A small, semi-rural college district within the Santa Cruz Mountains has a parcel tax on the November poll to spice up instructor salaries and retention. However some residents are pushing again on the tax, saying it’s too excessive.
Loma Prieta Joint Union College District consists of simply two faculties — Loma Prieta Elementary College and C. T. English Center College — with a complete enrollment of 450 college students.
Its college board voted earlier this 12 months to place Measure M on the November poll. If it passes, an annual parcel tax of $348 would go towards instructor salaries and curriculum updates, bringing in round $640,000 a 12 months.
“Primarily, it’s going to fund lecturers, and our lecturers are actually the bottom (paid) in Santa Clara County faculties, and we’d like assist retaining and recruiting lecturers,” college board president Erin Asheghian mentioned. “It additionally … may very well be used on some curriculum upgrades and tech upgrades as these come up. Primarily, it’s going to be about lecturers.”
Loma Prieta’s lecturers are among the many lowest paid in Santa Clara County, with instructor salaries starting from $33,485 to $100,978, and group members fear that they’ll lose lecturers to different districts with extra money.
If that occurs, Asheghian mentioned, class sizes will enhance and outgoing lecturers can be changed with newer, much less skilled lecturers.
Parcel taxes should cross by a two-thirds vote. The district tried an identical parcel tax in 2020, for an annual tax of $164 per 12 months that will have introduced in an estimated $328,000 per 12 months. It failed by 0.99%, with 65.67% of residents voting in favor and 34.33% voting towards it.
Mark Hinkle, president of Silicon Valley Taxpayers Affiliation, and Joe Dehn, of the Libertarian Occasion of Santa Clara County, wrote an argument towards the poll measure, and mentioned 2020’s try exhibits residents aren’t eager about one other tax enhance.
Hinkle and Dehn, neither of whom are residents of Los Gatos, mentioned enrollment and educational efficiency have been falling within the district, whereas prices proceed to rise.
“I’m certain there are folks up right here who’re simply going to vote towards something that’s a tax, however I believe the group has been slightly annoyed by the opposition and the truth that they don’t dwell right here and gained’t should take care of any of the implications,” Asheghian mentioned. “It gained’t be their children which have a much less sturdy training; it gained’t be their property values on the road if the faculties decline.”
Sean Rokni, a Los Gatos resident and member of the No on Measure M marketing campaign, mentioned he’s additionally towards a tax enhance.
“The final 4 parcel taxes we’ve had (on the poll), three of them failed,” Rokni mentioned. “After they talked about these parcel taxes, they attempt to make the voters really feel that in case you vote no, you aren’t supporting the group or faculties, which in truth we’re.
“This time round, I believe the amount of cash they’re asking is so excessive, obnoxiously excessive,” Rokni mentioned.
Measure M is the one merchandise for the varsity district on the November poll. Asheghian mentioned 4 seats on the board have been open, and solely 4 candidates determined to run, so an election wasn’t obligatory.“It’s been a extremely tough couple of years for lecturers. They want some assist and so yeah, loads is using on the parcel tax,” Asheghian mentioned.
Originally published at San Diego News HQ
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