidence that every district in the state has "leaky roofs"? You might even ask if leaky roofs actually exist? If they do, why haven't they been repaired yet. Are they reported on the School Accountability Report Card? If not, then you're being lied to. According to the school bond cartel's professional marketing study, claiming "leaky roofs" translates directly into yes votes from voters who are made to feel guilty about it., deteriorating plumbing and outdated/ inefficient heating and cooling systems; ensure schools are accessible for students with disabilities; and expand student access to computers and modern technology, shall Sonoma Valley Unified School District issue $120,000,000 of bonds, at legal rates, with annual audits, an independent citizens' oversight committeeCriticalIndependent? Really? The staff selects the committee. The Board rubber-stamps it. The Board can remove anyone who questions anything that the money is used for. You can be certain that there won't be anyone on the committee who isn't a cheerleader for spending your money on architectural marvels, like the Taj Mahal., no money for administrative salaries, and all funds locally-controlled to benefit local students?

Impartial Analysis for Measure E

COUNTY COUNSEL'S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE E

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 Sonoma Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees has placed on the ballot the question of whether to issue bonds in the amount of $120,000,000 for such purposes.

Money raised by bond sales can only be used for the purposes and projects stated in the Bond Project List set forth in Measure E, which follows this analysis. Projects include, but are not limited to: upgrading classrooms, science lab, and school facilities to meet safety and academic standards; repairing and replacing older mechanical systems to increase energy efficiency; constructing outdoor learning and athletic facilities; and upgrading schools to meet handicap accessibility requirements. As required by state law, Measure E prohibits using bond proceeds for teacher or administrator salaries or other operating expenses.

The inclusion of a project on the Bond Project List does not guarantee that the project will be funded or completed. Measure E states that the District's capital needs may exceed the amount of the proposed bonds, and additional funding sources may be necessary to complete all listed projects. The Board of Trustees will establish the priority and order in which projects will be completed.

If Measure E is adopted, the Board of Trustees 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. An Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee will also be established. The proceeds of the bonds will be maintained in a separate account in the County Treasury, and District's Superintendent must provide an annual report to the Board on the status of projects undertaken and the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in each year. These requirements are set out as "Accountability Safeguards" in Measure E.

If approved, Sonoma Valley Unified School District has the discretion to decide when to sell all or any portion of the bonds. The bonds may be issued and sold in series, at different times, as projects are undertaken. The bonds of any series must mature within 40 years of the date they are issued. 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 Superintendent estimates the property tax levies required to pay off the bonds. These 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.

A "yes" vote on Measure E will authorize the District to issue the bonds and levy taxes to pay for such bonded indebtedness. A "no" vote on Measure E will disapprove the issuance of bonds and the associated levy of the taxes.

BRUCE D. GOLDSTEIN
County Counsel

By: s/ Robert Pittman
Chief Deputy County Counsel

Argument in Favor of Measure E

VOTER'S PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND ARGUMENTS
(whichever is applicable to your ballot)
Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors.
Sonoma County 49-510 9340

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE E

Vote Yes on E to repair and upgrade local classrooms, science labs and school facilities to help our students succeed!

Serving 4,600 students, our Sonoma Valley schools have a proud tradition of providing quality education that prepares our students in the City of Sonoma and surrounding communities of El Verano, Boyes Hot Springs, Agua Caliente and Glen Ellen for success in college, careers and life.

However, many local schools are 50 - 94 years old with classrooms, labs and other educational facilities that require upgrades to ensure student safety and to support high-quality academic instruction.

Voting Yes on E completes the basic repairs our schools need to keep students warm, safe and dry so they can fully focus on academics.

Yes on E will repair leaky roofs and deteriorating plumbing and sewer systems at our aging schools.

Yes on E will replace outdated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve energy efficiency and save money in local schools.

Yes on E improves safety and access for students with disabilities.

Yes on E updates and expands student access to instructional technology to ensure our students are equipped with the skills needed in college and 21st-century careers.

Measure E requires strict fiscal accountability.

By law, all Measure E funds must stay local to improve Sonoma Valley schools and cannot be taken by the State or be used for administrators' salaries.

Measure E requires an independent citizens' oversight committee and annual audits to ensure funds are spent as promised.

Whether or not you have school-age children, protecting the quality of local schools, the quality of life in our community and the value of our homes is a wise investment. No other source of funding is sufficient to upgrade our schools, and we cannot rely on the State.

Vote Yes on E to support Sonoma Valley schools and students.

Argument Against Measure E

NO ARGUMENT WAS SUBMITTED AGAINST MEASURE E

Full Text of Measure E

FULL TEXT OF MEASURE E

EXHIBIT A

FULL TEXT OF BOND PROPOSITION
SONOMA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
SCHOOL, CLASSROOM AND INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY
REPAIR AND UPGRADE MEASURE

This Proposition may be known and referred to as the "Sonoma Valley Unified School District School, Classroom and Instructional Technology Repair and Upgrade Measure" or as "Measure___ ".

BOND AUTHORIZATION

By approval of this proposition by at least 55% of the registered voters voting on the proposition, the Sonoma Valley Unified School District (the "District") shall be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $120,000,000 in aggregate principal amount to provide financing for the specific school facilities projects listed under the heading entitled "BOND PROJECT LIST" below (the "Bond Project List"), subject to all of the accountability safeguards specified below.

ACCOUNTABILITY SAFEGUARDS

The provisions in this section are specifically included in this proposition in order that the voters and taxpayers of the District may be assured that their money will be spent to address specific facilities needs of the District, all in compliance with the requirements of Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3) of the California Constitution, and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at Sections 15264 and following of the California Education Code (the "Education Code")).

Evaluation of Needs. The Board of Trustees of the District (the "Board") has prepared an updated facilities master plan in order to evaluate and address all of the facilities needs of the District at each campus and facility, and to determine which projects to finance from a local bond at this time. The Board hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List.

Limitations on Use of Bonds. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition shall be used only for the 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, including, to the extent permitted by law, the acquisition or lease of real property in connection with an existing or future financing of the specific school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List, including the prepayment of existing or future interim lease, certificate of participation or lease revenue bond financings, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Board shall establish an independent citizens' oversight committee (pursuant to Education Code Section 15278 and following), to ensure bond proceeds are expended only for the school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List. The committee shall be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board. In accordance with Section 15282 of the Education Code, the citizens' oversight committee shall consist of at least seven members and shall include a member active in a business organization representing the business community located within the District, a member active in a senior citizens' organization, a member active in a bona fide taxpayers' organization, a member that is a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the District, and a member that is both a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the District and active in a parent-teacher organization. No employee or official of the District and no vendor, contractor or consultant of the District shall be appointed to the citizens' oversight committee.

VOTER'S PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND ARGUMENTS
(whichever is applicable to your ballot)
Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors.
Sonoma County 49-511 9340
CONT. NEXT PAGE
FULL TEXT OF MEASURE E, CONT.

Annual Performance Audits. The Board shall conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List. These audits shall be conducted in accordance with the Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States for performance audits. The results of these audits shall be made publicly available and shall be submitted to the citizens' oversight committee in accordance with Section 15286 of the Education Code.

Annual Financial Audits. The Board shall conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List. These audits shall be conducted in accordance with the Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States for financial audits. The results of these audits shall be made publicly available and shall be submitted to the citizens' oversight committee in accordance with Section 15286 of the Education Code.

Special Bond Proceeds Account; Annual Report to Board. Upon approval of this proposition and the sale of any bonds approved, the Board shall take actions necessary to establish an account in which proceeds of the sale of bonds will be deposited. As long as any proceeds of the bonds remain unexpended, the Superintendent of the District shall cause a report to be filed with the Board no later than January 1 of each year, commencing January 1, 2018, stating (a) the amount of bond proceeds received and expended in that year, and (b) the status of any project funded or to be funded from bond proceeds. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period as the Superintendent of the District shall determine, and may be incorporated into the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Board.

FURTHER SPECIFICATIONS

Joint-Use Projects. The District may enter into agreements with other public agencies or nonprofit organizations for joint use of school facilities financed with the proceeds of the bonds in accordance with Education Code Section 17077.42 (or any successor provision). The District may seek State grant funds for eligible joint-use projects as permitted by law, and this proposition hereby specifies and acknowledges that bond funds will or may be used to fund all or a portion of the local share for any eligible joint-use projects identified in the Bond Project List or as otherwise permitted by California State regulations, as the Board shall determine.

Single Purpose. All of the purposes enumerated in this proposition shall be united and voted upon as one single proposition, pursuant to Education Code Section 15100, and all the enumerated purposes shall constitute the specific single purpose of the bonds, and proceeds of the bonds shall be spent only for such purpose, pursuant to California Government Code Section 53410.

Other Terms of the Bonds. When sold, the bonds shall bear interest at an annual rate not exceeding the statutory maximum, and that interest shall be made payable at the time or times permitted by law. The bonds may be issued and sold in several series, and no bond shall be made to mature more than the statutory maximum number of years from the date borne by that bond.

BOND PROJECT LIST

The Bond Project List below lists the specific projects the District proposes to finance with proceeds of the bonds. The Bond Project List shall be considered a part of the bond proposition and shall be reproduced in any official document required to contain the full statement of the bond proposition. Listed projects will be completed as needed at a particular school or facility site according to Board-established priorities, and the order in which such projects appear on the Bond Project List is not an indication of priority for funding or completion. Any authorized repairs shall be capital expenditures. The Bond Project List does not authorize non-capital expenditures. Each project is assumed to include its share of costs of the election and bond issuance, construction-related costs, such as project and construction management, architectural, engineering, inspection and similar planning and testing costs, demolition and interim housing costs, legal, accounting and similar fees, costs related to the independent annual financial and performance audits, a contingency for unforeseen design and construction costs, and other costs incidental to and necessary for completion of the listed projects (whether the related work is performed by the District or third parties). The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized, construction bids are awarded, and projects are completed. In addition, certain construction funds expected from non-bond sources, including State of California grant funds for eligible projects, have not yet been secured. Therefore, the Board cannot guarantee that the bonds will provide sufficient funds to allow completion of all listed projects. Alternatively, if the District obtains unexpected funds from non-bond sources with respect to listed projects, such projects may be enhanced, supplemented or expanded to the extent of such funds. Some projects may be subject to further government approvals, including by State officials and boards and/or local environmental or agency approval. Inclusion of a project on the Bond Project List is not a guarantee that the project will be completed (regardless of whether bond funds are available).

The specific projects authorized to be financed with proceeds of the bonds under this proposition are as follows:

SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM RENOVATION AND REPAIR PROJECTS

The following projects are authorized to be financed at all school sites and school support facilities.

School Renovation, Repair and Upgrade Projects

• • Modernize, upgrade, renovate, replace, rehabilitate, re-configure, expand, acquire and install, and/or upgrade classrooms, classroom buildings, labs, restrooms, common areas and grounds and school support facilities (including library, multipurpose room/auditorium, food storage, preparation and service, cafeteria and office/staff support facilities, whether permanent, portable or modular, including interior and exterior (as applicable) doors, windows, door and window hardware, roofs, rain gutters and downspouts, walls, ceilings and floors and finishes, paint, siding, insulation, casework, cabinets, secured storage, carpets, drapes, window coverings, infrastructure, lighting, sinks, drinking fountains, fixtures, signage, fencing, landscaping, furniture and equipment.
• • Renovate, replace, upgrade, acquire, install and/or integrate major site/building/ utility systems, equipment and related infrastructure and housing, including lighting, electrical (including wiring and related infrastructure for modern technology), heating, refrigeration, cooling and ventilation, water, sewer, gas, irrigation, drainage, and energy efficiency/management monitoring systems, networks, fixtures, equipment and controls.
• • Acquire, install, upgrade and/or construct renewable energy and/or energysaving systems, improvements and equipment, including electricity generation and distribution systems and/or water heating systems, natural light improvements, upgraded insulation and roofing, efficient lighting, windows and window coverings, shade structures, energy management and conservation systems, and other passive technologies, and structures to support such systems, improvements and equipment and related infrastructure.
• • Renovate, repair, re-configure and/or modernize portable classroom buildings or replace such buildings with permanent or modular classroom buildings.
• • Modernize, renovate, rehabilitate, re-configure, expand, upgrade and/or equip locker rooms, gymnasiums, pools, physical education/athletic fields and related facilities for school and community use.
• • Furnish and equip classrooms and other school facilities, including, but not limited to, desks, chairs and classroom furniture, science and lab equipment, school-site maintenance equipment, copy machines, "cubicle" partitions, chairs, storage units and school office equipment, including initial purchases and continued replacement of equipment and furniture as needed.

VOTER'S PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND ARGUMENTS
(whichever is applicable to your ballot)
Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors.
Sonoma County 49-512 9340
CONT. NEXT PAGE
FULL TEXT OF MEASURE E, CONT.

All or portions of these projects may be used as joint-use projects within the meaning of Section 17077.42(c) of the Education Code (or any successor provision).

School Site Health, Safety and Security Projects

• • The inspection, sampling and analysis of grounds, buildings and building materials to determine the presence of hazardous materials or substances, including asbestos, lead, etc., and the encapsulation, removal, disposal and other remediation or control of such hazardous materials and substances.
• • The inspection and analysis of grounds, buildings, fixtures and structures, including parking lots, walkways, paths, restrooms, drinking fountains, physical education/athletic fields and facilities, playground areas and equipment, to assess health and safety risks to students, faculty, staff, parents and the public and compliance with local, state and federal building, health, safety, access and other related requirements, including seismic safety requirements, Field Act requirements access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, and the improvement, correction, repair or renovation of such grounds, buildings, fixtures and structures or portions thereof identified as such health and safety risks or acquire, install and/or construct other improvements to comply with such laws and requirements.
• • Reconfigure, renovate, repair, resurface, improve and/or expand roads, sidewalks, parking lots and related areas, and pick-up/drop-off and bus areas to improve ingress/egress and safety and increase capacity to meet site usage.
• • Renovate, repair, resurface, upgrade, expand, construct and/or install and improve paved and other hard surfaces (including playgrounds), benches, walls, gates, fencing, play and outside instructional areas, playfields, including turf, physical education/athletic fields and related facilities, and landscaping, and acquire, improve, replace and/or upgrade playground equipment and fixtures.
• • Upgrade and/or acquire and install exterior lighting, fire detection and suppression, security, emergency, clock, bell, data, voice and audio-visual communication (including telephone and public address) systems, networks, fixtures, equipment and controls.
• • Upgrade or replace buildings that do not meet current minimum building code standards.
• • Repair, replace and/or upgrade doors and door hardware, including locks.
• • Remove all dry rot and repair damaged caused by dry rot.
• • Replace/upgrade existing signage.
• • Renovate, repair, replace, upgrade, expand and/or install and improve fencing.

All or portions of these projects may be used as joint-use projects within the meaning of Section 17077.42(c) of the Education Code (or any successor provision).

District-Wide Wiring and Technology for Instructional Support and Effective Learning Environment Projects

• • Acquire and install technology equipment, fixtures and infrastructure, including computers, tablets, mobile devices, software, interactive educational technology, digital projectors and cameras, monitors, audio systems, video systems, network equipment (including servers, network interface devices, network switches and routers, wireless network equipment, firewalls, network security equipment, racking, power and cooling equipment, wiring and uninterruptible power supplies), etc.
• • Upgrade, expand, replace, acquire and/or install campus wide-intercom system, wireless systems, and telecommunications, internet, and network connections.
• • Upgrade, replace, acquire and/or install media, audio-visual equipment, and other technology equipment and fixtures, including smart boards.

Construction Projects at School Sites

• • Construct additional classrooms/classroom buildings, performing arts facilities, restrooms, food storage, preparation and service facilities and related school facilities.
• • Construct/install outdoor learning and athletic facilities and areas, including shade/rain structures, sitting areas, amphitheaters, pools, physical education/ athletic fields and related facilities for school and community use.

All or portions of these projects may be used as joint-use projects within the meaning of Section 17077.42(c) of the Education Code (or any successor provision).

Miscellaneous

• • Planning, designing and providing temporary housing necessary for listed bond projects.
• • Necessary onsite and offsite preparation or restoration in connection with new construction, renovation or remodeling, or installation or removal of relocatable buildings, including demolition of structures; removing, replacing, or installing irrigation, drainage, utility lines (gas, water, sewer, electrical, data and voice, etc.), trees and landscaping; relocating fire access roads; and acquiring any necessary easements, licenses, land or rights of way made necessary by listed bond projects.
• • Address other unforeseen conditions revealed by construction, renovation or modernization (including plumbing or gas line breaks, dry rot, seismic and structural deficiencies, etc.).
• • Acquire or construct storage facilities and other space on an interim basis, as needed to accommodate construction materials, equipment, and personnel, and interim classrooms (including relocatables) for students and school functions or other storage for classroom materials displaced during construction.
• • For any project involving renovation, rehabilitation or repair of a building or the major portion of a building, the District shall be authorized to proceed with new replacement construction/re-construction instead (including any necessary demolition), if the Board of Education of the District determines that replacement and new construction/re-construction is more practical than renovation, rehabilitation and repair, considering the building's age, condition, expected remaining life, comparative cost and other relevant factors.
• • Furnishing and equipping of classrooms and other school facilities; furnishing and equipping shall include initial purchases and scheduled and necessary replacements, upgrades and updating of technology.
• • All other costs and work necessary and incidental to the listed bond projects.
• • Acquisition of all or a portion of any school site or facility, or an interest therein, or make lease payments with respect to any school site or facility, encumbered in order to finance or refinance listed bond projects or other prior capital improvement projects pursuant to a lease, certificate of participation or lease revenue bond financingCriticalLeases are OPERATING expenses explicitly prohibited by the Constitution Article XIII-A Section 1(b)(3)(A) (Proposition 39). "not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.".

Measure E Tax Rate Statement

TAX RATE STATEMENT — MEASURE E

An election will be held in the Sonoma Valley Unified School District (the "District") on November 8, 2016, to authorize the sale of up to $120,000,000 in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the proposition. If the bonds are approved, the District expects to issue the Bonds in multiple series over time. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information is provided in compliance with Sections 9400 through 9404 of the California Elections Code.

1. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 4.25 cents per $100 ($42.50 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2017-18.

2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 4.25 cents per $100 ($42.50 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2023-24.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 4.25 cents per $100 ($42.50 per $100,000) of assessed valuation and is expected to remain approximately the same in each year during the term of repayment of the bonds.

4. The best estimate of the total debt service, including the principal and interest, that would be required to be repaid if all of the bonds are issued and sold is approximately $242,000,000.

Voters should note that estimated tax rates are based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls, not on the property's market value, which could be more or less than the assessed value. In addition, taxpayers eligible for a property tax exemption, such as the homeowner's exemption, will be taxed at a lower effective tax rate than described above. Certain taxpayers may also be eligible to postpone payment of taxes. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills and tax advisors to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District's projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply, and the actual total debt service, may vary from those presently estimated, due to variations from these estimates in the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold and market interest rates at the time of each sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on need for construction funds and other factors, including the legal limitations on bonds approved by a 55% affirmative vote. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale. Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: August 9, 2016.
s/ Louann Carlomagno
Superintendent of Schools
Sonoma Valley Unified School District