Thursday Jul 24

School board weighs parcel tax increase

Measure needed to avoid deficit spending in San Carlos; poll shows support

By Mark Abramson / Daily News Staff Writer

The San Carlos school board is seeking more money through a higher parcel tax, and a small survey of likely voters suggests it would be approved.

The recent poll of 402 San Carlos voters showed strong support for a parcel tax measure. San Carlos has 22,469 registered voters, and 18,552 of them consistently vote, San Mateo County Elections Office officials said.

About 72 percent of the respondents said they would favor renewing and increasing the district's $109.73 annual parcel tax, which expires June 30, 2011. Poll figures also showed that an increase of up to $83 would receive the two-thirds vote needed to pass the measure.

The parcel tax is used to fund programs that promote early reading, writing and literacy, maintain class sizes, retain teachers and staff, fund technology, and maintain safe schools.

Additional funds from a higher parcel tax most likely would be spent to cover the rising costs for those programs, Superintendent Steven Mitrovich said.

"My guess is it will either be $83 or $75," Board Vice President Carrie Du Bois said about the potential parcel tax increase.

Du Bois said she was optimistic that the measure would pass if it's on the November ballot.

"People have a lot of affinity for their public schools. I'm not concerned," Du Bois said. "I have a lot of confidence in our community. I think people have been well educated on the lack of funding from Sacramento."

The district, with an annual $21 million budget, has not decided how it will use the extra money if the measure passes, but it will prevent deficit spending, Mitrovich said.

California's budget squeeze and its effect on school funding means the district will have to use $580,000 of its $2.7 million reserve fund this fiscal year, $515,000 next year and $346,000 in two years, Mitrovich added.

Board members will meet at 7 tonight at the district's office - 826 Chestnut St. in San Carlos - to discuss the parcel tax proposal. If the board decides to put the measure on the November ballot, it would meet again Aug. 4 to finalize those plans, Mitrovich said.

The deadline to submit the necessary paperwork to the county for a November ballot measure is Aug. 8.



E-mail Mark Abramson at mabramson@dailynewsgroup.com.