School Board to Put Parcel Tax on March Ballot

The board of education will ask voters in March to approve a parcel tax of $228 per parcel annually for five years. Exemptions will be made for seniors and social security recipients.

AUSD's revenue has declined rapidly in recent years, and the district cannot maintain its current level of service with the funding it receives from the state, officials say.

A parcel tax would help fill in the gaps.

"I've probably been the most cautious about the whole process," Board President Janet Chew said of levying a parcel tax. "This economy will turn around. But, I think about this generation coming through. They don't get a second chance."

AUSD has a deficit of $7 million and has cut $17 million from its budget since the 2007-08 school year. The idea of a parcel tax first took hold about a year ago, Chew said.

Unlike a bond measure, which districts can only use to fund school construction projects, revenue from a parcel tax can cover the costs of teacher salaries, music education intervention programs, and the like.

residents will vote on the tax, which could generate approximately $3.4 million for the district, during the March 13 mail-in election. If approved, the tax would go into effect July 1.

But the question remains whether the public will embrace the tax.

The district hired Charles Heath, of consulting firm TBWB Strategies, to offer his guidance. Heath says a tax of $228 per parcel is a tough sell.

"There must be an aggressive campaign to persuade voters," he said. "We're relying on the strength of our argument."

A survey of potential voters taken Dec. 5 indicates the tax has a shot at receiving the 2/3 votes it needs to pass, albeit a long one. Approximately 67 percent of the 536 respondants polled would vote in favor of the tax after receiving some education about its purpose.