After an evening volunteering at the phone banks, where he asked residents to vote for Measure S, Superintendent Joel Shapiro stood before City Council and explained why members should support the parcel tax.
"We need to consider the long term fiscal stability of our district, and maintain programs we’ve worked so hard to keep,'' Shapiro said Wednesday.
Council members voted 5-0 to approve a resolution supporting the parcel tax measure.
Ballots should be landing in residents' mailboxes any time now. Voters will be asked to renew Measure S, which expires in June. If renewed, the five-year parcel tax will increase from $288 to $386 per unit (whether single home or apartment complex). The ballots are to be mailed to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office by March 12.
Voters must approve the measure by a 66.7 percent majority. Back in 2009, more than two-thirds of voters approved it.
The money generated means about $2 million for South Pasadena Unified School District. Back in December when the board approved the renewal, Assistant Superintendent presented a budget report that showed a bleak financial situation if the parcel tax fails: 39 positions would be eliminated, class sizes would increase and more programs would be cut.
Shapiro on Wednesday called the parcel tax passage "critical'' to maintain a quality community, which is bolstered by a quality school system. He pointed out, however, that people on disability and people over the age of 65, or anyone who turns 65 during the life of the tax, are exempt from paying.
Council member Philip Putnam pointed out it some people might find it odd that the City Council is weighing in on a school board measure. He explained that the city's high property values are inexorably linked to a quality school district.
"A quality... public school system has a huge impact on the quality of life of a city. This is a city issue, not just a school issue,'' Putnam said.
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Before our tax dollars are spent on South Pasadena's public schools they first make an expensive round-trip through Sacramento. Our disastrously profligate State government will never reform as long as local school boards ENABLE the State's ineptitude by holding our children's education up for ransom like they did last November with Proposition 30. South Pasadena currently spends $7000 per student per school year. And that so called "school year" amounts to only 180 days. With some reassessments of core responsibilities those funds should be enough for awhile. Measure S is recycled Prop 30. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Let's send a message to Sacramento by rejecting Measure S.
First off, I am generally for money for our schools (I went to them after all), but I was provided the information I believe you are looking for. It is too long to place in comments here, but I have posted it, as well as links to the Yes on S campaign, in the name of providing all the information, so that people can make informed decisions, here: http://www.facebook.com/reynoldsforcouncil
I will continue to try and search for this past thread on here but the search function leaves a lot to be desired. Even though your request may be pretty precise or simple, you get a million responses that have nothing to do with your request. Again, thanks for the response.