Tonight (Feb. 1): LB School Board Will Discuss These Proposed Cuts/Layoffs; Voted Action Due By Feb 15 For Implementation By June If CA Voters Don't OK Tax Extensions Says Mgm't

(Feb. 1, 2011) -- Following-up on the story reported last week by LBReport.com, below is a link to LBUSD management's proposed cuts/layoffs to be discussed tonight (Feb. 1), with Board voted action required by Feb. 15 and possible implementation by June...IF (management says) CA voters don't approve ballot measures (not yet put on the ballot by Sac'to lawmakers extending taxes/fees raised "temporarily" by state lawmakers.

To view the detailed list of LBUSD management's proposed cuts -- that management estimates will be necessary if voters don't approve extension of the taxes/fees in June -- click here.

LBUSD cablecast

As reported last night (Jan. 31) by LBReport.com, CA Governor Jerry Brown said in his State of the State address that the state budget also requires making a choice between using property taxes for core services -- including schools [that he favors]...or using property taxes to maintain Redevelopment agencies [that some City Halls, including Long Beach, support].

As part of his Jan. 10 budget proposal, Gov. Brown included phasing out Redevelopment and Enterprise Zones, along with seeking voter approval to maintain/extend previously raised state taxes to maintain state education funding at current levels.

On Jan. 18 -- on 24 hours notice given on MLK Day -- the LB City Council voted (9-0, with Mayor Bob Foster absent) to contractually obligate/encumber roughly $1 billion in current and future LB Redevelopment sums to prevent Sacramento from taking/using those sums. (Other City Halls took similar actions in response to Gov. Brown's Redevelopment phase-out proposal).

As separately reported by LBReport.com, a survey by the Public Policy Institute of CA has indicated that nearly 2/3 of Californians support phasing out Redevelopment to maintain school funding.

As previously reported by LBReport.com, on Jan. 18 the LB City Council acted on 24 hours notice (given on Martin Luther King Day) to obligate/encumber roughly $1 billion in expected Redevelopment revenue, to prevent Sacramento from taking/using the Redevelopment funds. Mayor Foster was absent for that Jan. 18 Council action (traveling on personal business) and wasn't among 9 of 10 big city Mayors who came Sacramento a few days later to criticize the proposed Redevelopment phase out.

As seen LIVE last night (Jan. 31) and detailed follow-up on LBReport.com, Gov. Jerry Brown said in his State of the State Address:

Mayors from cities both large and small have come to the capitol and pressed their case that redevelopment is different from child care, university funding or grants to the aged, disabled and blind. They base their case on the claim that redevelopment funds leverage other funds and create jobs. I certainly understand this because I saw redevelopment first hand as mayor of Oakland. But I also understand that redevelopment funds come directly from local property taxes that would otherwise pay for schools and core city and county services such as police and fire protection and care for the most vulnerable people in our society. So it is a matter of hard choices and I come down on the side of those who believe that core functions of government must be funded first. But be clear, my plan protects current projects and supports all bonded indebtedness of the redevelopment agencies.

At last week's (Jan. 25) special School Board meeting, LBUSD Chief Business & Finance Officer Kim Stallings said that if the state legislature musters the 2/3 vote required to put the tax extension measures on a June special election ballot, AND if voters statewide approve them (50%+1 voter approval required), LBUSD could avoid many of the cuts (while still facing budget reductions of roughly $53 million (out of approx. $700 million general fund).

If state lawmakers don't put the measures on the ballot or CA voters reject them, then (if the School Board approves) the proposed cuts (amounting to roughly $155 million over two years) would be implemented.

LBUSD Superintendent Chris Steinhauser said the District is hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

LBReport.com will have continuing coverage of this significant story as it develops.

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