The Armageddon That Wasn't
The Sky Was Falling
Pleasanton Teachers Union president Trevor Knaggs boldly predicted “If Measure E fails, our schools will be facing Armageddon.”
The California Teachers Association declared a “State of Emergency”, held a week of protests, disrupted state legislature meetings, and got arrested (including CTA President Sanchez at 2:12 in this video).
Superintendent Ahmadi trumpeted around Pleasanton to Realtors, business leaders and school parent groups that PUSD had a $7.7M budget shortfall and championed a new school property parcel tax. She authorized the expenditure of a district-wide four page glossy mailer claiming schools are “protecting our property values.”
School board trustees and community members predicted significant property value declines if parcel taxes are not passed. Former mayor Ken Mercer in 2009 predicted property values would fall if Measure G did not pass. Mr. Mercer repeated the same claim in 2011 with Measure E.
One month after Measure E failed, PUSD is flush with cash and is spending it
The PUSD second interim budget report shows a $4M net for this school year.
In the latest 6/3/11 budget update at the school board meeting (which PUSD has yet to post online), the fiscal situation looks $3.2M to $6.9M better than it did just two months ago. Luz Cazares, assistant superintendent of business services said that if the CA tax *increases* are not implemented, California would likely re-implement an already anticipated deferment of funding, with little to no impact to PUSD. This echoes the advice written here, from School Services, Inc. and from the CA LAO.
Earlier this year, PUSD quietly increased teacher salaries and benefits by $1.8M by not continuing furlough days in the upcoming school year.
On 6/3/11, PUSD restored $2.45M in funding for K-3 CSR, elementary PE and reading specialists, middle and high school counselors, and a few extra sections for the comprehensive high schools.
Armageddon talk and fake layoffs destroys trust
Like the May 21, 2011 Armageddon-that-wasn’t event that raised millions for Harold Camping, the PUSD Armageddon-that-wasn’t along with the CA state budget theatrics was messaged/timed to condition voters to extend the temporary state tax increases and to heighten Pleasanton voter angst to impose a new parcel tax.
Why should voters trust either PUSD or its union leaders to give an honest accounting (or prediction) of the district’s fiscal health? And should we trust those who claim that failed parcel taxes will destroy housing prices?
Lack of Trust in PUSD is a key component of why all three attempts at a school parcel tax failed.
When PUSD and union leaders change their practices and behavior to be fully transparent and utilize all local fiscal controls before crying ‘wolf’, they will see an educated voter population supporting their new-found fiscal maturity.
Pleasanton Teachers Union president Trevor Knaggs boldly predicted “If Measure E fails, our schools will be facing Armageddon.”
The California Teachers Association declared a “State of Emergency”, held a week of protests, disrupted state legislature meetings, and got arrested (including CTA President Sanchez at 2:12 in this video).
Superintendent Ahmadi trumpeted around Pleasanton to Realtors, business leaders and school parent groups that PUSD had a $7.7M budget shortfall and championed a new school property parcel tax. She authorized the expenditure of a district-wide four page glossy mailer claiming schools are “protecting our property values.”
School board trustees and community members predicted significant property value declines if parcel taxes are not passed. Former mayor Ken Mercer in 2009 predicted property values would fall if Measure G did not pass. Mr. Mercer repeated the same claim in 2011 with Measure E.
One month after Measure E failed, PUSD is flush with cash and is spending it
The PUSD second interim budget report shows a $4M net for this school year.
In the latest 6/3/11 budget update at the school board meeting (which PUSD has yet to post online), the fiscal situation looks $3.2M to $6.9M better than it did just two months ago. Luz Cazares, assistant superintendent of business services said that if the CA tax *increases* are not implemented, California would likely re-implement an already anticipated deferment of funding, with little to no impact to PUSD. This echoes the advice written here, from School Services, Inc. and from the CA LAO.
Earlier this year, PUSD quietly increased teacher salaries and benefits by $1.8M by not continuing furlough days in the upcoming school year.
On 6/3/11, PUSD restored $2.45M in funding for K-3 CSR, elementary PE and reading specialists, middle and high school counselors, and a few extra sections for the comprehensive high schools.
Armageddon talk and fake layoffs destroys trust
Like the May 21, 2011 Armageddon-that-wasn’t event that raised millions for Harold Camping, the PUSD Armageddon-that-wasn’t along with the CA state budget theatrics was messaged/timed to condition voters to extend the temporary state tax increases and to heighten Pleasanton voter angst to impose a new parcel tax.
Why should voters trust either PUSD or its union leaders to give an honest accounting (or prediction) of the district’s fiscal health? And should we trust those who claim that failed parcel taxes will destroy housing prices?
Lack of Trust in PUSD is a key component of why all three attempts at a school parcel tax failed.
When PUSD and union leaders change their practices and behavior to be fully transparent and utilize all local fiscal controls before crying ‘wolf’, they will see an educated voter population supporting their new-found fiscal maturity.
Measure E - Do the Math, Part Two
One argument Measure E supporters make is that a $98 annual parcel tax is equivalent to 27 cents a day. Then by some form of logic, if you are against this tax, you are a cold-hearted rigid tea party ideologue (or worse).
Some opponents of Measure E say 'it is not about the money, in fact, the tax should be larger.' Leading to some very interesting conversations.
Well, it is about the money. Lots of money. PUSD's 2010-11 total revenue is $142 million dollars or $389,000 a day.
Where does PUSD get $142 million dollars?
From YOU. From your federal taxes, state income taxes, local property taxes, sales taxes, fees, and anything that puts your money in the federal and state government coffers.
Let's do the math.
With 52,000 residents in Pleasanton over the age of 18, the average adult is paying $2,700 a year to fund the local school. The average married couple pays $5,400. If you have a house, two kids and cars, you likely pay far more than the average. And you've been paying an additional $1,400 more per year to the state via the 2009 temporary taxes, and the reduced dependent exemption.
So when your favorite teacher, union boss, or school parcel tax advocate says to you that you are a cheap, miserly, penny pinching weasel who doesn’t support the kids, remind them that you already support the kids and fund the entire school budget of $142 million dollars.
Measure E - Do the Math, Part One
Measure E supporters have a history of claiming the parcel tax will protect property values. Let's look closer at the numbers and 'Do the Math'.
The 'Protect Property Values' claims.
The second line of the Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) resolution says "Whereas, property values within the District are related to the quality of education available in the District's public schools." PUSD also claims in the first section of their four-page color glossy mailer, excellent schools are "creating a demand for homes and protecting our property values". In an almost verbatim claim in the first paragraph on their website, Support Pleasanton Schools (SPS) says good schools are "creating demand for our homes and protecting property values."
Pleasanton has $16 Billion in residential property market value.
The Alameda County Assessor reports Pleasanton has a local assessment roll of $17,326,290,380.
That's $17 BILLION. If you remove the business property component (25% average in Alameda County), and account for residential market value vs assessed value (add 25%), you would reach a residential property market value of $16.24 Billion.
What will a $2 million parcel tax provide?
If we assume the entire $2 million is spent on NEW teachers, it could fund twenty-five teachers at an average $80,000 cost.
That's 1.7 teachers per school by placing those 25 teachers in the 15 schools.
Or one teacher per 600 students throughout the district.
Therefore, each student in Pleasanton will receive approximately 2 more hours of teacher attention per year.
Or about 36 seconds a day.
If the $2 million is used to fund employee step salary increases and higher longevity bonuses, then our children will have no benefit from this parcel tax.
Can anyone honestly say that $2 million will protect $16 billion in property value?
The 'Protect Property Values' claims.
The second line of the Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) resolution says "Whereas, property values within the District are related to the quality of education available in the District's public schools." PUSD also claims in the first section of their four-page color glossy mailer, excellent schools are "creating a demand for homes and protecting our property values". In an almost verbatim claim in the first paragraph on their website, Support Pleasanton Schools (SPS) says good schools are "creating demand for our homes and protecting property values."
Pleasanton has $16 Billion in residential property market value.
The Alameda County Assessor reports Pleasanton has a local assessment roll of $17,326,290,380.
That's $17 BILLION. If you remove the business property component (25% average in Alameda County), and account for residential market value vs assessed value (add 25%), you would reach a residential property market value of $16.24 Billion.
What will a $2 million parcel tax provide?
If we assume the entire $2 million is spent on NEW teachers, it could fund twenty-five teachers at an average $80,000 cost.
That's 1.7 teachers per school by placing those 25 teachers in the 15 schools.
Or one teacher per 600 students throughout the district.
Therefore, each student in Pleasanton will receive approximately 2 more hours of teacher attention per year.
Or about 36 seconds a day.
If the $2 million is used to fund employee step salary increases and higher longevity bonuses, then our children will have no benefit from this parcel tax.
Can anyone honestly say that $2 million will protect $16 billion in property value?
Measure E on the May 3, 2011 Vote-by-Mail Election
The Alameda County Registrar of Voters website contains the PUSD resolution, the County Counsel's Impartial Analysis, the arguments for and against, and the rebuttals.
A formal (FPPC # 1335504) committee has formed to raise campaign funds and promote Measure E. Save Pleasanton Schools plans to raise over $100,000 and conduct phone banking, yard sign distribution.
An informal group is against Measure E, and like their successful effort to derail the 2009 Measure G, they will rely completely on grass-roots and no-cost methods of educating voters about why Measure E is the wrong tax at the wrong time.
This is a Vote by Mail Election only. There are no Polling Places.Vote by Mail Ballots will be mailed out starting on Monday, April 4, 2011.Important dates:
Election information was obtained from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters website.
A formal (FPPC # 1335504) committee has formed to raise campaign funds and promote Measure E. Save Pleasanton Schools plans to raise over $100,000 and conduct phone banking, yard sign distribution.
An informal group is against Measure E, and like their successful effort to derail the 2009 Measure G, they will rely completely on grass-roots and no-cost methods of educating voters about why Measure E is the wrong tax at the wrong time.
This is a Vote by Mail Election only. There are no Polling Places.Vote by Mail Ballots will be mailed out starting on Monday, April 4, 2011.Important dates:
- First day to mail sample ballots - Thursday, March 24, 2011
- Early Voting will begin on Monday, April 4, 2011
- Close of Voter Registration Period - Monday, April 18, 2011
- Last day to request a Vote By Mail Ballot - Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Election information was obtained from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters website.