HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-03-12 - Voters Pamphlet voters'
pamphlet
Oregon Vote-by-Mail Special Election March 12, 2013
This Voters' Pamphlet is provided to give the voter additional information on this measure. The
text of the statements are printed as submitted.
Index Voter Registration Information
Measure & Arguments:
Deschutes County Election Results
Sisters School District 6 Election results are available after 8 pm on March
9-88 Renew Local Option Levy For School 12 from the County Elections office or on the
Operations, Five-Year Term ......................2 internet at www.deschutes.orq. The results will
Arguments .............................................3 be updated throughout the night.
To be eligible to vote in the March 12, 2013
Drop Sites: Special Election, a completed voter registration
card must be postmarked by February 19, 2013.
Sisters City Hall
520 E Cascade Ave To register to vote in Oregon,you must be:
Feb 25— Mar 11: 8 am -5 pm 1. A resident of Oregon.
(Usual Business Hours & Days) 2. A United States citizen.
Election Day, Tuesday, Mar 12: 8 am -8 pm 3. At least 18 years old by election day.
Bend You must update your registration if:
Deschutes Service Building 1. Your residence or mailing address changes.
1300 NW Wall St 2. Your name changes.
Box located on Parkway side of building 3. You wish to change your party affiliation.
Available 7 days a week
Election Day, Tuesday, Mar 12: open until 8 pm Important Note:
If you have moved or your name has changed
and you have not yet updated your registration,
Replacement Ballot: you are still eligible to vote. Contact the
You can request a replacement ballot if you make Deschutes County Elections office, 541-388-6547
a mistake, your ballot is damaged or spoiled, your for further information.
ballot is lost, or for any other reason. Contact the Voters with Disabilities:
Deschutes County Elections office at 541-388- If you are unable to vote your ballot without
6547 to request a replacement ballot. assistance because of a physical disability or
because you are unable to read or write, contact
the Deschutes County Elections office at 541-
Reminder: 388-6547. We will provide two persons to assist
Your ballot will not be counted if your envelope is you in voting. To assure your voted ballot is
not signed! All ballots must be received no later received by Election Day, contact the elections
than 8 pm on Tuesday, March 12. Postmarks do office early to arrange for assistance. You may
not count. also select someone else of your own choice to
assist you.
Sisters School District 6 In the face of significant and unpredictable funding from the
State of Oregon,the Sisters Local Option has allowed the
District to preserve school days,retain highly qualified staff,
maintain small class sizes,and offer a well-rounded
academic program including honors and remedial offerings in
Local Levy ` h
10 4 operations*.Ffve core subjects: mathematics,reading,and writing.The Local
Option finances enriched program offerings including all day
4uestion .. : Kindergarten,inter-disciplinary environmental education,one
of three luthier programs in the nation, music,art,foreign
Shad Sisters School District renew Its x.75 per$10t3p of languages,plus co curricular activities and sports.
assessed value for general 60,rations belnnli� 20 l3.2044;
for five years This measure renew curt 0i !0 t op lop Sisters Schools are focused on excellence.During 2011-12:
e ' The Oregon State Department of Education rated all of
Mary
Sisters schools as outstanding.
` Test scores ranked among the highest in Central
This me as ure inay be Passed only at aci efectlon with at east Oregon.
50
percent voter turnput,. Sisters Elementary was designated a model school(top
In March of 2009 voters approved ranewal of the local option 5%of Title 1 Schools in Oregon).
• The graduation rate at Sisters High School was 94%
levy at$0.75 per$'1,000 of assessed value to support compared with the state average of 66.4%.
Sisters School 10�stnct. on
It expires le 2013. This measure Sisters High School Outlaws earned the Oregonian
would renew.ft.levy eiipinng J one 2013 forivp year at fine Cup,awarded to the top 4A high school for its student
same rate approved by voters in 2000,2004'.an 2008' athletes'GPAs,their sportsmanship,and extracurricular
Schoo District would Lite:the funds from the.lp .to
involvement outside athletics.
maintain current programs and staffing levels Provided.ly The citizens of Sisters have repeatedly affirmed the value of
the a plrfng ivy The currentlevy provided appr oxit`iiately
education to their community by supporting the Local Option
9%of"the School Districts annual operating r. QV es aver for the past twelve years.As a result,Sisters students have
the past four:years. been provided a comprehensive and personalized education.
This measure;woultt maintain.the existing rye.of$.75.per.
(This information furnished by Jim Golden,Superintendent,Sisters
$1',000 of assessed property value. Ths proposed rate ; . Public Schools)
would genets#eap ro lmatefy$1.;211,975,75.16201.:12014:
$1�2 ,85fi.1�.ira 2{114-2Q�15,$1,2F�$, 07.77Iri 1 -��16,
$1,2971540722 in 2016-2017,$ 383
1,327, .65 in k17-2q"i8,
for r estlruated total t'f.$6,778;972.83.
The-owner of a liohte assessed at 172,024. average
assessed va.ue f tes.identlal property in itre distnet}'Would.,:::
pay:$10,75 per rtionth'or120.i0 per year.
Explanatory Statement:
The Sisters Local Option Levy has been in place since 2000
and renewed by Sisters School District voters in 2004 and
2009. If renewed in 2013,the proposed levy would provide
the Sisters School District(SSD)with a continuation of these
local taxes at the rate of$75 per$1,000.00 of a property's
assessed value for the next five years.A home with an
assessed value of$172,024(average assessed value of
residential property in the District)would pay$10.75 monthly
or$129.02 annually.This year,the Local Option provided
the District with$991,351.35 to supplement its
$10,501,384.00 budget or 9.4%of the District's annual
budget.
If not renewed,the District will have to cut an average of
$1,269,023.72 annually from the budget for the next five
years.This loss equates to the reduction of 26 school days
or 14 teachers or the elimination of all day kindergarten,art,
music,sports,and other extra-curricular opportunities.
Arguments in Favor Arguments in Favor
Like many communities,Sisters is struggling to maintain its There is no question about the tough economic circumstance
businesses and quality of life.One way to keep Sisters going our schools are in today.The glory days of timber tax money
in a positive direction is by ensuring our students receive a flowing into our schools has dried up—along with timber-
industry jobs. In the meantime,the money to keep our
quality education. schools operating at an effective level gets leaner each year.
In 1993,my husband,Gary and I moved to Central Oregon
Our nation and her people are noted for the resiliency and
abilities we have to haul ourselves out of the mud by our own
with atwo-month-old baby and a dream. Give her the bootstraps. It's time to do that once more in the area of
opportunity to grow up in a small town with a top notch school funding,by supporting the Local Option.While just
education system.Although our address is Bend,we made about everyone agrees that personal taxation will not solve
sure we lived within the Sisters School District.That criterion economic problems in the long run,we must take action now
directed where we looked for a home and benefited Sisters to insure a full and varied education for our youth.This
because we focused our dollars and time in the community. means sacrifice on our part. By"our"I refer to every person
Now 20 years old and a sophomore in college,our daughter in the Sisters School District,whether we have children in the
thrived because of the programs,excellent teachers and Sisters School system or not.I moved to Sisters in 1988 for three reasons:it had the
opportunities Sisters provided. Everyone who supported and best school system in the state of Oregon at that time,every
passed earlier Local Options deserves our thanks and the time I breathed the air it was clean,and the scenic values
gratitude of families with similar stories to tell. Investing in and wildlife were(and still are)magnificent. I wanted the best
these students has a return on investment that can't be p for my kids,and they got it from our schools.I want to be
found in the stock market mutual funds. It pays much sure today's children and tomorrow's children also have that
higher dividends than any portfolio. opportunity.
But that won't happen if we don't do our part. It makes no
When students know that adults care,they do better.They difference if you have children in school or not,please look
work harder,they help more and they give back to their toward the future and make sure our schools have the
community. I have watched students develop as young necessary funds to keep up the quality of education our
adults as they learned important life-long skills like young people need to make it on their own.That means
perseverance,collaboration,taking risks and creativity.The insuring that along with the Three R's,art,music,sports,and
Americana Project Community Luthier program,IEE and the outdoor studies are in the curriculum.Supporting the Local
visual arts classes challenge students and help them realize Option will continue to breathe life into the budget of our
talents and skills they can use in future careers. schools.
These school programs set Sisters apart as an example of
quality education in a public school setting.They offer inter-
generational relationships where adults mentor students and (This information furnished by James 0.Anderson)
sometimes students teach adults. Bonds are built creating a
cohesive community that supports one another.
The local option is a small price to pay for the returns it
brings to Sisters Country.The students from the Sisters
School District will benefit us all for generations to come.
Let's keep that good work going!
(This information furnished by Katy Yoder)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement
by the County of Deschutes,nor does the county warrant the by the County of Deschutes,nor does the county warrant the
accuracy or truth of any statement made in the argument accuracy or truth of any statement made in the argument
Arguments in Favor Arguments in Favor
HIGHER QUALITY SCHOOLS=HIGHER PROPERTY We are writing in favor of renewing Sisters Local Option-
VALUES Measure 9-88 for our schools. Dealing with high school
The quality of Sisters School District is a leading driver students on almost a daily basis,we see first hand the
behind real estate transactions. We,as local realtors,tell benefits of Sisters schools and the need for the Local Option
prospective buyers a wonderful story: to stay.These students'lives are changed drastically by
1. Sisters has great schools,thanks in large part to the local special offerings such as Interdisciplinary Environmental
option. Education(IEE),the Americana Project,and Woods.These
2. The community has supported the local option for the last choices help kids focus on school through music and the out-
12 years,which demonstrates long-term strength and of-doors, healthy outlets for many of our Young Life kids. It
commitment, would be detrimental to remove these unique opportunities
3. Our property taxes are lower than Bend or Redmond, from them.The Americana Project not only keeps kids busy
even with the local option. on the weekends, it enriches their lives with the amazingly
There are many other selling features for Sisters.However, talented artists they meet and it helps them become part of
the quality of the schools is an undeniable factor for new the larger Sisters community when they perform at
buyers. Families with school age children understand this. community functions.Many students use guitars they've built
So do families without school age children. They realize the in woods class. How awesome is that?Students in I.E.E.
connection between quality schools and long-term property grow up to nurture the beauty surrounding Sisters by
value. restoring Whychus Creek and Trout Creek Preserve.
We benefit greatly from the success of the SSD. It is with a Renewing Sisters Local Option does not raise taxes. It
great sense of pride that we get to brag about: extends what we are already paying and would continue to
• 2012 Winner:Oregonian Cup. Top 4A school for overall support the unique opportunities and relationships our four
excellence in academics,activities and athletics. kids and yours receive.My husband and I personally want
• 2012 Outstanding ratings for all SSD schools from the our three elementary kids to have the same experiences our
Oregon Department of Education. current Middle and High School kids have.The youth we
• 2012 Model School designation for Sisters Elementary work with on a daily basis are the products of such a special
(top 5%). school system.Teachers here affect kids in immeasurable,
positive ways.They are mentors and our voices when we
There are many factors that contribute to this success:the entrust our children to them daily. If this does not pass,we
dedication of our teachers and administrators who live would likely lose about fourteen teachers or twenty-six
among us,the innovative approach to ensuring the school school days. Our kids cannot afford that.As a community,
budget dollars go as far as possible,a strategic approach to we can't afford that. Please join us in renewing the Sisters
the last 3 budget cuts,etc. However,the local option has Local Option for Young Life and for all the kids in our school
been instrumental too. district.
Strong schools drive real estate values. Sisters is committed Mark and Robin Benson
to strong schools—we've voted for a local option for the last Sisters Young Life and Wyld Life
12 years. Even with the local option,we pay less in taxes
and get more for it than our neighbors.
We urge you to keep the local option. Vote yes on 9-88. It is (This information furnished by Robin Benson, Young Life and Wyld
a direct investment in the quality of our school system,which Life)
is then a direct investment into the value of your property.
Ross Kennedy Kevin Dyer
Phil Arends Rad Dyer
Jeff Jones Peter Storton
(This information furnished by Ross Kennedy)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement
by the County of Deschutes,nor does the county warrant the by the County of Deschutes,nor does the county warrant the
accuracy or truth of any statement made in the argument accuracy or truth of any statement made in the argument
Arguments in Favor Arguments in Favor
For more than ten years,the Sisters community has Local Business Owners Endorse Local Option
apportioned$.75 for every$1,000 of assessed value on
property to go directly to our local public school district. The Good schools are essential for good business.
full benefit of this commitment extends far beyond the actual
financial value. We,the undersigned local business owners,ask you to keep
Yes,the local option makes possible smaller than average the Local Option in place by voting yes on Measure 9-88.
class sizes compared with other school districts and allows
the schools to continue operation of certain programs that Schools play an integral part in defining the community. The
would surely meet the axe in these difficult economic times, Local Option is critical to keeping Sisters schools
but it does much more than that... exceptional.
Local option support demonstrates a community-wide level
of commitment and pride in Sisters schools and students that As business owners,we can attract the first-rate employees
is unique and far-reaching. It contributes to a culture that is to relocate their families to Sisters where their children can
the foundation for other critical support in our schools. The receive a top-notch education.Prime wage-earning families
human resources-time,energy,relationships-that are choose to live and work where their children can receive the
contributed by an endless number of community volunteers best education.They shop locally year round,pay taxes
are fueled by this culture of commitment and pride. The locally,and support a thriving economy.Local Option keeps
message for students is that they matter and their education that money here,in Sisters, by providing schools with the
is very important to us all. funding they need to maintain excellence.
By supporting the local option,we are setting expectations
for our educators and students. We are providing Recent state budget cuts in school funding have had
opportunities that shall not be taken for granted and our significant negative impacts on the quality of education our
educators and students have responded. Both are highly kids receive.Without your support of Local Option,teachers
accountable for utilizing the resources provided to achieve and school days will be eliminated,class sizes will increase,
the highest level of learning possible. and programs will be cut.
Local option support creates a sense of gratitude on the part
of educators and students toward their community. Students As business owners,we recognize the importance of
understand and acknowledge this in their post-secondary investing in the future.The quality of the Sisters Schools
lives. One need not look far to find a Sisters graduate who depends on the passage of this Local Option,which has
honors this education through their contributions back to this been making our schools strong for the last 12 years.Join us
community and to the global community at large. in supporting our kids,our economy,and our future in
Community commitment is what makes great schools Sisters.
"great". This is your opportunity to affirm your belief in our
schools and our students by exercising your vote with a solid Vote yes on 9-88.
"YES"for Local Option.
Benny&Julie Benson,ENERGYneering Solutions Inc,
Debbie Newport Sisters Eagle Airport LLC
Chuck Newport
(This information furnished by Julie Benson)
(This information furnished by Debbie Newport)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement
by the County of Deschutes,nor does the county warrant the by the County of Deschutes,nor does the county warrant the
accuracy or truth of any statement made in the argument accuracy or truth of any statement made in the argument
Remember!
All Ballots must be received at an
official drop site or the Deschutes
County Clerk's office
no later than
8 pm, March 12, 2013
Postmarks Do Not Count!
i