History of IDEA
Jeannie Oakes, Founder and Former Director
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DEA Director John Rogers Quoted in Wall Street Journal Story About Parcel Taxes
- 07-30-2009
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June 17, 2009
California Schools' Tough Choices
Wealthy Communities Add Taxes to Make Up for Funding Cuts in Ailing State
By Stu Woo
HAYWARD, Calif. -- Residents of some affluent cities in this broke state are banding together to make up for cuts in public education, opening rifts between rich and poor school districts.
Key to the debate are parcel taxes, flat fees on property that are used by some cities to help fund public schools.
A handful of communities, such as the tony Bay Area enclave of Piedmont, Calif., have passed new parcel taxes to compensate for proposed state cutbacks, and others are considering them. Piedmont said the emergency measures would enable it to lay off only five of its 200 teachers, rather than nine.
"We're very, very fortunate that our community is supportive of our schools," said Ray Gadbois, vice president of Piedmont's school board.
In less-affluent communities where voters are loath to approve parcel taxes, the state's funding cuts are expected to hit harder.
To see full article, please visit:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124519998766721439.html
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