Measure
R Revs Up Campaign |
By Lookout Staff
January 18 -- Bolstered by the Governor’s recent
threat to tap into school budgets, proponents of a funding measure
for the cash-strapped local school district are gearing up to go
to the polls next month.
Backed by local parents, teachers, business leaders, labor, seniors
and public safety groups, Measure R extends existing funding measures
that have been previously approved by local voters. The measure,
which requires 67 percent of the vote February 5, does not raise
tax rates.
The money would be used to “stabilize school budgets, retain
experienced teachers and preserve critical academic programs in
the face of the potentially severe state budget cuts,” according
to a statement proponents issued Friday.
"Measure R is local funding for local schools that can't be
taken by the state," said parent and Santa Monica-Malibu PTA
Council President Rebecca Kennerly. "Our community has great
schools because we've supported them in the past.
“If we relied only on the state, we wouldn't have the great
teachers and programs that we have today," Kennerly said.
Measure R has won endorsements from key community leaders and organizations,
including the Chamber of Commerce, the Police Officers Association
and the local League of Women Voters.
“Measure R is what our community and our schools need, and
great schools are part of what makes Santa Monica such a great and
safe place in which to live,” said Roy Brown of the Santa
Monica Police Officers Association.
“As a local resident and businessman, I’m impressed
with Measure R’s financial oversight provisions,” said
Tom Larmore, Chairman of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Board
of Directors.
“Measure R requires independent citizens’ oversight
of expenditures and annual audits to ensure that funds are spent
as promised,” Larmore said.
Barry Seid, AARP Tax Counseling for the Elderly District Coordinator
says that he supports the measure, in part, because of its optional
exemption for senior homeowners.
“Measure R also provides important taxpayer safeguards such
as citizen oversight, making it an easy choice for senior citizen
voters, who are strong supporters of local schools,” Seid
said.
The measure comes one year after former chief financial officer
Winston Braham left the district when a teachers pay hike he refused
to sign on to was approved despite his objections that it threatened
to put the district in the red.
In the wake of the controversy, City officials threatened to delay
an action to boost City funding to the School District by $530,000
until the district revamped its policy governing confidentiality
agreements and conducted an independent audit.
The money was released when District officials agreed to lift a
clause that prohibited Braham from speaking publicly about District
finances without their and barred him from making disparaging statements.
It also agreed to revisit a policy that required parents of Special
Education students to sign confidentiality agreements.
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