Schools

School Board: Bond Measure, Parcel Tax Both Options For Ballot

While a bond measure would be more likely to pass, its success depends on whether the state holds a special election in June. The parcel tax would provide more immediate relief, but the school board is taking a chance with voters' support.

The board agreed this week to move forward with both a bond measure and parcel tax in hopes that the positive results from a public opinion poll will turn into votes at the ballot box if a special election is called in June.

While most of the school board members favored a parcel tax because it would provide more immediate relief to the district’s general fund—expected to face a more than $1 million deficit next year—the board decided that placing a general obligation bond on the ballot first would boost the district’s chances of passing a tax measure.

General obligation bonds only require 55 percent approval to pass, while parcel taxes require two-thirds approval. Bond measures can only be spent on facilities and equipment and not on teacher salaries or other operating expenses. In the district’s , 69 percent of people said they would support a bond measure. But the district can only put a bond measure on the ballot if Gov. Jerry Brown and the state Legislature .

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That’s what has sparked the district’s dilemma. And the presence of the dilemma is why the board decided to move forward with both options—a bond measure if the special election is called, a parcel tax if not.

School trustee Jim Prescott said he favored the bond measure because, based on the survey results, the chances of it passing looked more promising and the district’s capital improvement projects would get the funding they need.

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The other board members favored the parcel tax because of concerns over the district’s general fund, even though the survey results showed the district would be taking more of a chance with voters. When asked whether they would support a $96 tax per parcel, which would produce $1.2 million annually for the district, only about 60 percent of voters said they would support it.

School trustee Henry Sanchez said he had faith in the voters to pass both measures, especially if more people were made aware that the district’s support from the state has been dwindling. If the bond measure was put on the ballot and passed, Sanchez added, the district could ask the voters to pass the parcel tax during the next election.

“I would go with (funding) the capital improvements to get everything done that they we want to do and to make sure that we have great infrastructure,” Sanchez said at the school board special meeting on Wednesday, referring to the bond measure. “Then, based on the (district’s) economic state in terms of funding, I think a parcel tax is a possible option.”

San Bruno Education Foundation President Patrick Flynn said he agreed with that method, although he added that voters would likely favor a general obligation bond because the district could be held more accountable for where the public’s money is going.

“I really think that if you’re going to do both, and you really think the district needs both,” Flynn told the school board, “I would do a G.O. bond first, then a parcel tax, because you can show what you’ve done.”


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