Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) is appealing to voters' emotions by handing out teacher pink slips instead of cutting administration costs and freezing salaries.  The continuing excellence of Pleasanton's schools depends on honest reforms and a balanced budget, something that cannot be accomplished with another parcel tax.

• PUSD does not NEED a parcel tax to fund programs they are threatening to cut.  One PUSD Trustee has shown how these programs can be funded with NO tax increase, by cutting other, less essential areas.
• Pleasanton already receives more state and local tax funding than similar districts.  For 2006/2007, PUSD collected $717 per student more from these sources than San Ramon Valley Unified School District, yet their standardized test scores are equivalent.
• PUSD already has one tax on your property (averaging $866/parcel).  The oversight committee for this tax has a poor record, having not met since 2004.  Though we received state funds beyond the amount needed for the specified projects, the district continued spending tax money on unspecified projects, without public oversight.
• The ballot measure does not freeze administration salaries.  Using the tax money for specified programs frees other, more flexible sources, for administration raises.  Unlike most executives, the PUSD management team enjoyed recent raises, which they refuse to roll back.
• Although the state has frozen funding, and the overall economy dictates cutbacks, PUSD's budget includes raises and perks during the term of the tax including $6M in unfunded salary increases, $600K in cell phones, and $480K in car allowances.

Another tax cannot solve PUSD's budget problem.  As long as PUSD continues to plan for compensation increases not covered by our already exorbitant state taxes, the shortfall will grow each year, requiring yet more local taxes.  With better self-management the district can balance its budget without cutting our great teachers or our essential programs.

s/Steve Brozosky
Former PUSD Board Member

s/Dorene Paradiso
37 year Pleasanton Resident/Parent/Grandparent,
2 grandchildren in Pleasanton schools

s/Doug Miller
Pleasanton Resident

s/Cindy Aselage
Concerned Parent, Small Business Owner