Stakes are high for Measure G (w/slideshow)

For those who like sports analogies with their politics, the Lake Tahoe Unified School District could be considered to be batting at the bottom of the inning in its campaign for Measure G.

"We're in the ninth inning with two outs, and our schools need this to pass," LTUSD Superintendent Jim Tarwater said of the $64.5 million bond measure. "We're at the point where facilities are that old, and you have to do something about it."

The LTUSD board voted in June to put Measure G on the ballot, just three weeks after a previous bond measure - the $87 million Measure A - fell 3 percent shy of the 55 percent voter approval needed to pass. If approved Nov. 4, Measure G would tax property owners $28.70 per $100,000 of assessed value.

Some residents have voiced concerns over Measure G, stating that now is not the time to raise taxes and that voters already have spoken in rejecting Measure A in June.

Tarwater said the new bond measure is being presented to voters because of the dire need for the improvements it would fund.

Here are some questions that have been frequently asked about Measure G over the past several weeks.

Why is the district coming back to the voters with another bond?

South Tahoe Middle School is 59 years old, and 35-year-old Sierra House Elementary School is the youngest school. When buildings are that old, they need to be modernized and redeveloped, along with regular maintenance that the district provides, Tarwater said.

Of the funds raised through Measure G, about $40 million would be spent at South Tahoe High School to build career technical facilities, upgrade the heating, ventilation and lighting systems, and repair existing physical education facilities and the Blue and Gold gyms, among other facility needs.

At the middle school, $9.2 million would be spent on projects, such as converting the woodshop into a music room, replacing portables with a sixth-grade building and upgrading heating, ventilation and lighting systems.

Bijou Community School would receive $6.6 million to construct six full-size kindergarten classrooms and improve the library and media center.

The Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School would use the allocated $2.4 million to renovate classrooms and also upgrade heating, ventilation and lighting systems.

For a full project list, go to ltusd.org.

What has the district been doing to maintain the schools?

The district receives money from the state, which the district has to provide a 100 percent match for. Under the new state budget, the state is only funding a 90 percent match for deferred maintenance costs, said Debra Yates, LTUSD financial officer. For example, if the district had $100,000, the state match would be $90,000.

The district will have $340,000 for the 2008-09 budget, Yates said. This money is used for maintenance, such as roofing, painting, parking lots, carpet, fire alarms, heating and roofing.

Will the district receive matching funds from the state if Measure G passes?

The district secured $15.4 million in matching state funds. These funds are guaranteed and can't be taken away through current proposed state cuts to education. California voters approved this funding in November 2006, and if the district doesn't match the funds, it will lose them, and the matching funds will go to other districts, Tarwater said.

Out of the matching funds, $4.4 million would fund an Art, Media and Entertainment Academy at the high school - providing training in one of the fastest-growing industries in California. Another $6 million would fund a Green Academy at the high school, which would teach students about green automotive and construction technologies, and $5 million would replace portables at the high school, Tarwater said.

The district is invested in the matching funds. To be eligible for the matching funds, the district had to submit plans to the Department of State Architect by Aug. 29 and Sept. 8 for the two different grants. The LTUSD approved spending $578,847 on construction documents to stay in the running for the state matching funds in mid August.

Why is funding career technical education important?

After students graduate from high school, 25 percent attend four-year colleges, 50 percent attend junior colleges, and 25 percent don't pursue further education. Tarwater said it's the district's duty to reach every student, and with career technical facilities, students can be trained and ready to enter the work force out of high school, Tarwater said.

Since enrollment has declined over the past 10 years, why does the district need this bond?

The kindergarten population is increasing, and there's a baby boom in the district, which needs to be planned for, Tarwater said. The elementary schools are at capacity, with only one room free at Sierra House Elementary School, and two rooms at Tahoe Valley Elementary School. Normally, the kindergarten population is about 285 kids, and this year it's 339 kids, he added.

One of the issues that concerns voters is what oversight would be in place to make sure the funds aren't misspent. How would this be addressed?

Since the passage of Proposition 39, an oversight committee must be established to look over the funds within 60 days of the bond's passage. One of the responsibilities of the committee is reviewing the independent financial audit required by the proposition, and making sure the funds go toward facilities only.

According to Proposition 39, the committee must have at least seven people, which the LTUSD board appoints, and no district official, employee, vendor, contractor or consultant may serve on the committee. The district must provide technical and administrative assistance to publicize the committee's conclusions.

Since the oversight committee is appointed by the board, the committee is subject to the rules of the Brown Act. All meetings will be open to the public, and public notice must be given for the meetings. The LTUSD board may also establish rules for the committee, such as the frequency of meetings, the number of members in a quorum and filling vacancies in committee positions.

Why should people vote to raise taxes during tough economic times?

The construction projects funded by the bond would bring jobs into the basin. If the bond passes, construction would begin in summer 2009 and continue through 2012, Tarwater said.