By Dr. Lisette Bauersachs Santa Monica
SMMUSD is gearing up to propose a new parcel tax to cover a budget deficit. (”Time to open wallets again?,” page 1, May 3) In previous years, the PTA has helped to work phone banks and has given support for such parcel taxes. The issue is that Santa Monica residents will pay for this new school tax. Santa Monica taxpayers are being asked to cover a $3 million budget deficit, but not the 1,700 current out-of-district students who do not live here. That is not fair. It is important to determine the PTA’s opinion on the current moratorium that stops the issuance of permits to Los Angeles residents (with allowed exceptions). Moratoriums can be lifted at any time.
When the phone rings, and PTA asks you to support the new parcel tax, one should ask if the PTA supports Community Schools or the creation of Commuter Schools with thousands of Los Angeles City residents commuting into our City to attend our great schools? I, personally, cannot endorse a new parcel tax if there is no guarantee that my tax dollars will not be used to subsidize thousands of L.A. residents (like the current situation). I would like to hear PTA’s stand on the issue of out-of-district permits. It is widely known that one Santa Monica elementary school is nearly 50 percent LAUSD students.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 7, 2007. Read the original PDF.