Campaign for School District Tax a Tough One, Schools Advocate Says

By Jonathan Friedman
Lookout Staff

January 14, 2010 -- The head of a committee recommending the School Board hold a special May election for a parcel tax to help the financially challenged District says the campaign to pass the tax will be a challenge, especially since it requires two-thirds voter approval.

“It's going to be a tough campaign,” Neil Carrey said. “But it is doable. If we felt there was very little chance any tax would pass, we wouldn't have recommended an election.”

The committee, which has held a series of meetings since August, has recommended a tax of up to $225 per parcel. The tax should have a five-year life span and the election should take place on May 25 through the mail, the committee recommended. It also called for an exemption for senior citizens.

The Board of Education will consider the proposal on Thursday. There are various County deadlines that must be met to create the election. The Board must decide on Thursday whether it will have an election. And it must finalize the details, including ballot language, by its Feb. 4 meeting.

The committee determined the $225 figure based on surveys. Carrey said the number of people who would favor the amount is lower than the number needed for passage. But he said pre-campaign surveys often show support to be lower than the passage threshold.

A mail-in election in May would be better than placing a tax measure on the June Primary Election ballot because it would be the lone focus for voters, the committee decided.

“The need is great for the District,” Carrey said. “The importance is there. It's a compelling story of why people should vote for it. So it's better to have the election in May rather than during the primary, when it's much more difficult to get the message across.”

District voters approved a parcel tax in 2008 for $346 per parcel. That tax has no expiration.

The SMMUSD is operating on a $10 million deficit for the current school year. That amount is expected to increase during at least the next two years under the District's current budget plan. Approximately $8.7 million in budget cuts have been proposed. A $225 parcel tax would generate an estimated $7 million for the District.

“Not getting this [parcel tax] money would have a very negative impact on our School District,” said Carrey, who noted cuts would mean teacher layoffs, increased class sizes and possible cuts to District programs.