It is time to examine why Measure R is fatally flawed and why you should vote NO. The voters approved two parcel taxes, Prop. S, which expires in 2009, and Prop Y which expires in 2011. Prop R repeals Prop S and Y and replaces them with a new parcel tax with no expiration date. This tax will be imposed on every homeowner and renter in Santa Monica and Malibu. The tax is the same on each parcel of land (including vacant land). A home and a large commercial project pays the same amount of money, thus it fundamentally is a regressive tax on the poor.
The proponents’ campaign literature claim “Without Measure R, neighborhood schools will face serious budget cuts to critical academic programs, and could lose some of our best teachers.” The Publisher of The Malibu Times in his 1/16/08 editorial urging voters to vote against Prop. R debunked this “doublespeak” and specifically stated, “Don’t worry about the money being cut off. If Measure R fails, the old (Y & S) parcel tax money keeps coming to the school, so there is no cutoff to the students.”
The school board is apparently taking voters for granted. While the Proponents of Prop. R are trying to scare voters to approve this new parcel tax by claiming if not passed, the Board will have to lay off teachers and cut programs, (we already know that is not true) the school Board is busy hiring new administrators and employees. Just last week, three new employees were hired to run the auditorium at Santa Monica High School. What we have is a mismanaged school system, apparently top heavy with administrators. The more money we give them, the more ways they will find to spend it. Don’t approve this blank check which you will be writing forever. Vote NO and force accountability from our school board. At least make them propose a parcel tax that has a reasonable expiration date.
Matt Millen