The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce has announced that it will support a new proposed tax on property owners to fund the cash-strapped Santa Monica- Malibu Unified School District.
The decision came last week when the chamber’s board of directors unanimously voted to support the $225 flat parcel tax, which will be voted on by Santa Monicans in a June 3 special election. The tax would bring in more than $6 million annually to the district for six years.
The chamber’s political action committee will devote its resources to the issue and attempt to make sure the measure passes at the polls.
The chamber board also voted to request that the city provide immediate funding to the school district, which has requested millions of dollars more than the $3.5 million annual contribution. The district is estimating to be short about $14 million next year as a result of cuts from the state.
“As a Santa Monica business owner and resident, I am willing to commit to paying the $225 parcel tax at my home and my business in order to support our schools,” said Dr. Michael Gruning, who owns Dr. Gruning Eyecare on Montana Avenue and also is the chamber board’s chairman-elect. “I will encourage my fellow residents and business associates to do the same. The city also needs to provide increased and ongoing support to the school district.”
It is unknown whether the chamber would have supported one of the other proposals that the district was considering, like the $60 flat fee with a 7-cent tax for every square foot of developed property, or another proposal which called for a $110 flat rate and a 5-cent tax for every square foot of developed space.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 3, 2003. Read the original PDF.