LAUSD BOARD TO VOTE TUESDAY ON WHETHER TO PUT PARCEL TAX ON NOVEMBER BALLOT

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3/09/2012 08:10:30 PM PST  ::  LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education will consider Tuesday placing a parcel tax on the November ballot in hopes of slashing a $390.2 million budget deficit in the next academic year and providing a local revenue source for schools for five years.

LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy is proposing a $298-per-year parcel tax. If the board agrees to place it on the ballot, the proposed tax would need the support of two-thirds of voters to be approved.

"Due to continued and massive budget reductions from the state of California, LAUSD has been forced to reduce staff and programs by $2.3 billion since 2008-09," Deasy said. "These cuts have had a devastating impact on the capacity of this district to provide a quality education to its more than 919,930 pre-kindergarten to adult students."

The district's board was expected Tuesday to get an update on the LAUSD's budget picture. The district is facing a $390.2 million budget deficit next year, and officials are considering cost-cutting measures including the elimination or sharp reduction in early education and adult-education programs, and reductions in arts programs for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Deasy noted that money generated by a local parcel tax -- which would be imposed on every piece of taxable real property within the district's boundaries -- would remain under the district's control, and not subject to state budget cuts. The tax would remain in place for no more than five years, according to the district.

"The revenue generated from this local revenue initiative will support programs for all students in public schools," he said. "Equally important, these funds would go directly to schools, and cannot be cut or reallocated by Sacramento. This local revenue initiative of less than $25 per month per property owners does for the children of Los Angeles what Sacramento refuses to do."

The district, however, could find it difficult to sell the idea to voters. In 2010, the district proposed a $100 parcel tax, but it was rejected by voters. The measure received support from about half of voters, but it requires a two-thirds vote.