Story Created:
Jul 31, 2009 at 1:58 PM PST
Story Updated:
Jul 31, 2009 at 1:58 PM PST
Culver City Unified School District administrators and school board members say they are leaning toward pursuing a $96 parcel tax versus higher dollar amounts that were previously considered for placement on the Nov. 3 ballot.
At a special meeting on Monday, a representative from Trumatola, a consulting firm hired by the district to assist with the parcel tax process, recommended that the tax be kept under $100 because it would be easier to pursue in the current economic climate.
According to a PowerPoint presentation shown during the meeting, aiming for a higher amount would require more dialogue with the public to emphasize the need for a parcel tax. Taking that route would most likely require delaying the vote on the parcel tax until 2010.
School board member Scott Zeidman said he would have liked to have sought more money, but did not want to increase the risk of the tax being rejected by voters.
“While I’d like to get more money, it’s not worth gambling with the district,” he said. “It’s not worth gambling with a higher number and failing.”
Superintendent Myrna Rivera Cote said she supports a $96 tax because it would yield more approval from local voters.
She added that there are few options left, with a strong possibility of another $4 million in district cuts based on upcoming actions at the state government level.
“I don’t see that we have any other choice,” Cote said. “The cuts to our budget are so severe, I don’t know what else to do.”
Cote said that if a $96 parcel tax is approved by voters, it would be levied for four to five years and cost residents about $9 a month, generating about $1 million each year. “The recommendation by the consulting firm is to start small because of the economic situation we’re in,” she said.
Local parent and Community Budgetary Advisory Committee member Alan Almont said he thinks $96 is a “realistic number.”
“Times are tough, but most homeowners can afford a hundred bucks a year or a little less than that,” he said.
Senior citizens would be able to opt out of the tax, according to the PowerPoint presentation. The presentation also included a preview of what potential ballot statement language could look like. “To protect the quality of education and prevent deep cuts to Culver City schools due to the state budget crisis, by providing stable local funding to maintain advanced math, science, technology, college prep, music and art programs, updated instructional materials, experienced teachers, school libraries and small class sizes,” the ballot statement read.
The remainder of the statement asks voters if they would be willing to pay the $96 tax, among other stipulations.
The school board is expected to vote on having a parcel tax on Aug. 5, after the district gets back thousands of mailers sent to residents asking them what they would like to parcel tax to spent on.
Following that date, both Cote and Zeidman said a public information campaign would begin.
Cote said there will be various forums the district will use to reach out to local voters, including community meetings and phone banking.
Zeidman said one of the most important things that has to be passed on to the community is the fact that the state legally cannot touch the funds from the parcel tax and that all money would be spent at the district’s discretion.
“We have to make sure the public understands that this money won’t go toward paying public administrators,” he said. “It’s going to go toward directly benefiting the children.”
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