Planning for the 2014 G.O. Bond Election

Session #: CBO32 Date: Saturday, April 6 Time: 10:30 - 11:30 AM.

These materials have been prepared for the CASBO CBO Professional Council. They have not been reviewed by

2013 CASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SCHOOL BUSINESS EXPO

Introduction

• Ruth Alahydoian Vice President KNN Public Finance [email protected]

• Beverly Heironimus Assistant Superintendent, Business Services Dublin Unified School District [email protected]

2013 CASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SCHOOL BUSINESS EXPO

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Why now?

• 2014 is an election year (yes, already!) • Planning for a G.O. Bond is primarily the CBO’s responsibility.

– Will also involve the Superintendent and the Facilities Department.

• A successful bond measure requires laying the groundwork and building support.

• The time to start planning is NOW!

2013 CASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SCHOOL BUSINESS EXPO

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Big Picture – What’s involved?

• Pull the Team Together • Determine facilities needs • Get community input, sensitivities • Determine bond projects, bond amount and tax rates • Involve the community in the campaign 2013 CASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SCHOOL BUSINESS EXPO

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The Schedule

Election Dates Form Bond Team -

Facilities, Survey, Political, Financial, Legal Experts

Identify needs

/engage school sites in developing project list

Form a committee

of community and school leaders to develop budget and direction for campaign -- committee hires a campaign consultant (recommended)

Hire a survey consultant

to conduct a survey on voter sentiments, if desired

Begin information campaign

about conditions of schools

Solicit parent, teacher, administrator and public comments Develop proposal for ballot measure -

pull together project list and authorization amount

Draft ballot measure and resolution Public discussion

of specific projects on project list

June 3, 2014 Spring 2013 Spring 2013 Spring 2013 Summer 2013 Fall 2013 Fall 2013 Fall 2013 January 2014 Jan-Feb. 2014 District approves Resolution

- MUST be approved 88 days before election day

Election campaign March 7, 2014 March - June 2014 ELECTION DAY June 3, 2014 November 4, 2014 Summer 2013 February - April 2014 February - April 2014 March 2014 April 2014 March - May 2014 June 2014 June 2014 June 2014 August 8, 2014 August - Nov 2014 November 4, 2014

Note: Actual deadline will vary by county.

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• • •

What type of bond measure?

Proposition 39 Election: – Requires 55% voter approval.

– Maximum anticipate tax rate is constrained.

– Must be held on a statewide primary, general or special election, or on a regularly scheduled local election date.

• June 3, 2014 • November 4, 2014 2/3 Election: – Requires 66.67% voter approval.

– No maximum tax rate restrictions.

– Can be held on any Tuesday that is not within 45 days of a statewide election date. Depending on whether other agencies have measures on the ballot, the District may have to shoulder the cost of an election on its own. 2013 CASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SCHOOL BUSINESS EXPO

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Pull the Team Together

• Facilities planners – needs assessment, etc.

• Facilities program manager • Survey consultant / pollster • Campaign /political consultant • Financial advisor and/or underwriter • Bond counsel 2013 CASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SCHOOL BUSINESS EXPO

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Determine Facilities Needs

• Enrollment projections; new housing developments • Site by site analysis for modernization • Technology needs • Charter school needs • Program-specific needs 2013 CASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SCHOOL BUSINESS EXPO

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Get Community Input

• Community survey – Project specific feedback – Sensitivity to bond amounts and tax rates • Meet with school communities – Staff – Parents • Board discussions & workshops 2013 CASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SCHOOL BUSINESS EXPO

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Determine bond projects, bond amount and tax rates

• Project list included in ballot is critical – Limits how/what/where bond funds can be spent – Creates expectations in the community • Bond amount is the most that can be issued – May be constrained by statutory debt limit – Will be issued in series over time • Projected tax rates are an estimate only – Rates are given as $dollars per $100,000 of assessed value.

– Proposition 39 limits the rates to: • $60 per $100,000 for unified school districts • $30 per $100,000 for elementary and high school districts • $25 per $100,000 for community colleges 2013 CASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SCHOOL BUSINESS EXPO

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Bond Measure

• Board must approve the measure at least 88 days before the election date.

• Bond measure must include: – Bond amount – Project list, including school sites and projects anticipated at each site – Expected tax rate • Once Board approves resolution, campaign takes over – District resources cannot be used for advocacy.

2013 CASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SCHOOL BUSINESS EXPO

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Involve the Community in the Campaign

• BRIGHT LINE YOU CANNOT CROSS: School district resources cannot be spent on advocating for a bond measure • Information versus advocacy • Personal time versus District time • Fundraising 2013 CASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SCHOOL BUSINESS EXPO

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Election Day

• Victory! – County certifies election results.

– Board certifies county results.

– Oversight committee is established within 60 days.

– Bond issuance process begins.

• Close but not quite… – Don’t be discouraged… it’s happened to the best of us.

– Review polling results and re-evaluate program – projects, amount, etc. to determine what worked, what didn’t.

2013 CASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SCHOOL BUSINESS EXPO

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