West Contra Costa Unified School District
Facts on Measure K

June 5, 2012 Primary Election

ABBREVIATED TEXT OF MEASURE

As will appear on the ballot
To provide local funding the State cannot take away, preserve quality education including: reading, writing, math, science; maintaining reduced class sizes for the youngest children; retaining quality teachers; supporting libraries, improving campus safety; preparing students for college/workforce; shall West Contra Costa Unified School District renew its existing parcel tax for five years, increasing it by three cents/square foot of building area or three dollars/vacant parcel, with no funds for administrator salaries, exempting seniors and requiring citizen oversight?

Purposes of the Measure – From the adopted resolution

The purpose of the special tax shall be to improve the quality of education in the District by supporting the following programs:
 maintaining core academic programs like math, science, reading and writing,
 preparing students for college and the workforce,
 supporting science laboratories, materials and activities,
 attracting and retaining quality teachers and counselors,
 supporting libraries, arts & music
 maintaining reduced class sizes for the youngest children,
 improving technology and computer training for all students,
 reducing class sizes for middle school and high school students,
 improving safety in and around our campuses,
 supporting after-school programs to keep kids away from gangs and drugs,
 maintaining high school athletic programs,
 maintaining summer school programs to allow students to catch up,
 purchasing textbooks and other student materials and supplies,
 maintaining safe and clean schools.

Two Kinds of Funding
Funding for schools in WCCUSD in two major categories – bond funding for construction and operating money for teachers, books, supplies and all other operating expenditures. Bond funds have helped to rebuild deteriorating schools many of which were close enough to the Hayward fault to be dangerous to children. More than 90% of the bond or building funds are locally generated. By contrast, 92% of the District’s operating funds come from State or Federal sources. The parcel tax would increase the local operating funds by $4 million.

Impact of State Budget Cuts
With the reduction in State funding, the District has cut $40,000,000 from the operating budget – eliminating programs & services, cutting employee compensation, raising class sizes, forcing school closures, eliminating district administrative services, and reducing supplies & materials in schools. Measure K would restore some of the programs and services that have been lost over the last three years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the district asking voters to approve a parcel tax now?
Lack of state funding has resulted in program, staffing and employee (wage/benefits) cuts that total more than $40 million over the last five years. Class sizes have increased; programs have been reduced and/or eliminated; employees have had to accept furlough and benefits caps; schools have been closed. For the last three years, federal stimulus funds have provided funds that protected some programs, but those funds are no longer available.

What is Measure K?
The West Contra Costa Unified School District has placed a renewal of the 2008 parcel tax on the June 5, 2012 ballot with a 3¢ per square foot additional levy. The ballot for the measure read: To provide local funding the State cannot take away, preserve quality education including: reading, writing, math, science; maintaining reduced class sizes for the youngest children; retaining quality teachers; supporting libraries, improving campus safety; preparing students for college/workforce; shall West Contra Costa Unified School District renew its existing parcel tax for five years, increasing it by three cents/square foot of building area or three dollars/vacant parcel, with no funds for administrator salaries, exempting seniors and requiring citizen oversight?

Where do funds raised from Measure K go?
100% of Measure K funds go directly to providing manageable class sizes and to improve core academics like math, science, reading and writing. If Measure K passes, it will restore arts and music programs, attract and retaining quality teachers, improve campus safety and cleanliness, and prepare students for college and the workforce.

Who benefits from Measure K?
The beneficiaries from Measure K are the students attending our local schools, and all of the students who will enter school during the five years Measure K is in effect. By raising funds locally through Measure K needed classroom programs are protected despite changes in state funding.

How is this parcel tax different from the facilities bond measures that the voters previously passed?
Bonds are for buildings and Parcel Taxes are for programs. Bonds are primarily for capital improvements and facility upgrades. Measure K, a parcel tax measure, is for the classroom programs inside the building.

How much will the additional 3-cent per square foot parcel tax cost the average homeowner?
The average across the district is about $41 per year for each homeowner, or 12¢ per day. Families who live in smaller homes will pay less and those who live in larger homes will pay a little more.

Why does Measure K last 5 years?
No one knows exactly how long the state budget crisis will last but one of the best estimates came from the non-partisan Legislative Analyst Office. They predict no fiscal improvement on the state level for at least four years. Measure K is designed to provide the district with funds throughout this period.

The economy is tough on everyone right now, why should people dig deeper for education?
Funds for Measure K will only go to local schools. None can be taken away by the state and none will go to administrative salaries. Our schools are critically important to our students and to our community and we need to support our schools as a community.

What happens if Measure K does not pass?
The district will be forced to make severe cuts in its academic classroom programs. These cuts will increase classroom size and ultimately result in losing all our counselors, librarians, library aids, several custodians, and our high schools’ athletic programs.

How will voters know that Measure K funds will be spent properly?
Measure K provides for accountability. It requires that an independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee monitor the use of all Measure K funds.

Is there a senior exemption?
Yes. Measure K offers an exemption to those 65 and older who own a home in the district.

What has the district done to reduce central costs?
Beginning in 2007, the district began cutting central staff and services. Using the MGT audit as a guide, the district reduced the central office by more than $10,000,000. Of the $40 million in reductions made across the district over the last five years, $2.6 million have come out of central administrative services.

What’s happened with the State Loan and the debt from the early 1990’s.
By the end of May 2012, the District will make the final payment on the state loan from the early 1990’s be released from state oversight and supervision. Earlier in this school year, the District made the final payments on both the IBM loan and the Voluntary Integration Program (VIP), both debts coming from the same period in the district more than 20 years ago.

Where can I get more information? Or … How can I help?
www.protectwestcountyschools.com