> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Officials predict voters will pass education tax - URL: https://www.smdp.com/officials-predict-voters-will-pass-education-tax/ - Published: 2002-04-19T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T00:14:40.000Z - Author: Andrew Fixmer - Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import *City facing ‘some very tough choices,’councilman says* Andrew H. Fixmer Daily Staff Writer At least two Santa Monica officials are confident that local voters will pass a 250 percent increase in the city’s parcel tax to offset the school district’s looming multi-million dollar budget shortfall. “I think this is a community that values good education,” said Santa Monica City Councilman Ken Genser. “And I think there is a very good chance voters will approve it.” “I know I would vote in favor of it, at least.” Julia Brownley, president of the Santa Monica -Malibu United School District Board, said she too is confident the community would okay the tax. “Do we need to organize a group and get some money together for a political campaign? Absolutely,” she said. “But as far as I know...this area is very supportive of education, and will support a parcel tax increase.” Both officials cited the success of the March 5 ballot measure overwhelmingly approved by voters that will provide $160 million for improvements to Santa Monica College. During the next two budget years, the school district is facing a more than $5 million deficit, mostly from cuts in state funding and increases in expenses. In an April 17 memo to the school board, Superintendent John Deasy proposed asking the two cities in the district for $2.25 million more in funding, as well as asking voters for the parcel tax increase, which would take place over three years. Brownley said she supports Deasy’s recommendations. “We’ve been kind of preparing for this process,” Brownley said. “We are not in a crisis. We have been anticipating this for some time now, and we will be able to work through it.” The current parcel tax is $101.14\. With the proposed increase, it would jump to $360.14. Making matters worse for the school district, the state continues to lower the amount of money it pays for education. On Tuesday, it lowered the amount of it’s annual funding increase from an estimated 2.15 percent to 1.8 percent, costing the school district nearly $300,000\. Then on Thursday, the state increased the amount the school district will have to pay into its employees’ retirement plan from 12 percent to 25 percent. Deasy said he now believes the $2.5 million gap in funding for next year’s programs is “optimistic,” and will likely increase as the state further decreases education funding. The state is set to reassess how its limited funding will be divided up in May. It is believed that money earmarked for education will be used by the state to cover expenses incurred from last year’s energy crisis and the fallout from the current business recession. District officials said Santa Monica is in the bottom 25 percent of cities with parcel taxes. If the proposed increase is approved, the school district would average in the middle of all districts statewide. Parcel taxes are similar to property taxes. However, each property owner pays the same parcel tax, whereas property taxes usually are based on the estimated value of the property. Of cities with parcel taxes, Santa Monica has some of the lowest per pupil funding, school district officials said. A student attending the school district receives about $258 from parcel tax revenue. Deasy said Santa Monica is getting off light with a $3 million donation. The city of Beverly Hills, for example, pays $6 million to its school district, which is half the size of Santa Monica’s. However, Santa Monica is having its own budget problems. The current business recession and the fallout in tourism since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has left the city short $8.8 million in sales tax revenue. Santa Monica officials said they have known about the school district’s upcoming budget difficulties, but they aren’t sure if the city afford more than the $3 million it already provides. “I wouldn’t think we could find the kind of money they are looking for, but you never know what’s going to happen,” Genser said. “We truly have some very tough choices in front of us.” > “I wouldn’t think we could find the kind of money they are looking for.” — — KEN GENSER Santa Monica City Councilman 0 1 FAB 1 00050000000B00000002 0 1 FAB 0 *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 19, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/041902.pdf?ref=smdp.com)