AgdaPkt 2012-03-19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.3.E. - Page 1 REPORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager March 19, 2012 SUBJECT Support of the Redwood City Elementary School District Measure on the June 5, 2012 Ballot for an Education Parcel Tax RECOMMENDATION Adopt the resolution in support of the Redwood City Elementary School District Measure on the June 5, 2012 Ballot for an Education Parcel Tax. BACKGROUND State funding for education has continually declined in recent years, forcing significant cut backs and budget reductions in local schools, including the Redwood City Elementary School District. Over the last five years, the District has reduced spending by $13 million and, given the grave uncertainty of State education funding, further cuts are anticipated to be necessary in the near future. These continuing cuts will severely threaten the District's ability to provide classroom services to the youth of our community, and will endanger the great progress that has been made by the District in improving its students' achievement in reading, math, and other academic subjects. To offset this funding uncertainty, the District has placed on the June 5, 2012 ballot an Educational Parcel Tax. This $67 annual tax would be for five years only, exempting seniors, with independent citizen oversight, annual reports to the community, no funds to be used for administrators' salaries, and all money benefiting local schools. The City of Redwood City has a strong interest in ensuring that our youth receive the highest quality education possible, and this measure will greatly enhance the District's ability to continue meeting our community's educational needs. ALTERNATIVES 1. Do not endorse the Redwood City Elementary School District's Educational Parcel Tax measure. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact to approval of this resolution. v MALCOLM SMITH PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER