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,.s q � - �i ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF OR IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED LAWS ARE THE OPINIONS OF THE AUTHORS REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE V REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE V � On going State fiscal problems and state raids on local school tax dollars •They have it backwazds: Schools soak up revenues that once funded other have sharply reduced funding to the Redwood City School District.In the agencies,and now schools consume 46%of California's state budget. past four yeazs, the District has been forced to cut $8 million from its .Their"fiscal crisis"is like Bush's"weapons of mass destruction". budget. So far those cuts have not resulted in one classroom teacher or They seek to instill feaz,but the facts refute the hype: librarian losing their job. Unfortunately, $3.5 million must be cut in the next school year and layoffs of teachers and librarians cannot be avoided. Revenue Studenu per Students Teachers per There is nothipg else left to cut but teachers and classroom programs. tuden LADA� �Ff� Teacher To meet this crisis,we are asking District residents to pass Measure V and 1992-1993 $3958 8,259 368.1 22.4 approve an $85 tax per residential pazcel per year.Commercial properties -1994 4118 8,249 374.7 22.0 will pay based on the size of their parcel.A special exemption foc senior -1995 4416 8,383 385.2 21.8 homeowners will be available to all those 65 or older. And, the tax will -1996 5197 8,770 416.0 21.1 expire after 5 years. -1997 5274 9,106 466.6 19.5 -1998 5913 9,191 535.4 172 Measure V funds will be strictly allocated to fund valuable academic -1999 6133 8,929 537.9 16.6 programs and services in order to: -2000 6921 9,105 553.0 16.5 • Attract and retain qualiry teachers and staff -2001 7864 8,914 5513 16.2 • Maintain small class size -2002 8648 7,950 544.0 14.6 • Maintain school library programs -2003 8630 7,885 532.2 14.8 • Continue all music programs • Flush with money, the District went on a spendirtg spree, hiring >150 • Maintain intensive reading and math programs teachers (many outside the classroom) beyond those needed for a 23:1 This money will be controlled locally-so the State can't take it away.No studenUteacher ratio. We have a payroll-padding problem, not a "fiscat� funds may be spent on facilities or administrators'salaries. crisis". An Independent Oversight Committee, made up of community and • Higher taxes on apartment buildings and businesses mean higher rents business leaders, will monitor funds to be sure they are spent in strict and less money to pay employees. compliance with the ballot measure funding categories. Annual audits .There is nothing so permanent as a"temporary tax". —And we're already will be conducted and published for public review. paying for 2 bond issues in this dis[rict; another for the College of San Local fundin�is the best and most direct way to provide the 8,600 children Mateo;and 3 more for the Sequoia Union High School District. in our local schools with a qualiry education without State interference. . Any "citizen's oversight committee" appointed by the selfsame school Please join us to support educational excellence in our Redwood City board is meaningless. schools w ith a Yes vote on Measure V. • Pazents would be better off spending the $425 (5 * $85) on their own children. /s/ Uon Horslev February 9,2005 Sun Mateo County Sheriff /s/ John J."Jack"Hickey February 22,2005 /s/ Barbara Pierce February 7,2005 Chair,Liber[arian Party of San Mateo County Redwood City Vice Mayor /s/ Reino I.Wantin February 22,2005 /s/ Geary Lloyd February 8,2005 Retiree Former Redwood City Senior Affaus Commissioner /s/ Laura Oliphant February 18,2005 /s/ �taria Diaz-Slocum February 9,2005 pazent Redwood City School Boazd President /s/ Margret Buckley Schmidt February 21,2005 /s/ heith 13autista February 9,2005 p�ent Red�taxi Ciry/San Mateo Counry Chamber of Commerce Past Chairman /s/ Christopher VA Schmidt February 18,2005 Redwood City resident of 22 years 5