Two local school districts may seek parcel tax revenue

Awareness
campaign kicks off
in LVUSD
By Stephanie Bertholdo
Acorn Staff Writer

A grassroots effort to galvanize homeowners to vote yes on a parcel tax that would offset the state budget crisis threatening school funding for at least five years was conducted last week at Willow Elementary School in Agoura Hills.

The school’s multipurpose room was nearly filled to capacity with hundreds of parents ready to be trained to discuss the possible parcel tax with local voters. A parcel tax initiative may be placed on the ballot next spring.

The flat parcel tax would be the same for all properties in Las Virgenes Unified School District, regardless of size, or whether it’s zoned residential or commercial, or whether property owners have children attending local schools. A parcel tax cannot be taken away by the state and this one would only benefit local schools.

Teachers, principals, district officials and other citizens attended. The main topic was with how the school district will deal with historic budget cuts looming on the horizon.

The parcel tax awareness campaign was sponsored by the nonprofit group, Citizens for Preserving Quality Education. The group is chaired by Red Godfrey and Dave Moorman, both of whom are parents of children attending local schools.

Godfrey explained that LVUSD’s high achieving schools attract newcomers to the area and are one of the primary reasons that real estate prices remain high. Maintaining school programs and high academic standards should therefore, Godfrey said, be a shared responsibility of all residents.

A parcel tax, the actual amount still undetermined, is the "fairest way to ensure that the district will stay afloat," Godfrey said. She added that there’s no measure yet on the ballot and that the first phase of the awareness campaign was "to educate, motivate and initiate."

Superintendent John Fitzpatrick addressed the group and recalled how in 1997 parents had a tremendous impact on the election with the passing of Measure R. He added that he expects parents to make the difference in the current fiscal crisis as well.

Parents of school-aged children, however, make up only 25 percent of the voting public. To pass a parcel tax, 66.6 percent of voters must vote yes, and historically it’s a hard sell, Fitzpatrick said.

Donald Zimring, deputy superintendent, discussed how the district operates its $79 million budget and the shortfalls that are expected.

State funding for schools next year, he said, is based on assumptions. Although the state expects that the federal government will kick in $2.2 billion for the shortfall in funds, Zimring expects it will be closer to only $1.5 million. California is also basing budget projections on the renegotiation of Indian casino laws, which may or may not bring in extra funds. Also, a percentage of potential funding is pinned on the hope that voters will have rejected the governor’s recall.

Zimring said that even if all of the assumptions come to fruition, there will still be an $8 billion shortfall and it could be even worse. He added that bond money is restricted to new schools and capital improvements.

Parents were encouraged to communicate with residents who are the least likely to support a parcel tax—seniors who no longer have children in the school district and Republicans were considered the least likely to approve the parcel tax.

Senior citizens will be the first to hear from proponents of the parcel tax because voters who are 65 years or older are exempt from paying the extra tax. But their vote is crucial to passing it.

Willow Elementary School stands to lose seven teachers, a reading specialist, librarian, custodial services, and fourth- and fifth-grade science teachers. Kindergarten through third grades could more students per class, from 20 to 33.

Other schools would face similar cuts.