Wait and See
One of the more spurious arguments against Measure H is the “wait and see” argument popularized by a former city councilwoman. The argument goes like this: “We shouldn’t vote for a school parcel tax now because we don’t know what the actual budget is going to be until most likely August. Passing a tax now is premature and may cause us to unnecessarily tax ourselves.”
You can understand the overall feeling, since the schools are swimming in money, we shouldn’t rush to increase their budget, they’ll just spend it on catering and administrative perks. Heck, everyone knows that the administrative fat-cats are already living high on the hog on our money. (I’m pretty sure I saw Edison Principal Marcheta Williams arrive at school in a classic 1975 Ferrari 512BB last week, it’s no wonder she wanted to become a principal in Alameda).
In fact if you read yesterday’s Journal, (and you’ll have to take my word for it because their website is missing this story…Note to Journal Staff, slap the CCTimes IT people around, your lead stories, indeed all your stories some days, shouldn’t be missing from your website), Encinal’s Principal is resigning, because being given the opportunity to administrate Encinal High School with fewer assistant principals was just too much fun for him, and he wanted to share his joy with others.
The “wait and see” argument is disingenuous at best. It presupposes that everything is going to turn out alright and that the supporters of Measure H are just stupid. It ignores the fact that any parcel tax passed after June would not be able to fund the 2008-09 school year, I guess based on the argument “It’s just school. What’s a year give or take?”
And it’s going to be the same argument made in November “Hey, the new budget recommendation is released in January, we should be fiscally responsible and see what it is before preparing to tax ourselves!” and then possibly February “Hey, the Governors May budget revision comes out in two more months, we should really be smart and wait to see what he proposes before moving forward with a tax idea!” Which brings us right back to June.
Anyone with their head in the sand should read today’s SF Chronicle article on the Budget. Our governor-you know the guy who helped fund a recall for our last governor because Davis was too cosy with special interests and had allowed California’s budget to grow to $20-30 billion-has just revised his projected budget deficit from $10billion last week, to $20 billion this week. AUSD’s projected loss was based on the initial $8 billion projected in January.
But maybe we should just wait and see….I mean it’s only one generation of kids and overpopulation is a growing problem.
Popularity: 8% [?]
Delmundo
April 30th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Well stated, John.
As a homeowner who supports H with a fair amount of resignation (*sigh* – ANOTHER parcel tax…) the “wait and see” comment really keeps me on the fence.
The only way I can explain is through role play:
School District (SD) – I need more money. We’re cutting music, sports and anything not in a standardized test…
ME – so if I give you the money you’ll spend it on music, sports and anything not in a standardized test?
SD – well, maybe. I don’t have my budget yet. But give me that money and I’ll put it to good use when I know.
ME – but the last time I gave you some money, you told me that it would cover your expenses until 2012.
SD – oh, times change, silly! the price of gas as $1.40 then.
ME – but what are you spending the money I gave you on? didn’t you find a way to prevent this problem after I gave you some runway?
SD – oh, come on. you didn’t give me that money to change the way I do things. It was to keep the lights on and the bathrooms clean. Boy, those students are demanding aren’t they? C’mon do this for your property values. Your neighbors are counting on you.
ME – if I give you some money THIS time, will you do something about changing the way you do business so this never happens again?
SD – not my job, buddy, call your State legislator. Can I mark you down as a Yes?
Andy Currid
April 30th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Great article, and a great comment from Delmundo. I’d hope that anyone supporting Measure H is doing so with some amount of dismay. No-one should be particularly happy at the prospect of paying more local tax, to counter the distinct lack of our own money coming back to us from the State.
“will you do something about changing the way you do business so this never happens again? … Not my job, buddy, call your State legislator.”
I think the District is showing positive steps in the direction of changing the way it does business. A restructuring task force is in place to preside over what will likely be multiple schools closures within the year, should Measure H fails, and longer-term restructuring, even if Measure H passes.
Many others are working on pushing change at the state level. AEF’s multi-point strategy encompasses this – both through actively lobbying for change, and pursuing options for litigation. None of these will deliver results in a timeframe to address the immediate crisis, which brings us back to the point of John’s article: the legislature’s track record on timely budget action and adequate funding of our schools is atrocious. Couple that with the budget timeline that the school district is required to follow, and we’re essentially left playing a game of Russian Roulette if we choose not to act locally and pass Measure H.
Delmundo
May 1st, 2008 at 8:15 am
Can you point a citizen to a copy of this multi-point strategy?
I hardly call school closure plan a strategy. That is a reaction. I am pining away for real change, like operating AHS, EHS and IHS as a virtual campus.
My other reaction is – WHY WAIT for the STATE? We’re in a crisis and the District and the City need to take radical action. So WHAT if it’s “illegal”? It’s the right thing to do. How about a little rational radicalism? Time to dump some tea into the harbor, I say.
Andy Currid
May 1st, 2008 at 11:27 am
If Measure H fails, school closures will almost certainly ensue – barring some miracle in the state funding situation. If Measure H passes, the timeline for restructuring is considerably longer, and I would imagine the restructuring task force would be looking at all options, not just closures.
AEF’s plan is here: http://alamedaeducationfoundation.org/strategic-plan/
Mark
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Delmundo, if you are still out there on this one, what specifically would constitute tea in the harbor? What’s our legal budget for defending insubordination, and don’t things like ignore reserves, etc., get us entangled with the County and at some point receivership?
Delmundo
May 7th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Still lurking on this one.
To be honest I don’t have any specific ideas for tea in the harbor.
I think there was some discussion about use of funds in a capital account, but that they couldn’t be used for operational expenses due to their designation.
I start glazing over when I hear that stuff. In less critical times, sure, but we’re in nothing but crisis mode now.
I say “so what”? If it’s a legal issue, break the law on this one. That’s a pretty rational protest in my book.
Maybe its bond money and there’s some commercial financial institution that has constraints on use of funds? I don’t think I want to go off on that rant.
I’ll admit that I have a short attention span when it comes to spending rules for municipal entities, but when we box ourselves into these corners and our stewards at all levels of the District are unwilling or unable to execute outside the box (let alone THINK outside it), we’re in big trouble.
THAT’S why I’m so resigned about this parcel tax.
Delmundo
May 7th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Sorry for lurking, reposting and replying to myself, but even the City of SF has an ace in the hole…
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/07/MNH210IEA3.DTL&tsp=1
Lauren Do
May 7th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
But in addition to the Rainy Day Fund, SF is also putting a Parcel Tax on the ballot for extra funding.
Delmundo
May 9th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
True that, but remember I started this thread saying that I supported Measure H, but that I would really like to see some real change in how AUSD does business. I’m just hoping beyond all hope for some new thinking and real new approaches.