APLUS

AUSD is now beginning the process of identifying school closures/consolidations and other budget cuts beyond those already implemented this year.  This process is the unfortunate result of the deep state budget cuts the district has suffered, along with the loss of Measure E at the polls last June.

Fortunately, the Board of Education also has directed AUSD to look at the feasibility of putting a new parcel tax proposal on the ballot next spring.  The district is consulting broadly about the structure of a possible new parcel tax proposal.  Over the fall, the district will be holding meetings and public hearings on the school closures and other budget cuts as well as on the possible new parcel tax.  A timeline of the meetings and opportunities for community input is available here.

APLUS volunteers are brainstorming how to structure and run the potential new parcel tax campaign — as well as actively fundraising to make sure the campaign starts on solid financial footing later this fall. We firmly believe that a tax is the only way to replace the millions of dollars in state funding that AUSD has lost over the past three years and does not expect to recover from Sacramento in the near future.

As such, both APLUS and the Alameda Education Foundation have identified the next parcel tax campaign as the top funding priority for this coming year.

Please consider making a donation to the campaign today to help us get our campaign started.

FAQ

Q: I want to donate my $350 tax payment to local education, but I want it go where it will do the most good. Where would that be?

A: Both the Alameda Education Foundation and APLUS recommend that residents donate their $350 parcel tax payment to APLUS. A parcel tax is the only way to ensure long-term and sufficient funding for our schools and should be the top funding priority for AUSD at this time. But a new campaign cannot be run without sufficient funds.

Q: What will the next parcel tax look like?

A: We don’t yet know the rate or structure of the next parcel tax. That will need to be determined by continued dialogue between the district and the community.

Q: When will the election be?

A: It will be sometime next spring. Stay tuned for details!