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# Measure R
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/measure-r/
- Published: 2008-02-04T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T18:19:47.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Malibu, #archive-import

Nothing is more important than our children and their education. That is why the Daily Press is urging voters to support Measure R, which combines two existing parcel taxes — S and Y — that provide roughly $10 million annually to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District to help pay for highly-qualified teachers and instructional materials, among other necessities for achievement.

S and Y will expire in ‘09 and ‘11 respectively, putting the education of our kids in jeopardy while forcing City Hall to consider spending more general fund money to maintain the high level of services currently offered.

Supporting Measure R, which requires a two-thirds vote both in Santa Monica and Malibu, is crucial in light of the budget crisis in Sacramento, where the Legislature is facing a $14.5 billion deficit heading into the next fiscal year. The governor has already proposed a 10 percent cut across the board and education is traditionally an area that is raided to fill budget gaps.

While education is one of the few issues that brings people from across the ideological spectrum together (Santa Monicans for Renters Rights and the Chamber of Commerce are united on this one, which is rare), there are still those who are opposed to this measure, particularly folks in Malibu who feel the school board has neglected them by allocating less of Measure BB funds to Malibu schools. There are also those who are concerned about Measure R’s lack of a sunset date and a senior exemption for renters, and are concerned about SMMUSD’s ability to be transparent and fiscally responsible.

Those concerns are valid, but when looking at what is at stake, the Daily Press can’t help but support Measure R. This will allow educators and community members to focus on other important issues instead of having to pound the pavement every few years to pass another parcel tax. Accountability and oversight will be key, and it is up to all of us to make sure the money is being spent wisely — if not, then don’t re-elect school board members. Let’s pass this and let our educators focus on what is really important, the three R’s.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 4, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/020408.pdf?ref=smdp.com)