By Daily Press staff
Santa Monica voters will be asked to shell-out $300 more in parcel taxes next year.
An ad-hoc committee created by the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District recommended this week the district place an initiative on the November ballot that would raise parcel taxes roughly 300 percent over the $100 property owners currently pay.
The committee authorized a telephone poll of 500 residents that found 57 percent would support a $300 parcel tax increase. The district will need a two-thirds approval by voters for the tax to take effect.
Due to a dramatic decrease in state funding, the school district faces a $4.5 million budget deficit this year. Through severe cutbacks and an additional $1.5 million from Santa Monica, the school district will be able to balance its books this year.
However, district officials anticipate another $5.7 million budget deficit next year and they warn without the parcel tax increase the district will have to make even more drastic cuts.
Parcel taxes are flat fees charged to property owners, which also can be passed along to renters of apartments.
Besides state funds and annual donations from Santa Monica and Malibu — the two cities that comprise the school district — money from parcel taxes is how the school district pays for providing education.
There are 32,413 parcels in the two cities, and the increased parcel tax rate would annually give the school district an additional $9.6 million. However the tax would not go into effect until next fiscal year, beginning in July.
The final version of the ballot initiative will be presented to the school board for approval at its June 27 meeting.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 20, 2002. Read the original PDF.