Pass: 920 / 72.4% Yes votes ...... 351 / 27.6% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Yes ________ No _________

By this measure, the Board of Trustees of the La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District propose to levy a special tax for a period of seven years beginning July 1, 2006 and ending June 30,
2013. This tax shall be at a rate not to exceed $100 per year per parcel on all taxable parcels in the District.

A parcel, with certain limited exceptions, shall be defined as any unit of land in the District which receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the San Mateo County tax collection officials. Any property owner aged 65 years or older may qualify for an exemption from the special tax if that property owner occupies the parcel. The stated purposes of the special tax are to improve student achievement and academic performance, attract and retain teachers and improve library services.

The proceeds of the special tax will be placed into a special account. An independent community committee shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees to review all expenditures funded by the tax revenues. An annual report is required that accounts for the parcel tax revenues collected and the manner in which they have been spent.

A "yes" vote on this measure would allow a special tax to be levied on property within the boundaries of the La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District in the amount of $100 per year per parcel.

A "no" vote on this measure would not allow the special tax to be levied.

This measure passes if two-thirds of those voting on the measure vote "yes."

insidebayarea.com/search/ci_3141846

This measure asks the voters for $100 per parcel per year¾27 cents a day¾ to: · Improve student achievement and academic performance · Attract and retain highly qualified teachers · Improve library services

Before calling on the taxpayers for this additional help, we worked hard to improve the District's financial health. For example, no employee has received a salary increase in four years. In addition, we have:

· Cut jobs. In the last three years we cut several positions, including reading specialist, library aide, computer technician, groundskeeper, high school counselor, middle school principal, facilities director, Special Education coordinator, and assessment clerk.

· Reduced some services. In the last two years we cut back on bus routes and food service, and closed libraries at two of the three District schools.

· Become more efficient. Working with nocost County consultants on trimming the budget, we reduced operating costs for other programs and services while maintaining basic service levels.

· Become better stewards. Using a new County accounting system, we developed better procedures to monitor and report the District budget.

· Sought new funding sources. We obtained federal and state grants, while District parents donated hundreds of hours and raised substantial funds.

Now we need your help. Without this tax, the District will have to face additional cuts to staff, programs and services¾cuts that will have a serious impact on students.

Please vote YES on Measure B. Preserve the chance for our students to have a decent education.

Yes! --but with good reason.

Thanks to revenue growth that has far outpaced inflation, our schools have plenty of money to work with.

In 20032004 (the most recent year for which data is available from EdData*) the District had $214,000 in revenue for the average class of
18.6 students. That's a lot of dough--especially for such small classes! In round figures, the District employed a staff of 50 to tend 20 classes averaging 18.6 students.

That's a lot of employees!

The District has plenty of money. --The bloated payroll proves it.

If the trustees want to increase teacher salaries, they can do so whenever they want.

They want a parcel tax only to avoid the minimal work of setting priorities and working within a budget.

Vote `no'. They have plenty of money already.

• http://www.eddata. k12.ca.us/dev/District.asp

John J. Hickey Chair, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County 8/19/05

Christopher VA Schmidt Retired Computer Professional 8/19/05