| Supporters
in Richmond are no longer trying to increase utility taxes
by a half percent to raise $15 million for 3 under-enrolled
neighborhood schools (Olinda and Grant elementaries and Kennedy
High). The subject will now be piggy-backed onto the November
election’s proposed change to the utility tax law to
limit residents and businesses to one method of calculating
(vs. 2).Supporters estimate $10 million in revenue/yr. If
passes, a companion measure would direct the City to spend
$1.5 million annually to keep open neighborhood schools with
low enrollment. Councilmember Jim Rodgers is leading the “Save
Our Schools” campaign. He and volunteers need 4,400
signatures to put the measure on the ballot.
Schwarzenegger may require the district to cut another
$10 million next year. The district is also looking at a
possible bond measure for capital projects on the June or
November ballots to raise money.
The Richmond City Council agreed to bail out the district
with $1.5 million for fiscal 2010-2011 to keep Olinda, Grant,
and Kennedy off the closure list for two years and to buy
time to find permanent funding. |
