My topic is the Parcel Tax proposed on the June 07, 2011 ballot.
It’s all too obvious that there must be real changes made in the
way we deal with the business of education in San Benito County
before we adopt a Parcel Tax. Please consider this
Thoughts on the June parcel tax
Dear Editor,
My topic is the Parcel Tax proposed on the June 07, 2011 ballot. It’s all too obvious that there must be real changes made in the way we deal with the business of education in San Benito County before we adopt a Parcel Tax. Please consider this:
If you intend to vote YES on this issue, then you must also approve of the following:
1. Continuing with the existing assortment of school districts and respective boards (elected) within San Benito County
2. Maintaining a current layer of School Administrators (appointed) within the multiple districts
3. The Administration response to the revenue shortfall although that response has been neither immediate nor rational
4. The layoff of staff members who provide significant direct or indirect services to the county’s school age children
5. Education, no matter the quality, is a civil right and it’s FREE.
If you are considering a NO vote on this issue, then you may approve of the following:
1. The assortment of school districts within the County of San Benito must be unified; the County Office of Education must be solely responsible for the Unified District and absorb that function at no additional cost
2. There would be no need for that layer of Administration within the multiple districts
3. The corresponding savings in salary and benefits should be redirected to funding the education of the county’s school age children; restore employment to those necessary staff members
4. Property tax payers already fund education; nothing in this world is FREE.
5. The parent(s)/guardian(s)/etc of each school age child must be required to make a nominal annual payment ($96) to mitigate the cost of educating each child.
OR
6. Eliminate the County Office of Education
7. Contract with the Santa Clara County Office of Education for services
8. Apply the savings to offset the bulk of the revenue shortfall
9. Require a nominal payment ($96) for the education of each child to offset the balance of the revenue shortfall
AND
10. Limit the proposed changes for a time period (four years) or until there is a restoration of the County’s economic stability
11. Disallow the establishment of any charter schools within the county; direct advocates to the private school system
Jane Dabo Cruz, Hollister
Measure A will help our schools
Dear Editor,
The Hollister School District has a parcel tax measure on the June ballot. It’s the only measure on the ballot, but it’s certainly worth taking the time to vote! It will cost each parcel owner $96 a year for 4 years. That’s $8 per month, or two fancy coffees per month!
The funds raised through this tax will be used to replace many of the services recently cut as part of drastic budget cuts made due to a major reduction in state funding. Those recently cut services include school libraries, nurses, after-school sports and music. All of these services offer positive activities for our kids and provide alternatives to gangs and other illegal activities.
You would pay a lot more than $8 per month for private music lessons or to be part of a sports team. Many of the school secretaries have to assume nursing duties as the schools do not have an on-site nurse. It’s worth $8 per month to have a dedicated nurse and librarian at each school site.
Yes, it’s another tax, but it’s not that much, it’s only for 4 years, and after taking the property tax deduction, it will cost you less than $96 per year.
One of the fears is that the Hollister School District will use the money for things other than what they said they would use it for. The new Superintendent, Dr Gary McIntire, has gone to great lengths to make sure that won’t happen. The new School Board is also making sure the money will be spent as promised. Finally, there will be a citizen oversight committee to make sure the money is spent as promised.
Even if your kids have long since passed through the Hollister elementary and middle schools, think of your neighbor’s kids, your grandkids and the future of our community and vote yes on this fairly inexpensive boost to get our schools back into shape.
Tony Weir, Hollister
