Measure G relies on such vague feel-good terms as "ensure," "maintain" and "provide support" which are always red warning flags on any tax measure.  There are no concrete assurances that our tax money will be well spent.  There are no details describing specific positions such as exactly how many counselors, reading specialists, and library assistants are to be maintained.  There is no up-to-date technological equipment purchase listed.  Specifics are left to the imagination.

Worst of all, Measure G does not require that no pay raises are to be given for the life of the tax; in this economy, that's a slap in the face to our community.

1. Does not ensure 20:1 student-teacher ratios for K-3 and ninth grade Class Size Reduction
2. Does not enumerate number of jobs for reading/math specialists, libraries, technology staff, counselors, custodians
3. Does not list elementary music programs as one of the programs which must have accountability and oversight
4. Does not give citizen's oversight committee any real influence
5. Does not freeze raises during life of tax

Read the full ballot text and judge for yourself:

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE
To ensure reliable funding to preserve educational quality and protect Pleasanton schools from the impact of severe state budget cuts by keeping class sizes small, maintaining essential reading and math support programs, libraries, counseling, music programs, and technology instruction, and maintaining safe and clean schools, with no proceeds used for administrators' salaries, the Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) proposes to establish an education parcel tax for a period of four years, beginning July 1, 2009, at the rate of $233 per year, on each assessor's parcel located within the Pleasanton Unified School District, with an exemption available for senior citizens and recipients of SSI for a disability, and to implement accountability measures in connection with the temporary levy that are over and above those required by law, including the appointment of an independent citizen oversight committee, comprised of Pleasanton residents who are payers of the levy and who are not PUSD employees, to provide oversight and accountability to ensure the funds are used for benefits to our local Pleasanton students such as:

• Maintaining smaller class sizes;
• Providing support for reading and math intervention programs;
• Maintaining school counseling services for students;
• Keeping libraries open and staffed;
• Ensuring students meet today’s rigorous technology standards;
• Maintaining clean and safe schools.

AMOUNT OF EDUCATION PARCEL TAX; PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT
The education parcel tax shall be $233 (or less as provided below) per year for four (4) full years assessed against each parcel.

The proceeds of the education parcel tax shall be deposited into a separate account created by the District.

DEFINITION OF "PARCEL"
For purposes of this special tax, the term "Parcel" means any parcel of land which lies wholly or partially within the boundaries of the Pleasanton Unified School District, that receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the Alameda County Assessor/Tax Collector. All property that is otherwise exempt from or upon which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall also be exempt from the education parcel tax in such year.

EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS AND SSI RECIPIENTS
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 50079 (b), any owners of a Parcel used solely for owner-occupied, single-family residential purposes and who are either (a) 65 years of age or older or (b) persons receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age, may obtain an exemption from the education parcel tax by annually submitting an application, by June 15 of each year, to the Board of Trustees of the Pleasanton Unified School District.

With respect to all general property tax matters within its jurisdiction, the Alameda County Assessor/Tax Collector or other appropriate County tax officials shall make all final determinations of tax exemption or relief for any reason, and that decision shall be final and binding. With respect to matters specific to the levy of the education parcel tax, including the Senior Citizen Exemption and the SSI Exemption and the classification of property for purposes of calculating the tax, the decisions of the District shall be final and binding.

REDUCTION IN TAX IF RESULT IS LESS OTHER GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
The collection of the education parcel tax is not intended to decrease or offset any increase in local, state or federal government revenue sources that would otherwise be available to the Pleasanton Unified School District during the period of the education parcel tax. In the event that the levy and collection does have such an effect, the Pleasanton Unified School District shall cease the levy or shall reduce the education parcel tax to the extent that such action would restore the amount of the decrease or offset in other revenues.

ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES
In accordance with the requirements of California Government Code Sections 50075.1 and 50075.3, the following accountability measures, among others, shall apply to the education parcel tax levied in accordance with this Measure: (a) the specific purposes of the education parcel tax shall be those purposes identified above; (b) the proceeds of the education parcel tax shall be applied only to those specific purposes identified above; (c) a separate, special account shall be created into which the proceeds of the education parcel tax must be deposited; and (d) an annual written report shall be made to the Board of Trustees of the District showing (i) the amount of funds collected and expended from the proceeds of the education parcel tax and (ii) the status of any projects or programs required or authorized to be funded from the proceeds of the education parcel tax, as identified above.

In addition to the accountability measures required by law, an independent citizen oversight committee with a minimum of seven members shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees of the District to review the expenditures funded by the measure in order to ensure that said funds were spent for the purposes approved by the voters. This committee will be comprised of Pleasanton residents who are payers of the tax and who are not employees of the District. The oversight committee will meet quarterly for the term of the tax and will monitor the expenditures of these funds by the District. The District shall provide quarterly education parcel tax expenditure reports to the Board and oversight committee, and the committee will report on a quarterly basis to the Board and community on how these funds have been spent. The results of the District's annual independent audit will be shared with the oversight committee.