text of Measure H states:
(iii) Real property otherwise exempted from taxation under the constitution and laws of the
State of California shall also be exempted from any liability for the special tax imposed
by this measure.
How much will the parcel tax raise for schools?
The proposed parcel tax is expected to raise approximately $4.2 million per
year for the school district.
Why is the parcel tax aiming to raise $4.2 million when the budget cuts
are expected to be $4.5 million?
The District is implementing permanent cuts to administration and overhead. It
is also using one-time funds to cover the difference.
Why don't we try to raise more money with the parcel tax? Other school
districts have much higher parcel taxes.
It is certainly true that other school districts have higher parcel taxes;
for example, Piedmont Unified School District currently has school parcel taxes
that exceed $1400 per residential parcel. In contrast, Alameda's current school
parcel tax is $189 per parcel, with an additional $120 being proposed in the
new tax.
Each district has its own unique demographics; Alameda is not as affluent an
area as Piedmont, with a wider diversity of income levels among its residents.
The current $189 school parcel tax measure, balloted in 2005,
passed by the smallest of margins. It's unreasonable to expect that Alameda's
voters – our community – would authorize a major increase in
funding by a large parcel tax, simply to match up with other districts.
Alameda's school district manages its budget aggressively and has one of
the lowest administrative overheads of any Alameda County District.
The proposed parcel tax is calculated to closely address the funding shortfall
identified in the coming year. The term of the tax (four years) is based on an
assumption that the funding situation at the state level is unlikely to change
for the better within the next few years.
Why do we need a parcel tax? Other school districts have no parcel taxes.
Because of outdated funding formulas, school funding in California varies widely
between districts. AUSD receives less state funding per pupil than
any other school district in Alameda County, and well below the state average.
In some cases, the funding difference is small; for example, in the '07-'08
fiscal year Alameda will receive about $51 per less per student from the state
than Piedmont. But compared to Dublin, Alameda receives about $900 less per
student. Taken across the approximately 9,500 students currently in Alameda's
public schools, this puts us at a disadvantage of around $8.5 million per year
relative to Dublin's school district.
The key point here is that the state does not treat districts equally. While all
public school districts are being impacted by the state funding cuts, they're
not all starting from the same point. Alameda's public
schools have endured cuts of $7 million in the previous seven years. It isn't
possible to absorb the upcoming cuts of $4.5 million without devastating
cutbacks in programs and school sites.
It's critical that the proposed parcel tax be passed at the June ballot in order
to maintain the quality of public education in Alameda.
Why can't we pass a bond instead of a parcel tax?
School districts can place bond measures on the ballot to cover
non-recurring expenditures like site maintenance, construction,
and purchase of equipment. Bond money cannot be used to pay teacher and staff
salaries and benefits, which represent the majority of the district's ongoing
operational expenditures. A parcel tax is the ONLY legal way for the
district to raise revenue to cover general fund expenses such as salaries.
Who is exempt from the parcel tax?
The proposed parcel tax provides an optional exemption for seniors (age 65
years or older) on their primary residence, and for owners of single family
residences receiving supplemental security income for disability,
regardless of age.
Neither exemption is automatic. Owners must apply to the district for these
exemptions, using a form available from the district's Chief Financial Officer's
office.
Why are seniors exempted from the proposed parcel tax? Isn't that unfair?
Two exemptions to parcel taxes are permissible under current California state
law: an exemption for seniors aged 65 and older and for those of any
age receiving supplemental security income for disability. In both cases, the
exemption applies to an owner's primary, single family residence.
Some people observe that the senior exemption is not based on the ability of
a person to pay the tax, and is therefore unfair. Regardless of the perceived
fairness of this exemption, it is lawful, and Alameda's current school
parcel tax also includes such an exemption for seniors, many of whom are on
moderate, fixed incomes. State law does not permit us a more targeted means
of protecting low-income and fixed-income households.
Alameda's current school parcel tax passed by a very slim margin
in 2005. By including a senior exemption in the proposed parcel tax
measure, we are recognizing that Alameda's seniors continue to make up a
significant portion of the voting demographic. It would be unwise to put the
parcel tax measure – and the ongoing quality of Alameda's
public schools – at risk, by not including a senior exemption.
Nevertheless, it is important to recognize the benefits that all members of
the Alameda community derive from excellent public schools. Seniors are not
automatically exempted, and we urge those who are able to not opt out.
I'm a senior, why should I pay the parcel tax?
Under the proposed parcel tax, as a person aged 65 or older, you are entitled
to apply for an exemption from the tax on the primary, single-family residence
that you own.
However, there are some good reasons why you should consider paying the $120
yearly tax rather than applying for the exemption. The parcel tax money stays
in Alameda and is used entirely for the benefit of Alameda's public
schools, an important part of the Alameda community. The value of
residential property in Alameda is in some part a reflection of the quality of
our schools. Many families with school-aged children relocate from other cities
to Alameda in order to attend our schools.
By choosing to pay the tax, you are making an investment in Alameda's public
schools and the Alameda community, which helps to preserve – and improve
– the value of your house, and the quality of life we enjoy in Alameda.
I'm a senior, how do I claim an exemption?
If you are 65 years or older, you can claim an exemption from the parcel tax,
for your primary, single-family residence. To qualify for an exemption in the
upcoming 2008-'09 tax year, you must be 65 or older, on or before June 30th
2009. You must file for the exemption by June 30th, 2008.
The form to file for an exemption is available from
AUSD, or from KASE's website.
I don't have kids in Alameda's public schools, why should I care about the
parcel tax?
Property in Alameda is so highly valued, at least in part, because of
the quality of our schools. Many families with school-aged children
have relocated from other cities to Alameda in order to attend our schools,
which, in turn, has increased home values. Relatively low levels
of crime and public nuisance in Alameda are, in many ways, attributable to a
youth community that is taking advantage of the good educational opportunities
here, and is positively and actively engaged in many aspects of our schools
and the wider community.
Revenues from the proposed parcel tax will stay in Alameda and will be used only
for the benefit of Alameda's public schools. By supporting and paying a school
parcel tax, homeowners are making a relatively modest investment that will
pay back high returns in the form of property valuation and quality
of life.
I'm a renter, why should I vote for the parcel tax?
If you already have children attending Alameda's public schools, or expect to
in the future, then you have a very direct stake in the quality of public
education in Alameda. By voting in support of the parcel tax, you
will help to ensure that Alameda's schools can continue to offer excellent
educational programs in spite of the state's cuts to education funding.
If you do not have children in Alameda's public schools, your stake is less
direct but nevertheless it is still real. Alameda's public schools form an
important part of our community, and contribute directly to the quality of
life we enjoy here. Relatively low levels of crime and public nuisance
in Alameda are in many ways attributable to a youth community that is taking
advantage of the good educational opportunities here, and is positively
and actively engaged in many aspects of our schools and the wider community.
What will the parcel tax money be spent on?
The full text of the parcel tax measure outlines the general areas that tax
revenues will be spent on: protecting the quality of education, student safety,
preserving small class sizes, retaining excellent teachers and staff, and
minimizing school closures, cuts to music, athletics, advanced placement
courses and other programs. The measure further notes that all money raised by
the tax will stay in Alameda and will not be used for administrator salaries.
How will we know that the parcel tax money is being spent as promised?
The proposed tax measure requires that a citizens oversight committee be
established to oversee how parcel tax funds are spent and to ensure that the
funds are spent wisely, and for the purposes approved by the voters. The
committee will report to the community on an annual basis about how the funds
are being spent.
When the last parcel tax passed, they said they wouldn't close schools but
then they did – what happened there?
After the 2005 parcel tax passed, brand-new Ruby Bridges
elementary school opened on the west end. The school board consolidated three
very small schools into Ruby Bridges, bringing about some economic efficiencies
that have allowed other program cuts to be avoided. While it was heart-breaking
for the schools affected (Woodstock, Longfellow and Miller), maintaining these
small schools of 200 or less students was not feasible. Our district's smallest
school is now Franklin Elementary, with 285 students at capacity.
Why isn't Alameda's school district funded the same as other school districts?
Doesn't the law require that?
The short answer is no, the law doesn't requires all school districts to be
funded equally. It merely requires funding to be within some range of
a state-wide average. Alameda is currently funded at a relatively low level
compared to other Alameda County districts such as Dublin.
The drive towards equalization of funding across school districts in California
can be traced back to the Serrano decision that was delivered nearly 40 years
ago, but is complicated by subsequent legislation including Proposition 13
and Proposition 98. For a more detailed discussion, please refer to AUSD Board
Member
Mike McMahon's website,
and the
Budget and Funding pages at
www.californiaschoolfinance.org.
Why hasn't Alameda's School District done something to address the
funding inequities that mean Alameda gets less state funding than other
school districts?
As AUSD Board Member
Mike McMahon's
website reports, there has been ongoing work in this area both by the AUSD and
other Alamedans:
For the record, AUSD has been actively lobbying Sacramento. In December, 2007,
AUSD representatives presented Senator Perata with a
legislative wish list. In February, 2008, thanks to the efforts to Trish
Spencer and the PTA council, close to a
thousand letters were
delivered to state legislators.
In response to 2007 budget cuts, Alameda for Better Schools began examining
options for a legal challenge to the funding inequity problem. In June, 2007,
Ann Casper and Rob Siltanen presented a
progress report
on mounting a legal challenge.
Alameda High School teacher Rob Siltanen's blog entry,
Tectonic Plates, Pie and Measure H provides a more detailed introduction to
the complexity of the problem.
Why is class size reduction proposed to be cut? Doesn't the state pay
for that program?
The state does not fully fund the Class Size Reduction (CSR) program which
keeps class sizes at 20 students per class in grades K-3, and in grade 9
English and Mathematics classes. The school district incurs a yearly budget
cost to implement the program. The 2005 parcel tax provided funds to help
maintain CSR at the level we have it today
The new budget cuts we are facing in 2008/9 put the program under threat once
again: the governor's proposed budget cuts will further reduce the level at
which the state funds CSR. While CSR was one of several items to be funded by
our 2005 parcel tax fund, it needs to be prioritized against all the other
programs competing for the same dollars.
Why will schools close if this parcel tax does not pass?
Quite simply, the district will not have sufficient funds to keep all our
current schools open.
At many times in recent years, the Alameda community has affirmed its
preference for small, neighborhood elementary schools, and the three middle
schools that the district currently operates. Yet operating larger numbers of
smaller schools comes at a price, in terms of economic efficiency. Put another
way, it is cheaper to deliver educational services to one larger school than
it is to two smaller ones.
The district's proposed cuts include restructuring of elementary, middle and
high schools in '09-'10. While no specific plan is defined as yet, this is
likely to mean merging of schools to eliminate some of the smallest.
Franklin, Edison and Washington elementary schools are currently the smallest
in our district. Wood middle school has lower attendance than Lincoln and
Chipman.
Why are we bailing out the state by attempting to pass a parcel tax?
There is no doubt that our current funding crisis has its roots at the state
level. Some people suggest that we should not act locally, instead throwing
the problem back at the state and forcing them to fix the problem.
Clearly we need to pursue remedies at the state level, to secure stabilized and
equitable funding for our local schools. Various strategies to do this are
being looked at by the district and other community groups like
Alameda Education Foundation. But the
timeframe for change at this level is long, possibly five years or more.
In the meantime, we have to make some immediate choices. The district has
proposed devastating program cuts which, absent any revenue from a new parcel
tax, will have to be made in order to balance the school district's budget for
'08-'09. Alternatively, we could proceed without any planned cuts which, without
additional revenue from a parcel tax, would put the school district budget into
deficit. Such a budget would put the district at risk of default and of being
taken over by the state, as recently happened in Oakland. The hope would be
that the state moves quickly to address the budget issue.
A strategy of no cuts, absent a parcel tax, would essentially gamble our public
schools and the quality of our children's education against the ability of the
state to quickly address educational funding issues. Based on the track record
of the state legislature, that is not a bet that Alameda should make with
something as important as our schools and our children.
We must act locally, passing a parcel tax to allow us to maintain the excellence
of our schools, and simultaneously, we must work for change at the state level
to fix the long-term, structural issues with
education funding. Passing a parcel tax does not mean that we are bailing the
state out or letting them off the hook.
Does this proposed parcel tax replace the existing school parcel tax?
No, the proposed parcel tax is in addition to the existing school parcel tax.
The new parcel tax is designed to deliver revenue to offset the new budget cuts
that we are now facing, not the pre-existing budget reductions that the
existing parcel tax currently addresses.
The existing parcel tax expires in 2012, as does the new parcel tax that
is currently proposed.
I've heard that Oakland students will be supported with money from this
parcel tax, is that true?
Out of a total of around 10,000 students, Alameda school district currently has
approximately 400 Oakland students attending Alameda public schools under an
inter-district transfer. Each student brings in $5,777 in Average Daily
Attendance (ADA) funding from the state, and will benefit from maintaining
school programs just like every other student.
There are fewer kids in Alameda's public schools these days, why do we need
more money?
Decline in enrollment in Alameda's schools has been ongoing for several years.
The district has acted accordingly, closing schools and reducing programs,
enabling it to operate within its means.
The real problem is not decline in enrollment but a budget shortfall that
instantly removes $4.5 million from the district's operating budget. While
per-student overhead remains the same, our per-student funding is being reduced.
The proposed parcel tax aims to address that shortfall.
Why don't we just charge parents $200 per child they have in school?
The district has no authority to mandate such a charge to parents. Any
money given by parents has to be voluntary. Voluntary and charitable donations
to the school district are welcome, but cannot be used to pay ongoing,
recurring expenditures such as teacher and staff salaries and benefits, which
account for the majority of the district's ongoing operational budget.
The only mechanism by which the district is authorized to raise revenues is
by means of a parcel tax.
There are lots of grants available from philanthropic organizations, why
don't we ask those to save our schools?
Charitable donations to the school district are welcome, but cannot by law be
used to pay ongoing, recurring expenditures such as teacher and staff salaries
and benefits, which account for the majority of the district's ongoing
operational budget.
Who determines who is on the citizens oversight committee?
The citizens oversight committee is appointed by the School Board, based on
recommendations from the district staff which the Board reviews and votes on.
