Posted on 07/27/2005 7:24:40 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Los Angeles Unified board members today will consider putting both a $3.85 billion construction bond and a $150-a-year parcel tax on the Nov. 8 special election ballot to pay for programs to boost the quality of instruction. While most board members said they support both measures, some question going to voters with two tax-hike requests at the same time.
"I'm really torn," board member Jon Lauritzen said. "Most of the board members have serious reservations not so much about the need for the bond, but about the timing. It's going to be an interesting discussion."
The construction bond -- which would be the fourth the district would take to voters -- would go mainly to building new schools and repairing existing schools. It would add 20,000 seats and bring all elementary schools to a two-semester calendar. The bond would require a 55-percent majority for passage, while the parcel tax would need a two-thirds vote to succeed.
Next year, district officials project, property owners will pay about $113 a year per $100,000 of assessed valuation for the district's three previous bond measures. That is expected to increase to $138 in 2009. If passed, the November bond would add about $20 annually in 2008.
Board President Marlene Canter and Mike Lansing said they wanted to focus on the passage of the bond. Jose Huizar said he did not support the parcel tax and would prefer to see the bond on the June 2006 ballot.
The parcel tax is projected to bring the district $125 million a year for six years. It would go to reducing class sizes, bolster campus safety, improve libraries, replace outdated textbooks, provide more nurses and counselors and improve academic achievement.
More than 800,000 business and homeowners would be affected by the tax, which would cost $2.87 per week, said Sarah Bradshaw, chief of staff for board member David Tokofsky who proposed the measure.
United Teachers Los Angeles said it supports the parcel tax, but has not yet supported the construction bond.
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IF YOU GO
Los Angeles Unified board members will meet at 2 p.m. today at 333 S. Beaudry Ave. to discuss putting a parcel tax and a new construction bond on the November ballot.
sure anything to screw the taxpayers. Just keep the $$ flowing.
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