Calexico Unified School District

Measure V Bond Measure - 55% Approval Required

Article XlllA, Section 1, subdivision (b)(3) of the California Constitution authorizes school districts to issue bonded indebtedness through the Imposition of ad valorem property taxes upon approval of fifty-five percent (55%) of voters of the district who vote on the measure.

The Calexico Unified School District (“the District”) proposes to issue bonded indebtedness for construction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including furnishing and equipping school facilities, or acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities.

If fifty-five percent (55%) of the voters of the District who vote on the measure vote in favor of the measure, the District will be authorized to incur debt by issuing general obligation bonds to provide financing for projects listed in measure V. Proceeds may only be used for the stated purpose and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries, or other school operating expenses. If the measure is not approved by at least fiftyfive percent (55%) of the voters of the District who vote on the measure, the measure will fail and the bonds will not be issued.

The maximum principal amount of the proposed bonds is not to exceed fortyfive million dollars ($45,000,000.00). The interest rate will be established at the time of sale and will depend on market rates at that time. If issued under the Government Code, the maximum duration of the bonds cannot exceed forty (40) years. If issued under the Education Code, the maximum duration of the bonds cannot exceed twenty-five (25) years. The exact effect on tax rates cannot be determined until after the bonds are sold. The bonds will bear interest at a rate not exceeding the legal limit.

An independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee will actively review expenditure of bond revenues. An Independent financial audit of the proceeds and an Independent performance audit of the specific projects will be performed annually. An annual report will be prepared, indicating the amount of funds collected and expended, and the status of any projects listed in the measure.

A “yes” vote is a vote to authorize the issuance and sale of the general obligation bonds in an amount not-to-exceed the principal amount of fortyfive million dollars ($45,000,000.00).

A “no” vote is a vote not to authorize the District to issue and sell said bonds.

The above statement is an impartial analysts of Measure V. If you desire a complete copy of the measure, please call the Election Official’s Office at (442) 265-1060 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.

KATHERINE TURNER
COUNTY COUNSEL

Layla Sarwari
Deputy County Counsel

An election will be held in Calexico Unified School District (the “District”) on November 8, 2016 to authorize the sale of Forty Five Million Dollars ($45,000,000) in general obligation bonds to finance the school facilities described in the measure. If authorized and sold, the principal and interest will be payable only from the proceeds of ad valorem tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information is submitted in compliance with Section 9400-9404 of the California Elections Code.

     1. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required 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 $0.060 per $100 ($60 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2017-18.

     2. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required 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 $0.060 per $100 ($60 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2027-28.

     3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate that would be required to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is $0.060 per $100 ($60 per $100,000) of assessed valuation.  

     4. The best estimate from official sources 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 will be approximately $99,750,000.

     These estimates are based on best estimates and projections derived from information obtained from official sources, upon experience within the District, and other demonstrable factors. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary depending on the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at each sale and actual increases in assessed valuations. The timing of the bond sales and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the needs of the District. Actual assessed valuations will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process.

Dated: 08/04/2016

Maria J. Ambriz,
Superintendent Calexico Unified School District

INTRODUCTION

“To modernize and construct additional classrooms and support facilities to reduce overcrowding, replace portable classrooms and older schools with new permanent facilities, increase student access to computers and modern classroom technology, improve student safety, and qualify for State matching grants, shall the Calexico Unified School District be authorized to issue up to $45 million in bonds at legal interest rates, with an independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee, annual audits, and no money for administrator salaries?”

BOND AUTHORIZATION

By approval of this measure by at least 55 percent of the registered voters voting on the measure, the District will be authorized to issue and sell bonds of up to $45,000,000 in aggregate principal amount at interest rates not to exceed legal limits and to provide financing for the specific types of school facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List described below, subject to all the accountability requirements specified below.

ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS

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

Evaluation of Needs. The School Board has identified detailed facilities needs of the District and has determined which projects to finance from a local bond. The School Board hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction, enrollment growth, and information technology needs in developing the Bond Project List shown below.

Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee. Following approval of this measure, the Board of Trustees will establish an Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee, under Education Code Sections 15278 and following, to ensure bond proceeds are expended only on the types of school facilities projects listed below. The committee will be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the School Board.

Performance Audits. The School Board will conduct annual, independent performance audits to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed below.

Financial Audits. The School Board will conduct annual, independent financial audits of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects listed below.

Government Code Accountability Requirements. As required by Section 53410 of the Government Code, (1) the specific purpose of the bonds is set forth in this Full Text of the Measure, (2) the proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be used only for the purposes specified in this measure, and not for any other purpose, (3) the proceeds of the bonds, when and if issued, will be deposited into a building fund to be held by the Imperial County Treasurer, as required by the California Education Code, and (4) the Superintendent of the District shall cause an annual report to be filed with the Board of Trustees of the District not later than January 1 of each year, which report shall contain pertinent information regarding the amount of funds collected and expended, as well as the status of the projects listed in this measure, as required by Sections 53410 and 53411 of the Government Code. 

NO TEACHER OR ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this measure shall be used only for the purposes specified in Article XIII A, Section 1(b)(3), those being for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, and the acquisition or lease of school facilities, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses.

STATE MATCHING FUNDS

The following statement is included in this measure pursuant to Education Code Section 15122.5: Approval of this measure does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects that are the subject of bonds under this measure will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by this measure. The District’s proposal for the project or projects described below may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which, if available, could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.

BOND PROJECT LIST

Scope of Projects. Bond proceeds will be expended on the modernization, renovation, expansion, acquisition, construction/reconstruction, rehabilitation, and/or replacement of school facilities of the Calexico Unified School District, including the furnishing and equipping of such school facilities, at all existing and future school, support and administrative sites of the Calexico Unified School District. School Facility Project list. The items presented on the following list provide are the types of projects to be financed with voter-approved bond proceeds. Specific examples included on this list are not intended to limit the generality of the broader types of projects described and authorized by this measure.

The types of projects authorized to be financed District-wide are:

• Acquire, construct, and modernize classrooms and related facilities to accommodate student enrollment and implementation of the District’s educational program
• Replace portable classrooms with permanent classroom facilities
• Modernize existing teaching facilities and classrooms to accommodate modern classroom instruction
• Replace classrooms, reconfigure classrooms and facilities, and provide furnishings, fixtures, and equipment to meet current teaching standards and requirements
• Upgrade fields, play courts, and athletic and performance spaces for school and community use
• Update science labs, aging bathrooms, assembly spaces, emergency communication systems, and technology infrastructure
• Retrofit classrooms with energy efficient air conditioning, heating, and safety systems to reduce overall costs and improve the classroom learning environment for students and teachers
• Improve circulation and parking and reconfigure drop-off and pick-up areas at schools to enhance student safety and reduce neighborhood traffic delays
• Construct, create, and expand vocational classrooms and career technical facilities
• Upgrade and integrate information technology infrastructure for new and modernized facilities and expand the use of digital technologies in the classroom
• Address unforeseen conditions revealed by construction/modernization (e.g., plumbing or gas line breaks, dry rot, seismic, structural, etc.)
• Perform necessary site preparation/restoration in connection with new construction, renovation or remodeling

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).

Each of the bond projects described in this Bond Project List include the costs of furnishing and equipping such facilities, and all costs incidental but directly related to the specific projects described above. Examples of such costs include, but are not limited to: costs of design, engineering, architect and other professional services, inspections, site preparation, utilities, landscaping, construction management and other planning and permitting, legal, accounting and similar costs; independent annual financial and performance audits; a customary construction contingency; demolition and disposal of existing structures; rental or construction of storage facilities and other space on an interim basis for materials and other equipment and furnishings displaced during construction; costs of relocating facilities and equipment as needed in connection with the projects; interim classrooms and facilities for students, administrators, and school functions, including modular facilities; federal and state-mandated safety upgrades; addressing unforeseen conditions revealed by construction/modernization and other necessary improvements required to comply with existing building codes, including the Field Act; access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act; costs of the election; bond issuance costs; and project administration during the duration of such projects, as permitted by law.

The scope and nature of any of the specific projects described above may be altered by the District as required by unforeseen conditions that may arise during the course of design and construction. Projects authorized by this measure providing for upgrades, replacement, modernization and/or improvements include new construction, acquisition, expansion, replacement, reconfiguration and/or rehabilitation, as deemed in the best interests of the District by the District Board. In the event that a modernization or renovation project will result in higher costs than relocation and construction, this bond measure authorizes land acquisition, relocation and reconstruction, and all costs relating thereto, for said reasons or based on other considerations deemed in the best interest of the District by the Governing Board. In addition, this measure authorizes the acquisition of interests in real property including necessary rights of way and easements, and joint use projects with other public entities or nonprofits. In addition, authorized projects include paying and/or prepaying interim financing which may be or have been obtained for said projects such as bond anticipation notes, and includes prepayment of financing lease payments to vest title in the District.

Approval of the District’s bond measure does not guarantee that all of the identified projects within this Bond Project List will be funded beyond what can be completed with local funds generated by the bond measure. The District plans to pursue funds from the State of California, if available, to complete certain of the identified facilities projects. In addition, the issuance of bonds pursuant to this measure depends in part on the assessed valuation of properties in the District and as a result issuance may require approval from the State Department of Education for a waiver of the District’s bonding capacity.

The order in which school facilities projects are listed in the Project List does not suggest an order of priority. Project priorities will be determined by the Governing Board. The District is unable to anticipate all unforeseen circumstances which may prevent some of the projects listed above from being undertaken or completed.