Returning to the ballot for a second measure is challenging and fraught with potential pitfalls. In each case, TRAMUTOLA had worked with the client on a prior successful election. A thorough assessment of each District's previous projects, their current funding plans, community knowledge and support, allowed TRAMUTOLA to craft ballot measures that addressed the district's financial needs.

For the advocacy campaigns, California's February Primary election offered only a short one-month communication window after the holidays. We knew voters would be flooded with presidential campaigns and 7 statewide propositions. TRAMUTOLA devised disciplined, efficient voter outreach plans for each campaign in order to educate likely voters and mobilize supporters to vote.

TRAMUTOLA celebrates the hard work and commitment of the staff and volunteers at Oakland USD, Poway USD, and Long Beach CCD.

Oakland Unified School District Measure G - $195 per parcel/Permanent extension - 79.08% Yes (66.7% Approval Required)

With $20 million in annual funding at stake, TRAMUTOLA guided the Oakland Unified School District to a stable funding solution - the permanent extension of their existing parcel tax assessment. With a permanent extension, the District could plan for the future knowing this essential revenue would remain. With over 180,000 voters in the school district and a short one-month communication window (the month of January), TRAMUTOLA worked with the Friends of Oakland Public Schools committee to carefully plan outreach for maximum impact. The campaign invested limited resources in targeted mail, recorded message calls and over 3,000 lawn signs in order to reach key voters throughout this large district. For Oakland USD's 47,000 students, Measure G means critical funding for teachers, up-to-date instructional materials, small class sizes, college preparatory courses, after school tutoring programs, school libraries, music and art programs. Measure G achieved 79.08% approval - well above the 66.7% required.

Poway Unified School District Proposition C - $179 million Prop. 39 Facilities Bond - 63.81% Yes (55% Approval Required)

In 2002, TRAMUTOLA helped Poway Unified School District pass a facilities bond measure to repair and renovate schools within their School Facilities Improvement District. Facing rising construction costs and additional facility needs, PUSD needed to pass a second bond to complete their renovations. In this tax sensitive community in San Diego, careful planning was key. TRAMUTOLA worked closely with the District and their financial advisors to craft a bond plan that ensured no tax rate increase for local residents. Led by a team of committed parents and over 100 volunteers, the campaign for Proposition C made thousands of phone calls to educate and inform local voters. This strong outreach effort produced a 63.81% YES vote (well above the 55% needed for a Prop. 39 bond election.) Proposition C will provide $179 million to remove hazardous materials from Poway schools, ensure modern science and computer labs, improve technology access, renovate worn-out roofs, plumbing, heating, ventilation, lighting and electrical systems, upgrade safety and security systems.

Long Beach Community College District Measure E - $440 million Prop. 39 Facilities Bond - 73.24% Yes (55% Approval Required)

Following a successful 2002 facilities bond measure that upgraded core facilities, Long Beach Community College District undertook a review of all instructional programs, classroom technology needs, space requirements, and student service space needs through the year 2020. TRAMUTOLA worked with the District to communicate the key elements of their "2020 Unified Master Plan" in a measure that would implement the plan without increasing existing tax rates. Measure E was placed on the February ballot to provide $440 million to repair and renovate Long Beach CCD facilities and ensure a high quality, affordable education remains available for all local residents. A strong community campaign effort led by City College volunteers mobilized hundreds of callers nightly to reach out to local voters. The committee tirelessly gathered endorsements from virtually every local elected official, newspaper and community group. With the final votes in, Measure E achieved 73.24% approval - the third highest level of support in the community college system history for a Prop. 39 measure.