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Tuesday March 3, 2020 — Primary Election
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Special District

Rescue Union School District
Measure G - 55% Approval Required

To learn more about measures, follow the links for each tab in this section. For most screenreaders, you can hit Return or Enter to enter a tab and read the content within.

Election Results

Failed

5,702 votes yes (39.77%)

8,636 votes no (60.23%)

100% of precincts reporting (36/36).

14,903 ballots counted.

To improve Rescue Union Schools; repair or replace leaky roofs; construct and modernize facilities; update inadequate electrical systems; and make health and safety improvements; shall Rescue Union School District's measure be adopted authorizing $75,000,000 of bonds at legal interest rates, generating approximately $3.9 million annually for issued bonds through maturity at a rate of approximately three cents per $100 assessed value, with annual audits, citizens' oversight, no money for salaries and all money for local schools?

What is this proposal?

Details — Official information

YES vote means

A “YES” vote on Measure G means you wish to allow the District to incur bonded indebtedness.

NO vote means

A “NO” vote on Measure G means you do not wish to allow the District to incur bonded indebtedness.

Impartial analysis / Proposal

David A. Livingston, El Dorado County, County Counsel

Measure G (the “Measure”), if approved by at least 55% of the registered voters voting thereon, would authorize the Rescue Union School District (the “District”) to incur bonded indebtedness up to a maximum amount of $75,000,000. The Measure was placed on the ballot by the Board of Trustees (“Board”) of the District pursuant to Resolution No. 19-29.

Proceeds from the sale of the bonds authorized by the Measure would 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. No funds derived from bond sales may be used for general school operating expenses, including administrator and teacher salaries, or for any purpose or project other than those expressly stated in the measure. The full text of the Measure lists the school facility improvement projects within the District intended to be financed by bond sales.

The Measure provides that the Board shall conduct annual independent performance and financial audits and shall appoint an independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee to ensure that bond proceeds are spent only as specified in the Measure and as provided by law. Bond proceeds shall be deposited in a special fund and an annual report shall be made to the Board of the amount of funds collected and expended and the status of projects.

If the Measure is passed, the actual dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold would be governed by the District based on the need for project funds and other factors. According to the District, the best estimate of the total debt service to be repaid if all the bonds are issued and sold is approximately $144,000,000. Principal and interest on the bonds will be paid only by revenue derived from ad valorem taxes levied upon the taxable property within the District. If the Measure is approved, the tax rates necessary for payment of principal and interest on any bonds sold will be largely dictated by the timing of the bond sales, the amount sold at a given sale, market interest rates at the time of each sale (although in no event greater than the maximum bond interest rate allowed by law), as well as actual assessed valuation of taxable property in the District over the term of repayment.

Tax rate

Cheryl Olson, Superintendent, Rescue Union School District

An election will be held in the Rescue Union School District (the “District”) on March 3, 2020, to authorize the sale of up to $75 million in bonds of the District to finance school facilities as described in the measure. If such bonds are authorized and sold, principal and interest on the bonds will be payable only from the proceeds of ad valorem tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information is provided in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the Elections Code of the State of California. Such information is based upon the best estimates and projections presently available from official sources, upon experience within the District, and other demonstrable factors.

Based upon the foregoing and projections of the District’s assessed valuation, the following information is provided:

1. The best estimate of the average annual tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue over the entire duration of the bond debt service, based on a projection of assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.03 per $100 of assessed valuation (or $30.00 per $100,000 of assessed value). The final fiscal year in which the tax is anticipated to be collected is 2056-57.

2. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on a projection of assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.03 per $100 of assessed valuation (or $30.00 per $100,000 of assessed value). It is estimated that such rate would be levied starting in fiscal year 2020-21 and following.

3. The best estimate of the total debt service, including the principal and interest, that would be required to be repaid if all the bonds are issued and sold is approximately $144 million.

Voters should note the estimated tax rate is based on the assessed value (not market value) of taxable property on El Dorado County’s official tax rolls. 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. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills and tax advisors to determine their property’s assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

The attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon projections and estimates only, which amounts are not maximum amounts and are not binding upon the District. The actual debt service, tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those used to provide the estimates set forth above, due to factors such as variations in the timing of bond sales, the par amount of bonds sold and market interest rates available at the time of each sale, actual assessed valuations over the term of the bonds, and other factors. The date and amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on the need for project funds and other considerations. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on conditions in the bond market at the time of sale. Actual future assessed valuations will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined by the El Dorado County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process. 

Published Arguments — Arguments for and against

Arguments FOR

Our schools are the most important assets in our community and should be our number one priority. From higher achieving students, to training for future jobs, to greater neighborhood safety, quality schools make a difference. Our teachers and staff do their best to educate our children, but many classrooms and school facilities in the Rescue Union Elementary School District are outdated and inadequate to provide students with the school facilities they need to succeed. This is why our children need your YES vote on Measure G!

Although neighborhood schools have been well maintained over the years, our schools are old. The average age of schools in the District is over 34 years with Rescue Elementary, our oldest, first built nearly 60 years ago. These aging schools need major classroom and infrastructure improvements to maintain the quality of education provided to local children. By improving local schools, we can meet today’s safety, technology, and educational standards as well as better our community.

If passed, Measure G will provide funding to make facility improvements at local elementary schools including:

  • Repairing or replacing leaky roofs,
  • Constructing and modernizing 21st century classrooms, restrooms and facilities,
  • Renovating deteriorating plumbing systems and upgrading inadequate electrical systems,
  • Improving student access to computers and modern technology, and
  • Making health, safety, and security improvements

Measure G makes financial sense and protects taxpayers.

  • All funds must be spent locally and cannot be taken by the State.
  • By law, an independent citizens' oversight committee must annually audit and review spending.
  • Funds can only be spent to improve our local schools, not for teacher or administrative salaries.

Measure G repairs and replaces old, inadequate classrooms, improves the education of local children and maintains the quality of our community. That's something we can all support. Please join us and VOTE YES ON MEASURE G!

Kim White, Rescue USD Board President/Parent

Wally Richardson, Veteran/Retiree

John Hidahl, District 1 Supervisor for County of El Dorado

Eric Aiston, Director Cameron Park CSD/Teacher/Parent

Adam Stockeland, El Dorado County Deputy Sheriff/Parent

— El Dorado County Voter Information Guide

Arguments AGAINST

NO ARGUMENTS AGAINST THIS MEASURE WERE SUBMITTED

— El Dorado County Voter Information Guide
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