Election 2006: From pot law to millions worth of school upgrades
MAIN LIBRARY —It was lights, camera, action here Tuesday night as supporters and opponents of five local ballot measures squared off in the first video-taped debate of the election season.
The evening of verbal jousting, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Center for Governmental Studies, will be broadcast on City TV, channel 16, beginning Monday, Oct. 2. The forums will run nearly every day until Election Day, Nov. 7.
Those who tune in are sure to see lively debates for the most part, as only one measure — one in which would give the City Manager more power to fire top officials — failed to draw any opponents.
Exchanges were heated, with some interrupting each another. However, moderator Sandy Jacobson kept passions from boiling over into anger and verbal attacks, providing equal time to both sides. The audience was light, with only a handful of spectators attending.
Here is a brief look at some of the measures and the arguments for and against: Citing the need to repair leaky roofs, improve computer technology and replace deteriorating, 30-year-old school restrooms, the school board Aug. 3 voted to place a $268 million bond measure on the ballot.
No money would be used to pay salaries or other administrative costs, district officials said.
Measure BB must be approved by 55 percent of voters in Santa Monica and Malibu before any money is issued. If so, property owners can expect to pay an additional $30 for every $100,000 of assessed value when their property taxes are due.
The measure comes as school officials complete an extensive community outreach process to develop a facilities master plan, which will drive land use in the district for the next 20 years.
School board members and other supporters believe the money is needed to prepare the district for the future, which could include the construction of new classrooms to ease overcrowding at some of the district’s largest schools, including John Adams Middle School and Santa Monica High School.
“I wish we received enough funding from the state, but we don’t,” said John Petz, a parent of a Samohi sophomore and member of the Committee for School Safety and Repair, which is backing the measure. “There is no knight in shining armor who is going to come in and save us. The responsibility falls with us.”
Those opposed point to two parcel taxes — Measures S and Y — already providing roughly $10 million a year for district operations, as well as declining enrollment figures as reasons not to support a new tax.
Opponents also believe money generated by the measure would not be distributed equally throughout the district, with Malibu schools receiving less. They also contend school officials have been vague in terms of identifying where the money would be spent.
“Malibu represents one-eighth of the population in the district, but one-fourth of the assessed value,” said Wade Major, an activist who opposes the measure.“This creates a disproportionate burden on Malibu to pay for repairs and new classrooms in Santa Monica.”
A district-sponsored survey conducted by an independent firm in Santa Monica found that an overwhelming majority of the 500 voters contacted said they would support a bond if the tax level stayed at or below $30.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 21, 2006. Read the original PDF.