LB School Board Votes 5-0 To Oppose Proposed County "Parcel Tax" (For Stormwater Clean-Up) On Grounds It Could Cost LBUSD Estimated $715,000 Each Year

Supervisor Knabe opposes the parcel tax; LB City Council mum to date

LBUSD management agendized the item and recommended opposing the proposed County "parcel tax," noting that it doesn't exempt school districts and stating that could cost LBUSD an estimated $715,000 in ongoing costs.

In School Board colloquy, Boardmembers John McGinnis and Board president Jon Meyer variously indicated that they'd pay personally to produce cleaner water and beaches but said they oppose the measure as writen on grounds that it will detrimentally impact LBUSD's budget. Noting that the measure as proposed would tax school disricts that are already taxing taxpayers to educate children, Boardmember McGinnis said he'd like L.A. County's lawyers to "seek some kind of legislative remedy exempting school districts from the [proposed] act." Asked how many teachers the measure might affect if it were enacted, LBUSD Chief Business & Financial Officer James Novak indicated seven LBUSD teachers could be laid off. Boardmember Mary Stanton likewise voiced opposition to the proposed measure.

The Board resolution states among its "whereas" clauses: "[A]lthough the proposed Water Initiative is one means of addressing a important public policy matter, the importance of this Initiative must be balanced against further substantial cuts to instructional and support services offered to public school students and families; and...with the passage of Proposition 30 the voters of California have demonstrated their strong support for the funding of public education and disapproval of further cuts to educational programs."

The item specifically resolves "that the Governing Board of the Long Beach Unified School District expresses its opposition to the Water Initiative and directs the Superintendent, or designee, to take all appropriate actions in opposition to the Initiative; and...that this body encourages the voting public to learn more about the negative fiscal impact of this initiative on schools."

In its agendized item, LBUSD management states:

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is considering the imposition of a fee to all property holders to support the Clean Water Clean Beaches Initiative ("Initiative"). The Initiative will provide funding for the County and cities to prevent pollution, clean up pollution that flows into waterways, and use stormwater and runoff to recharge groundwater supplies. School districts, as property owners, are not exempt from the fee. The estimated fiscal impact to school districts county-wide is approximately $14 million and the estimated fee to the Long Beach Unified School District is approximately $715,000. This proposed fee is ongoing and can only be terminated by the Board of Supervisors.

All property owners in the County have received a Notice of Public Hearing about the proposed fee to be held on January 15, 2013. If fewer than 50% of parcel owners object, the Board of Supervisors may proceed to a vote of parcel owners for approval of the proposed fees.

Although this measure addresses an important public policy issue, the imposition of this fee will exacerbate the structural deficit that the District faces. Therefore, staff is recommending that the Board adopt the attached Resolution.

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt Resolution No. 121812-B

A RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OPPOSING THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CLEAN WATER CLEAN BEACHES INITIATIVE
Prepared by: Approved and Recommended by:
James Novak, Chief Business & Financial Officer
Christopher J. Steinhauser, Superintendent of Schools

RESOLUTION NO.121812-B A RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OPPOSING THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CLEAN WATER CLEAN BEACHES INITIATIVE

WHEREAS, the Long Beach Unified School District (“District”) is committed to providing a quality education to all students preparing them for success in college and careers; and

WHEREAS, California ranks 47th nationally in its investment in education with the largest class sizes in America; and

WHEREAS, the District has cut over $330 million from its budget in the last five years resulting in over 1,000 employees who have been laid off; and

WHEREAS, the Los Angeles County Clean Water Clean Beaches (“Water”) Initiative would charge parcel holders a fee to keep pollution out of stormwater and runoff, clean up pollution that flows into waterways, and use stormwater and runoff to recharge groundwater supplies; and

WHEREAS, school districts as parcel owners are not exempted from paying these fees resulting in approximately $14 million charged to school districts county-wide including an estimated $715,000 annually charged to the District; and

WHEREAS, these additional fees charged to school districts could result in as much as 200 teaching positions eliminated throughout the County; and

WHEREAS, the fees associated with the proposed Water Initiative are on-going and will continue annually until terminated by the County Board of Supervisors; and

WHEREAS, although the proposed Water Initiative is one means of addressing a important public policy matter, the importance of this Initiative must be balanced against further substantial cuts to instructional and support services offered to public school students and families; and

WHEREAS, with the passage of Proposition 30 the voters of California have demonstrated their strong support for the funding of public education and disapproval of further cuts to educational programs.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Governing Board of the Long Beach Unified School District expresses its opposition to the Water Initiative and directs the Superintendent, or designee, to take all appropriate actions in opposition to the Initiative; and AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this body encourages the voting public to learn more about the negative fiscal impact of this initiative on schools.

Long Beach beaches bear the brunt of polluted and litter-filled L.A. river runoff. The LB City Council hasn't taken a public position on the proposed County parcel tax.

L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe, whose district includes Long Beach as well as inland areas, issued a Dec. 4 dispatch on his blog, stating in part: "I am here to tell you that I strongly oppose this Measure, and believe that the way the process is being managed is a sneaky attempt to get it passed."

Shortly after the Nov. 6 election [on the Prop 30 tax increase and other items], L.A. County sent all L.A. County property owners a non-descript mailer that a number of recipients say they thought was junk-mail but was actually an official notice of public hearing with a form to protest imposition of the proposed parcel tax.

(To download a new copy, click here)

Developing.