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# School board to form committee weighing a 2008 parcel tax renewal
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/a-report-by-the-fiscal-crisis-management-assistance-team-in-february-indicated-that-time-to-open-wallets-again/
- Published: 2007-05-03T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:40:33.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Education, Malibu, #archive-import

*New tax a possibility*

SMMUSD HDQTRS With an annual tax revenue stream of $6.4 million scheduled to stop flowing in two years, school officials are preparing to ask residents to open their wallets once again.

The Board of Education is expected to move forward tonight with the creation of an advisory ad hoc committee that would assist in determining whether or not the district should ask residents to approve a proposed parcel tax in spring 2008.

Approximately 68 percent of residents in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District approved Measure S in June 2003, handing the school district a check for $6.4 million a year in funding through 2009.

The success of a new parcel tax next year could be affected by a series of events this year that called into question school official’s management of funds and the district’s transparency in financial matters. Reports late last year that the district would be in the red if the board approved a 5 percent teacher salary increase raised a few eyebrows. Those reports were followed by the resignation of former CFO Winston Braham in November, amid rumors that he disagreed with the increase in salary and how it could hinder district finances. the district would be financially safe if the board approved the raise, pending a few adjustments.

For the past few months, several members of the community have spoken out during school board meetings, warning that the public might not be so open to another parcel tax given what had happened since November.

But neither the salary raise nor the alleged mismanagement of finances are creating the estimated $3 million gap in next year’s budget, said Harry Keiley, president of the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association. Rather, it’s the declining enrollment from a freeze on non-district students. State funding from student enrollment, which has continued to drop over the past few years, is one of the major sources of revenue for the district.

“I think it goes without saying the local support for our public schools is critical for our continued success in providing quality public schools for all children,” Keiley said on Wednesday. “I think we should do everything possible to be transparent about the district’s budget and make it as understandable to the general public as we can.”

The voters in the district have always shown love for public education in the past and that support should continue if another parcel tax is presented, said Shari Davis, co-chair of Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS).

The voters approved a $268 million bond measure in November to upgrade and repair school facilities. CEPS, a community advocacy group for the school district, was involved in the original Measure S campaign in 2003 as well as Measure BB.

“I have great confidence that they’ll continue to be supportive as we renew school funding,” Davis said on Wednesday. “This local funding makes a huge difference and really greatly contributes to the quality of schools here.”

If the committee feels that a new parcel tax is critical, it will be responsible for determining what the new parcel tax rate should be. Measure S assesses a rate of $225 per parcel.

The diverse 10 to 15 member committee is expected to include a member from the business community, a resident, representatives from the cities of Santa Monica and Malibu, and a member from each of the various parent groups and employee organizations.

A recommendation to the board is expected to be submitted no later than the last board meeting in September.

“The thinking of the board and the Financial Oversight Committee is that discussion regarding the renewal of a parcel tax should begin during the early part of 2007,” said Dr. Stephen Hodgson, the district’s interim chief financial officer.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 3, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/050307.pdf?ref=smdp.com)