LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ALAMEDA - PROS AND CONS
JUNE 3, 2008 BALLOT MEASURE H
TITLE: Alameda Unified School District Special Parcel Tax Measure
How Our Schools Are Funded Now
The school budget is approximately $78 million per year. It includes the cost of salaries and benefits for teachers, support personnel, and administrators. It also includes the costs of maintenance and upkeep of school structures and support facilities, classroom and administrative supplies, technical support, and instructional materials.
When we pay our property taxes, the money collected goes to the State and then is apportioned back to local districts. The money the Alameda Schools receives from the State covers about 80% of the School District's budget. The other 20% is raised by local funding. The amount received from the State depends on several formulas set by State laws and court opinions. The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) is identified by the State as a "low wealth" district due to the amount it receives in accordance with these formulas. This means that the AUSD receives less per pupil than many other districts in the State.
Currently, Alameda property owners are now paying a local parcel tax for schools of $189 per parcel plus 0.0469% (about one-half of 1 percent) of each dwelling's assessed value.
Recent announcements from the Governor's Budget Office have proposed that the State funding for Alameda schools be reduced by $4.5 million in the coming fiscal year, 2008-09.
The District has cut $7.7 million from its budget over the last 7 years including a $1.4 million cut in the 2007-2008 budget year.
What This Measure Will Do
This measure will levy a special parcel tax on property in the City of Alameda to generate additional revenues to support its schools. The proposed rate is $120 per parcel per year on residential properties. Small commercial properties less than 2,000 square feet are proposed to pay $120 per year. Commercial properties larger than 2,000 square feet are proposed to be assessed at $0.15 per square foot, up to a maximum of $9,500 per year. The tax is proposed to begin on July 1, 2008, and end in four years, on June 30, 2012.
Provisions for exemptions for persons over 65, or who qualify for Supplemental Security Income for a disability are included. The measure also includes provisions for a citizen's oversight committee to review the expenditures related to this parcel tax. It restricts the use of income from the tax to educational purposes only.
Fiscal Impact
The income generated from this measure is estimated to be $4.2 million per year for four years. $120 per parcel from residential properties will generate approximately $1.2 million. An additional $3 million will come from commercial assessments.
Anticipating the shortfall in revenue from the State, the current AUSD budget for fiscal year 2008-2009 includes many reductions in expenditures. These include increases in class size for kindergarten-3rd grade, elimination of the music program, and reduction of athletic program/swim center funding. A full list of the items can be found on the AUSD web site at: http://www.alameda.k12.ca.us .
The AUSD plans to restore these proposed cuts with the revenue from this new parcel tax.
Passage of this measure would mean that homeowners and small businesses would pay an additional $120 per year in taxes, and larger businesses would pay $0.015 per square foot per year, up to a maximum of $9,500 per year for the next four years.
What a Yes or No Vote Means (This measure requires a 2/3 vote to pass.)
A Yes vote means that you agree with the need of the schools to raise and spend money to cover anticipated revenue shortfalls, and that a parcel tax is the appropriate way to raise these needed funds.
A No vote means that you do not agree that the schools should raise additional money, and that a parcel tax is not appropriate.
Arguments in Favor of Measure H (As filed with the County Registrar of Voters)
- The State budget will cut $4.4 million in funding from Alameda Schools
- If this measure is not approved, schools will close, teachers and staff will be laid off, and music, sports and Advanced Placement programs will be eliminated
- The District has already cut $7.7 million over the last seven years. Further cuts will be devastating
- Senior citizens and the disabled can apply for exemptions to Measure H
- No Measure H funds will go to administrators.
- Teachers have had a pay increase of less than 1.7% per year over the last 5 years, not the 24% claimed by the opponents.
Those signing in favor: Beverly J. Johnson, Mayor, Richard D. Thomas, past School Trustee, Honora Murphy, Senior and Chair of Alameda New Library Campaign, Steve Floyd, Alameda Firefighters Association and parent, William Schaff, President, AUSD Board of Education, Nicklous Cabral, Community Volunteer, Lena Tam, Vice-Mayor, Dennis Pagones, Realtor, William D. Sonneman, former Principal, Encinal H.S.
Arguments Against Measure H (As filed with the County Registrar of Voters)
- The School District is in a panic mode
- AUSD already gets a $189 per parcel assessment, which means new home owners would end up paying almost $650 per year
- AUSD already has enough money and should not be asking for more. It has over $8,000 per year per student which exceeds tuition for K-8 students at the Chinese Christian and St. Joseph's Elementary schools
- This measure will make housing in Alameda even less affordable than it is now
- New funding will stop state legislators from eliminating funding disparities
- Salary and benefits expenditures have risen 24% since fiscal year 2000-2001while enrollment has declined
Those signing against: Curt Cornell, Chair Libertarian Party of Alameda County, Tom Paveltic, Business Owner, Nerissa Ramos, Resident, Barbara Thomas, Former City Vice Mayor/Council Member, Attorney
Sources for this Document:
AUSD Board of Trustees Resolution #08-0010, filed March 7, 2008 with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.
Certificate of the Secretary of the Board of Education conveying the Board's Resolution
Form of Formal Notice of Parcel Tax Election filed by the County Superintendent of Schools
Official Argument in Favor of Measure H with Signature Pages Attached
Official Argument against Measure H with Signature Pages Attached
Official Rebuttal to Argument in Favor of Measure H with Signature Pages Attached
State of California Budget Web Site
AUSD Web Site
Prepared By:
League of Women VotersOf Alameda
PO Box 1645, Alameda, CA 94501 510-869-4969 http://www.alameda.ca.lwvnet.org
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League of Women Voters of Alameda, California. All rights reserved.
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