HomeParcel Tax Renewal Crucial for SMUSD, Board Told

Parcel Tax Renewal Crucial for SMUSD, Board Told

The renewal of Measure E, the larger of two parcel taxes that benefit the San Marino Unified School District, “is essential,” according to Larry Tramutola, a consultant who provided a status update at a recent board of education meeting.
Tramutola has been retained by the district to develop strategies to remedy chronic underfunding from the state.
“We created two long-term objectives, to use our work to provide financial stability for the educational programs and facilities of the district and to hopefully eliminate the need for costly elections that drain human and financial resources,” Tramutola said Oct. 13 of his company’s work.
The firm has been overseeing community polling to gauge support for Measure E, which generates $4.2 million per year and expires in June 2021. Originally approved by voters in 2009, Measure E collects $865 per parcel, an amount that is adjusted according to the rise in the Los Angeles Statistical Area Consumer Price Index or by 3%, whichever is less. The parcel tax requires a two-thirds majority to pass and under the current arrangement expires every six years.
The supplemental parcel tax, Measure R, generates $1.6 million per year by collecting $366 annually per parcel. First passed by voters in 1991, Measure R also has a six-year shelf life, expires in June 2025 and needs two-thirds approval for passage.
There are 5,400 parcels within the district, many of which are not within San Marino city limits. More than 1,000 voters have taken the exemption that is available to senior citizens.
“There is some urgency about [Measure E],” Tramutola said. “If it is not renewed it will cause significant hardships in the community, parents, staff, but most importantly to the children. That is something we cannot allow to happen.”
A firm named True North is currently conducting an online telephone poll in both English and Mandarin to constituents.
The poll asks respondents if they are willing to support a renewal of Measure E with a cost-of-living increase and also if they are willing to support the renewal of Measure E with a larger increase that would alleviate the need for supplemental fundraising. Tramutola reported that the polling is “going slowly,” with about half of the target audience contacted.
He also stated that “the results are encouraging,” and when Tramutola asked True North if support among people who have already been polled surpassed the two-thirds threshold needed to pass Measure E, the response was “yes.”
“One of the things that you all know that is going to be your responsibility is we are going to have to make a decision about the renewal of the parcel tax with the understanding, of course, that it is essential that we pass this,” Tramutola said.
“This is not something we would like to do. It is something that is essential for the future of this school district.”
Tramutola said it is important to develop a campaign committee “chaired by key leaders” to promote the parcel tax.
He also said the district has certain characteristics that often stand in the way of financial support from the community, such as the small percentage of San Marino voters who have children in local schools.
“We have to communicate the needs to an audience who may have had children in school, but the vast majority do not,” Tramutola said. He also said that having highly regarded public schools is often “a two-edged sword.”
“Many people believe there are few needs in a district of this quality and if there are needs, the parents can and will pick up the slack,” he explained. “Your own history has shown that your own parents have done an extraordinary job of filling in the gaps.”
Tramutola’s presentation was an “information only” item, and the board will vote at a future meeting on whether to put the parcel tax on the ballot.
Additionally, Assistant Superintendent Stephen Choi provided a report stating that the amount of money collected in first-day packets was substantially lower than in previous years. He was referring to revenue from purchases at the beginning of the academic year of materials students need; contributions to the San Marino Schools Foundation sometimes are made at the same time. The reduction in funding will adversely impact the district’s budget and Choi said he will analyze the data.
It was also reported that members of San Marino High School’s class of 2021 have been permanently exempted from the requirement to complete 40 hours of community service and cardiopulmonary resuscitation coursework due to the closure of school facilities and COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions. Performance of 40 hours of community service and CPR training are typically required to receive a diploma from SMHS. The requirement was also waived for the class of 2020 due to similar circumstances.
Vahini Garimella, the Associated Student Body representative to the board, said several student organizations at SMHS are still providing community service opportunities during the pandemic.

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