Minding Q and W and Davis Students

This Thursday the Davis Joint Unified School District’s Board of Education will continue discussion of renewal of the community’s instructional parcel taxes, a discussion that began at the January 21^st meeting. The presentation supporting Thursday’s discussion is posted online with the public agenda.

A little context may be helpful to those new to the topic.

What is an Instructional Parcel Tax?

California’s Proposition 13 permits school districts to raise local funds by levying a non-ad valorem tax – a flat rate on property, independent of its value - provided two-thirds of voters within the district’s boundary approve.  The revenue generated can then be used to provide instructional programs, as defined by the ballot language, for the term of the tax.  (To raise funds for facility improvements, districts ask voters to approve a General Obligation bond.)

From 1983 through November 2009, there have been 503 parcel tax elections in the state of California.  273 (54%) passed successfully.  Of those failing, 193 (38%) received the support of a majority of voters, but did not reach the two-thirds threshold. 8% failed to gain even a majority. (Ed-Data, 2010)

Most recently, in November 2009, seven of eleven parcel tax measures were successful.  Noted State Superintendent Jack O’Connell, “I was extremely pleased that, even during these difficult economic times, voters continue to support California students by approving the majority of local school bonds in this election.”

Davis Parcel Taxes

Davis voters approved their first parcel tax in 1984: $45/parcel for a term of four years.  Since then, the parcel tax has been renewed every four years with never less than 70% voter approval.   One General Obligation bond did fail in 1997 with only 62.8% support. (Note: Click on the table for better viewing.)

Currently Existing Davis Parcel Taxes

Measure Q, passed in November 2007, levies a tax of $200 per parcel ($100 per dwelling for multi-dwelling properties) which sunsets June 30, 2012.  The programs funded by Measure Q are:

• reading specialists and aides;
• training for all district teachers and staff;
• school-based technology support, classroom and library materials;
• additional class periods and teachers so secondary schools can offer music, art, foreign languages and career/technical courses;
• class size reduction programs;
• school counselors, nurses and others providing direct student support services;
• improving nutrition at schools by providing students with fresh farm produce and;
• a math specialist program for classroom support.

In response to the state budget crisis, a second emergency parcel tax was passed by the Davis community in 2008.  Measure W, which also sunsets in June 2012, levies an additional tax of $120/parcel ($50/dwelling) to restore the following programs:

• elementary science instruction;
• availability of class periods for core science, math, English, and social sciences;
• elementary music;
• librarians at elementary and secondary schools;
• secondary class size reduction for 9th and 10th grade English and math;
• availability of class periods for foreign language, music and physical education and
• athletics and co-curricular programs including drama, debate and journalism programs.

It is important to note that parcel tax revenues often fund only a small portion of a program, and not the entire program.

Collectively, Measures Q and W generate $6.6 million annually for the school district, or about $776 per student.  Voluntary senior exemptions are in place for both parcel taxes.   A Citizen’s Oversight Committee monitors that tax revenues are spent in accordance with the ballot language, and most recently reported to the Board of Education in January.

The State Funding Crisis Worsens

Unfortunately, the first round of budget cuts was closely followed by an economic meltdown on Wall Street.  Since Measure W passed, the district’s funding has been cut an additional $1,000/student by the state and a $5.6 million budget gap has re-opened, despite the community’s parcel taxes and fundraising efforts.  The Board of Education will consider on Thursday whether it is appropriate to return to voters early with a new or replacement parcel tax and if so: when, in what amount, which programs to include, and for what duration of time.  These decisions are often guided by community discussion and polling, as was done prior to placing Measure W on the ballot in 2008.

On the State Front: Two-thirds or 55%?

What of California communities that cannot garner the support of two-thirds of voters to successfully pass a parcel tax?  Two efforts offer hope.

Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) has proposed lowering the vote threshold for instructional parcel taxes to 55%.  SCA 6 is currently wending its way through the legislative process, but thus far has not gained the needed support of two-thirds of state lawmakers.

For that reason, Californians for Improved School Funding are spearheading a signature gathering campaign to place an initiative, the Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act, on the November 2010 ballot, lowering the vote threshold to 55%.  Former State Superintendent and Davis resident Delaine Eastin is a supporter, noting:

“California has the largest class size in America.  We have the fewest number of counselors, nurses, librarians and school psychologists per capita in America.  The Governor has shortened the school year from 180 to 175 days when the rest of the First World’s children are going to school from 200 to 260 days a year.  We fail to provide universal preschool when all of our competitor nations do.  The finest community college system in the world is being starved even as it is being asked to take more and more students.  Let us bring back local control by bringing back more independent sources of revenue.”

The Davis School Board put their support behind these communities with a resolution adopted in June 2009:

Resolution No. 61-09

Endorsing Senate Constitutional Amendment 6:

A Resolution to Propose the People Amend the Constitution to Lower the Vote Threshold to 55 Percent for School Districts to Pass Local Parcel Taxes

WHEREAS, proposed Senate Constitutional Amendment 6, (Simitian, D-Palo Alto) would place a constitutional amendment before the voters to lower the vote threshold to 55 percent for school districts, community college districts and county offices of education to pass local parcel taxes; and

WHEREAS, the students of the Davis Joint Unified School District benefit from two local parcel taxes, Measure Q and Measure W, passed in 2007 and 2008, respectively, with more than two-thirds support of the electorate and which now fund valued educational programs; and

WHEREAS, lowering the parcel tax vote threshold to 55% from two-thirds would empower local voters in other communities to invest in their schools based on the needs of their students; and

WHEREAS, this measure is vitally important as the Legislature has already approved cuts of $5.4 billion to public education this year and another $700 million of cuts next year, and additional cuts of $5.3 billion are on the table; and

WHEREAS, difficult and devastating reductions to educational programs and services have already been made across the state and more will be required in the coming months; and

WHEREAS, voters have continuously expressed that investing in children’s education is a top priority and should be given the opportunity to demonstrate that support in the election booth,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Education endorses SCA 6 and urges Assemblymember Mariko Yamada and Senator Lois Wolk, and legislators in all districts, to support this important legislation.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of June 2009 by the following vote:

AYES: Allen, Daleiden, Harris, Lovenburg, Taylor

NOES: None

ABSTAIN: None

For additional information: School Finance Highlights 2009-10: The Impact of the Fiscal Crisis on California Public Schools (EdSource, 2010)