99 replies to this topic

[Parizienne]

I know taxes aren't popular, but I was thinking about how education is beholden to the state for its funding, and when the state goes bust, so does the funding for our schools.

We are looking, now after the house of cards on Wall Street collapsed last week, at even more education cuts in the next few months. The allocations that our district receieved at the beginning of the year to reinstate some of our cuts, are likely going to be rescinded. I imagine this could affect instructional aides in 3rd grade and/or library clerks. Just when we thought we got them back, they certainly aren't here to stay under these conditions.


How much do we value education in Folsom? Do we want another grade to lose CSR? What's going to be next? The district's hands are tied. You can't squeeze blood from a turnip, but by all accounts, we have cut to the bone already.


Most of our City Council candidates didn't seem to favor a practical, genuine and results-motivated fiscal partnership between the City and the FCUSD. They cited legal issues and restrictions. Is the City really doing all it can in only addressing after-school issues? There must me more we can do. Even with those legal constraints, I think we can do more. Maybe I'm wrong. I would like to brainstorm what we can do as a community to stop the state from impacting our community when it is issues elsewhere in California that have sucked funding away from our community - and specifically from our schools.

Would it be possible to:

Introduce a local measure that would require a citizens' council of finance experts to evaluate the school district's budget as it pertains to Folsom schools (R. Cordova isn't part of Folsom, and therefore would have to do it's own grassroots movement) and determine what can be cut or expanded? If we take charge of this as a community to support the education in THIS community, isn't that the American way? It could be argued that this is the school board's role, but maybe there does need to be more scrutiny of the school district's budget, as City Council candidate Ernie Sheldon, suggested in a recent forum. There is a lot of disagreement over how money is spent in FCUSD and whether cuts they make were necessary when compared with other districts in this region. The argument from the school board is often that the budget is transparent and published for public review but most people can't understand the intricacies of public education funding. I know that education funding is indeed restrictive and intricate, so maybe we could have people who understand this sort of finance assess it from year to year or even every other year.


Assess a small local tax - could be sales tax or an add-on to property taxes that would fund Folsom schools (teachers at current minimum levels and basic general education services and support) in emergency situations like the one we are facing now? A committee could identify what defines "minimum level" as Folsom residents would prioritize their own needs versus being subject to state limitations in fiscal crises.

I would like to know whether this is something people could support. I realize the amount of the tax would affect whether people would be even willing to consider such an idea. And I also realize there is a lot of opposition to taxes of any kind no matter how noble the cause.


But can't we do more as a community? Can't we set a new standard? Can't we demonstrate that our priorities won't be comprised? Weren't there businesses that were willing to help fund schools in part? What if we formed a corporation or a foundation or something that could augment what we get ( or dont' get) from the state.


I feel frustrated because, I faithfully pay my taxes... including an exorbitant five-figure amount on capital gains on my home sale after I moved north from the southern part of the state. I feel like the state doesn't place education at the top of its priority list. MY priority is education, so when I see my money going to the state only to have it squandered, I want to scream. I would be in favor of paying an extra tax for the express and precise purpose of protecting education funding in Folsom and Folsom alone. Maybe we could establish a model that other communities could emulate. Who knows?


I know people like EDF and Chip will have snide remarks just because this is a tax issue. If you want to shoot it down, fine. But offer another legitimate, alternative idea if you can. I really want to see what we can do here. This is from my heart.

Pari.

[stacycam]

The district's hands are tied.

That's B.S. No they are NOT. Vote OUT the current board. Get rid of whatever board members are running for re-election. We need to get a board who can come up with new ideas - or steal ideas for other nearby districts.

To answer your question, I would not support a tax. I think we are taxed enough and our gov't doesn't manage the funding well enough as it is. I would be worried that we'd just have more of what we already have. If anything, I'd like to see parents pay a flat fee in the beginning of the year.

The big problem I see is that the board (and the state, for that matter) doesn't know how to be creative when managing the budget. I am so sick of us throwing money at the schools and never seeing anything get better.

Sorry, Pari. I know you are trying to come up with ideas, but I just don't think taxing us even MORE is going to make a difference. We need to learn to spend what we have. Just like households need to be more creative with our budgets, and cut the fat, so do the school districts.

[puppylover]

squeeze blood from a turnip, but by all accounts, we have cut to the bone already.
Most of our City Council candidates didn't seem to favor a practical fiscal partnership between the City and the FCUSD. They cited legal issues and restrictions. Even with those legal constraints, I think we can do more. Maybe I'm wrong. I would like to brainstorm what we can do as a community to stop the state from impacting our community when it is issues elsewhere in California that have sucked funding away from our community - and specifically from our schools.


I would like to know whether this is something people could support. I realize the amount of the tax would affect whether people would be even willing to consider such an idea. And I also realize there is a lot of opposition to taxes of any kind no matter how noble the cause.
But can't we do more as a community? Can't we set a new standard? Can't we demonstrate that our priorities won't be comprised?


Pari.

You said Think out of the box---
Every county has a county board of education. Is it still necessary in this day and age? I got this from their website.
Pari, what does the county board do for our students and teachers? 700 full time and 2500 part time just in our county?? What percentage of our taxes go to the state and county level before it ever reaches our schools? Do they provide you technical assistance or curriculum support? How much does each County Superindent make?
Have there been cuts there? So far, have all of the cuts been made at the school district levels?

"The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is one of 58 county offices of education in the State of California. SCOE plays a vital role in providing technical assistance, curriculum and instructional support, staff development, legal and financial advice, and oversight to Sacramento County school districts.

SCOE plays a leadership role in delivering quality education to more than 230,000 K-12 public school students in Sacramento County. SCOE directly educates more than 30,000 children and adults, and provides support services to 13 school districts.

Approximately 700 full-time and more than 2,500 part-time SCOE staff work year-round providing services which complement and supplement those offered by public school districts in Sacramento County.

The Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools helps ensure that schools operate in an efficient, service-oriented manner while focusing on education's ultimate bottom line: student achievement."

[MikeinFolsom]

Isn't that what a Mello-Roos payment is?

[Bill Z]

I would much rather have my taxes reduced and see the overly fat bureaucratic system we have be demolished. The feds should kill their dept of education (it's not a job the feds are supposed to have anyway) and the state needs to drastically cut their dept as well. This would free up so much money to go directly to the school districts, and then the parents could watch over how their tax dollars are allocated to their local educational needs.

Less bureaucracy makes for a more efficient operation.

[Parizienne]

I would much rather have my taxes reduced and see the overly fat bureaucratic system we have be demolished. The feds should kill their dept of education (it's not a job the feds are supposed to have anyway) and the state needs to drastically cut their dept as well. This would free up so much money to go directly to the school districts, and then the parents could watch over how their tax dollars are allocated to their local educational needs.

Less bureaucracy makes for a more efficient operation.

Well, I don't think that's going to happen next year. We can work on long term reform as well. For the short term, considering this is what we've got to work with, got any ideas?

[Parizienne]

Isn't that what a Mello-Roos payment is?

What is Mello Roos? I know it's an extra assessment on property, but is it supposed to cover the cost of schools, teachers and education?

[Revolutionist]

What is Mello Roos? I know it's an extra assessment on property, but is it supposed to cover the cost of schools, teachers and education?

I am opposed to any new tax for any reason
they have more than enough money if they spend it wisely (which they don't).

Short term, people should donate to their PTA, PTO, PTSA so that the organization can funnel the money directly into the local school that the organization represents.

[jtroiano]

I am opposed to any new tax for any reason
they have more than enough money if they spend it wisely (which they don't).

Short term, people should donate to their PTA, PTO, PTSA so that the organization can funnel the money directly into the local school that the organization represents.

Raising local property taxes to fund schools sounds like a good idea on the surface, but can actually do more harm than good. I come from New York where most of the school budgets are paid for out of local property taxes. In the suburbs, the difference in property taxes from one town to another can be significant. In towns that have higher taxes, property values tend to be lower. I found the following information from a local newspaper :
Town A - median home price 2008 417,000 - with higher taxes
Town B - median home price 2008 436,000 - with lower taxes

These two communities have similar type homes and school districts with high test scores. I am quite familiar with and have lived in both places. Town A has higher property taxes than Town B. The difference is probably no more than $1,000 -$2000 a year for most families. The main reason for the difference is Town B has a larger commercial base to tax than Town A. The effect of the higher taxes keeps property values down. If Folsom were to start having higher taxes than our neighboring communities, the same thing would happen here.

[Bill Z]

I am opposed to any new tax for any reason
they have more than enough money if they spend it wisely (which they don't).

Double ditto

[stacycam]

Isn't that what a Mello-Roos payment is?

What exactly DOES the Mello-Roos payment pay for? I know I pay a FAT amount, so I'd hope it's going somewhere.

[Bill Z]

What exactly DOES the Mello-Roos payment pay for? I know I pay a FAT amount, so I'd hope it's going somewhere.

Depends on what it was set-up for in your area.

Cut and pasted from http://www.mello-roo...m/pdf/mrpdf.pdf

Background:
In 1978 Californians enacted Proposition 13, which limited the ability of local public agencies
to increase property taxes based on a property’s assessed value. In 1982, the Mello-Roos
Community Facilities Act of 1982 (Government Code §53311-53368.3) was created to provide
an alternate method of financing needed improvements and services.
The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982
The Act allows any county, city, special district, school district or joint powers authority to
establish a Mello-Roos Community Facilities District (a “CFD”) which allows for financing of
public improvements and services. The services and improvements that Mello-Roos CFDs
can finance include streets, sewer systems and other basic infrastructure, police protection,
fire protection, ambulance services, schools, parks, libraries, museums and other cultural
facilities. By law, the CFD is also entitled to recover expenses needed to form the CFD and
administer the annual special taxes and bonded debt.

Not all parts of Folsom have Mello-Roos taxes, you will need to find out what your CFD was set-up for.

[Robert Giacometti]

Well, I don't think that's going to happen next year. We can work on long term reform as well. For the short term, considering this is what we've got to work with, got any ideas?

I don't think people will suport raising taxes. Eventually ( I'm guessing within 5 years), the system will crash from the competing forces.

Education won't be alone in this crash as most levels of Government, specially here in California, are going to be forced to address the issue of the cost of delivering services to the public.

Its really a shame the mess we are dumping onto the next generation with.

[Dustyzz]

Why does Sacramento county need 13 different school districts... seems to me that a large amount of "economy of scale" could be had by simply consolidating 13 seperate districts into one. You wouldn't need to to pay 12 full time adminstrators or their staffs (you'd only need 1), and could probably consolidate a lot of the other ancillary support functions and staff as well. I'm just spit-balling here, but I'd bet the savings would be measured in the millions of dollars...

YMMV,

/dusty

[yahbut]

But offer another legitimate, alternative idea if you can. I really want to see what we can do here. This is from my heart.

Pari.

Largest chunk of any budget remains personell. The majority of the employed business work force is facing unemployment, down sizing, RIF, etc. All others are facing the rising costs of insurance, benefits, etc.

SOOOOO if you REALLY want to have an impact on education, the teachers take a 5% cut in salary across the board for next year. 5%....you know a latte-a-day type talk that retirement folks throw around. Not a huge cut to be hurtful, but enough to allow the quality of education to be maintained without laying of a bunch of folks, increasing class sizes, or NEW TAXES.

It is the type of decisions that thousands of other businesses are facing. Make a sacrafice for the greater good, or go down in flames.

Something tells me that this won't make it to a vote with the teachers union.