For tax to succeed, district can’t leave anyone out
School officials will likely face the same challenges as they did last fall when they attempt to convince voters to increase their taxes this June.
That’s the feeling school supporters got from a recent poll taken of more than 400 residents last week.
The poll asked registered voters in Malibu and Santa Monica which of three proposals they would approve at a special election on June 3.
Each proposal would generate about $6.5 million for the school district, which is facing a loss of nearly $19 million in state funding during the current year and next year.
In November, the Santa Monica-Malibu School District suffered a defeat when it asked voters to approve a $300 parcel tax annually for 12 years.
“I think some people thought the school district is crying wolf again, but I think those people understand now that there are going to be real cuts,” said Neil Carrey, chair of the committee investigating a possible parcel tax.
5BB,“This is not just talk to scare the city or the voters,” he said. “If the parcel tax doesn’t pass, there are going to be great, devastating cuts.”
Nearly 60 percent expressed support for a flat $225 parcel tax and another proposal that would institute a $60 flat amount with a 7 cent tax for every square foot of development on the property.
Under the latter proposal, a renter or an owner of a 1,500-square-foot condo or apartment would pay $165 annually. Meanwhile, the owner of a 10,000-square-foot retail store would pay $765 annually.
“It was interesting to see that the things people thought would be a major impact actually wouldn’t be.” — — NEIL CARREY Parcel tax committee chair
Barely 50 percent said they would approve a third proposal that calls for a $110 flat rate and a 5 cent tax for every square foot of developed space. Officials said that proposal is now dead.
School district officials hope the new proposals — which exempt residents over 65 and shortens the tax’s lifespan from 12 to six years — will gain the support needed to pass.
The poll found that those who voted against the previous parcel tax said they did so because it was either too much money; it overburdened property owners or they never vote for new taxes. Some suggested that there’s already enough taxes to support the schools or that the district isn’t using its money wisely.
Officials said the impact on the business community has to be considered when choosing which option to place on the ballot. Some fear business interests would fight any measure because the burden would fall far heavier on merchants than residents.
Also, the exemption for residents 65 and older — a demographic that usually votes more often — is key to a parcel tax’s success, poll results indicate. The exemption would not be automatic and eligible residents would have to apply for the exemption.
“It seems like one of those significant things that can make a difference in the outcome of the election,” Carrey said. “It’s one of those things seniors want for security... They want the security of knowing it’s there even though they may not want to use it right now.”
Of the 402 respondents of the poll, the majority were between 35 and 59 — with an almost equal number of males and females. More than 90 percent of the respondents said they voted in the November election.
Nearly 55 percent identified themselves as Democrats; 25 percent as Republicans and another 20 percent said they vote for a third party.
Fifty-seven percent said they owned their property, while 41 percent said they were renters. The majority said they lived in residences with between 1,000 to 2,499 square feet of space.
One lesson school officials said they took away from their previous loss as well as the poll results is that for a new tax to succeed, it cannot ignore the concerns of any group.
“In an election where you need two-thirds of the vote, every group is significant,” said Ralph Mechur, a parcel tax committee member.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 22, 2003. Read the original PDF.