Group Files Measure for Council School Funding

By Jorge Casuso

Jan. 6 – A grassroots education advocacy group filed a Charter Amendment Tuesday that would require the City to give at least $6 million to the cash-strapped School District every year.

Sponsored by the Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS), the measure, which City Council members quickly opposed, is intended to boost the City’s ongoing support of local schools and make the funding more predictable.

The amendment – which requires the signatures of about 8,000 registered voters to make the November ballot – would put an end to the intensive, last-ditch lobbying efforts mounted during budget time by Santa Monica’s education advocates, proponents said.

“We’ve been asking the council to increase their funding, and although the City has been generous, it has been at the eleventh hour,” said Ralph Mechur, a member of CEPS’ steering committee. “What we’re looking for is predictability.”

“Over time it will increase school funding,” CEPS Co-chair Louise Jaffe said in a prepared statement, “but just as importantly, it will provide stability and predictability for both the schools and the City government, without raising taxes or jeopardizing current City and social services.”

The proposed measure would require that the City – which boosted its usual $3 million contribution to the district to $5.25 million last year – provide a minimum of $6 million in annual revenues. Funding would be increased each year if the City’s revenues grow by at least 3.5 percent.

“This Council has continually stated its commitment to education,” CEPS Co-chair Shari Davis said in a statement. “Now we truly have the vehicle with which to stabilize and protect the excellent public education this community has come to expect.

“The City of Santa Monica is one of the most prosperous cities in the state with a budget of more than $350 million this year alone,” Davis said. “This measure would represent a small portion of City funds while greatly benefiting our schools.”

School Superintendent John Deasy called the measure "thoughtful," adding, "It doesn't require a single penny from the citizens."

But members of the City Council -- who last month began exploring alternative funding measures to stave off the proposed Charter Amendment -- contend the CEPS proposal could be fiscally unhealthy and legally suspect.

“It significantly limits our flexibility,” said Mayor Richard Bloom, who said he told proponents he would read the measure carefully before offering an opinion.

“There really isn’t a new revenue source identified,” Bloom added. “There is no ongoing revenue source with that amount of money.”

Councilman Ken Genser called the measure "irresponsible" and noted the City already is bracing for cuts.

“Just the projected growth of our general fund is not expected to be enough to cover our projected non-discretionary expenses,” such as pension and health care costs, Genser said.

“We anticipate we have to make cuts,” he said. “This means there could be even more severe cuts. They don’t seem to want to deal with reality. I think it’s going to be very divisive. My sense is that every council member is against it.”

Councilman Bob Holbrook, who served two terms on the School Board, also questioned the wisdom of requiring a set contribution that does not earmark a funding source.

“I have sympathy for the school district wanting more and more money, but I’m not sure those kinds of numbers are appropriate,” Holbrook said. “What you invite is other proposals filed as well.

“The council might file a referendum on a smaller amount,” Holbrook said. “I think there will be some opposition from council members.”

In addition, Holbrook believes the proposed measure could be illegal because it mandates that the City fund a State agency.

“I doubt it’s legal,” Holbrook said. “Fundamentally, the State funds the schools. It’s highly unlikely you can mandate a council to permanently transfer money every year to a State agency.”

Genser agrees. “The general concept is probably illegal and would be overturned by the courts,” he said.

But Mechur said the group is confident the measure is legal, noting that San Francisco County Supervisors have placed a similar measure on the March ballot.

“We feel confident that what we’re proposing is legal,” Mechur said. “The City Charter does direct the council to support education.”

CEPS, Mechur said, is waiting to see what the council ultimately proposes in the hopes that together they can hammer out a solution.

“It’s encouraging the council recognizes the problem isn’t going away,” Mechur said. “We’re very interested in what they’re going to propose and will determine whether it will provide the stability and community sharing that is appropriate.

“We look forward to working with them to find a long-term solution and hope our Charter Amendment will be seen as a blueprint for a solution that can work for everyone.”

But Mechur said the time to talk is now, before the signatures needed to qualify the Charter Amendment are submitted.

“There’s time to talk,” he said, “but once the signatures are in, that’s it.”

An independent grassroots organization, CEPS has supported two recent parcel tax measures to boost funding for the district, which has been hard hit by State budget cuts.

The most recent parcel tax, which Santa Monica and Malibu voters approved by a razor-thin margin this summer, pumps $6.5 million a year into the district.

As noted in its official statement of purpose, The Excellent Public Schools Measure “is intended to ensure that the children of our community and the institution which most directly affects and shapes their lives, our public schools, share directly in the prosperity of our community.”

Authors of the Excellent Public Schools Measure, who are members of the CEPS Steering Committee, include Co-chairs Shari Davis and Louise Jaffe, Lauri Crane, Gleam Davis, Linda Gross, Chris Harding, Rebecca Kennerly, Rochelle Lewis-Fanali, Ralph Mechur, Cheri Orgel and Denny Zane.