In June 2001, over 75% of local voters approved a parcel tax that currently provides $5.5 million each year to attract and retain quality teachers, reduce class sizes, and support important educational programs.  This stable source of local funding helped our schools weather the economic downturn and state budget crisis. If the existing parcel tax expires without a replacement, our schools will lose $5.5 million and new, deep, and unprecedented cuts to teachers and core academic programs will be unavoidable.

The November 2004 parcel tax, Measure I, would have replaced the June 2001 parcel tax and increased the annual amount to $521.  Measure I received over 22,000 yes votes.  It was less than 1% short of the needed 66.7% for approval.  Earlier this year, the PAUSD Board of Education voted to place a $493 parcel tax, Measure A, on the June 7 ballot.  If passed, this measure will provide $9.3 million annually for six years and replace the current parcel tax that expires next year.

THE PROBLEM

THE SOLUTION - A WISE INVESTMENT

IMPORTANT FACTS

COMMON MYTHS

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP PASS Measure A

The Problem 
Budget cuts have put the quality of our local schools at risk.

Since January 2003, the Palo Alto Unified School District has cut $6.5 million from its budget and used $3.4 million from its limited reserves.  Four major factors contributed to the need for budget cuts: 

1. For many years PAUSD received “Basic Aid” funds from the State. Starting in 2003 the state took away these and other funds to help balance the state budget. PAUSD has now lost a total of $4.4 million in annual state funds over the last three years.   

2. Unlike many school districts, PAUSD does not receive increased funding when additional students enroll. Over the past three years, PAUSD has grown by 594 students but there has been no increased revenue to pay for these children’s education.  The unfunded cost for these students alone is now $3 million annually.  It is anticipated that the district will grow by another 942 students over the next five years.

3. Like any other employer, the school district’s costs for healthcare benefits, insurance, utilities, and many other items increase over time.  When revenues increase more slowly than expenses, educational programs must be curtailed to cover increasing costs. 

4. 70% of PAUSD’s funding comes from local property taxes.  While the market value of homes in Palo Alto has continued to increase in recent years, the growth in assessed value is capped by Proposition 13, leading to limited gains in residential property tax revenue for our schools.  To make matters worse, commercial property values have declined significantly since the economic downturn.  In all, property tax revenues for our schools have not kept pace with the increasing cost of operating schools and educating children.   

PAUSD has taken tremendous steps to minimize the impact of budget cutbacks on classroom instruction. The District has cut administrators by 13%, reducing these positions to just under 5% of PAUSD staff. The District has examined all facets of its operation to implement efficiencies including combining or eliminating positions, managing the use of utilities at all sites, and cutting expenditures for overtime and substitute teachers. Future cuts, however, will have a major impact on classroom instruction. 

Unless Measure A passes even more drastic cuts are imminent.

In June 2001, over 75% of local voters approved a parcel tax that currently provides $5.5 million each year to attract and retain quality teachers, reduce class size, and support important educational programs. This stable source of local funding helped our schools weather the economic downturn and state budget crisis – but it expires next year. Without Measure A, our schools will lose $5.5 million annually and new, deep, and unprecedented cuts to teachers and core academic programs will be unavoidable.

.... back to top of page

THE SOLUTION - A WISE INVESTMENT

Vote Yes on Measure A!  The PAUSD Board of Education voted earlier this year to place Measure A, a $493 parcel tax, on the June 7 ballot.  If passed, Measure A will provide $9.3 million annually for six years and replace the current parcel tax that will expire next year.  Specifically, Measure A funds will be used to:

.... back to top of page

Important Facts 

Click Here to
Download and print the Senior Exemption Form (an Acrobat PDF file)

.... back to top of page

Common Myths

Myth: PAUSD doesn’t need the money.

Truth: In the past two years reduced revenues from the state and increased costs have forced PAUSD to cut $6.5 million in annual programs and use $3.4 million of limited reserves.  If Measure A is not approved, PAUSD will have to cut another $5.5 million from its budget next year.

Myth: PAUSD spends too much on administration and pays its teachers too much.

Truth: PAUSD has cut its number of administrators by 13%; administrators now represent slightly less than 5% of total staff.  PAUSD starting teacher salary is $44,268. In comparison, Mountain View/Los Altos HS District starts at $49,518, Los Gatos/Saratoga HS District starts at $46,704, and Menlo Park Elementary District starts at $42,956.

Myth: PAUSD voluntarily allows 900 students from other districts to attend our schools.

Truth: Only about 130 out-of-district students attend our schools at PAUSD’s discretion and almost all of these are children of District employees.  This serves as a very effective teacher retention program for PAUSD.  Approximately 560 additional students transfer to our schools under a 1986 court order that requires PAUSD to accept a set number of students from East Palo Alto and portions of Menlo Park. 

.... back to top of page

What you can do to help pass Measure A...

Remember: Our children’s education, the value of our property, and the future of our community are inextricably linked to the excellence of our schools. Hundreds of volunteers have mounted a grassroots campaign to pass this important measure.  To get involved:
email Samir Tuma at volunteer@campaignforexcellence.org , or call 650-424-8823.

For more information visit: www.campaignforexcellence.org

Or email info@campaignforexcellence.org

.... back to top of page

[ Back ] [ Home ] [ Next ]

Send mail to webmaster@campaignforexcellence.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 06/06/05