Oct 7 2012
Speak Up on School Parcel Tax Proposal –
School Superintendent Constance Hubbard is urging the public to provide early
“It is important for the public to understand that now is the time to give suggestions and feedback [on the next school parcel tax], and not wait until Nov. 28 when the proposal is up for vote.” (At p. 5.)
Hubbard pointed out that input can be offered to the Board through phone calls and emails, as well as speaking at the Oct. 10, Oct. 24 and Nov. 14 School Board meetings. Hubbard noted the public should “not wait until the November 28 meeting when the proposal is up for vote.”
An official Piedmont School Board goal is to develop and implement a sustainable plan to balance the District budget based on the principle of, “Over the long term, stabilize the local taxpayers’ share (percentage) of funding the District’s budget by reducing the growth rate of local parcel taxes.” (At p. 5.) Superintendent Hubbard noted the PUSD is “looking at holding on to what we have.”
Timeline:
- Oct. 10 – Present options to the School Board and community regarding amount, duration beyond 4 years, escalation options, and exemptions
- Oct. 24 – School Board provides direction to staff on a draft resolution
- Nov. 14 – Draft resolution presented to the Board
- Nov. 28 – Special Board meeting to approve the resolution and ballot
- Jan. 2013 – School Tax Campaign Committee begins campaign
- Mar. 2013 – School Parcel Tax Election
- Nov. 2013 – A second opportunity, if the first parcel tax proposal fails
School Board contact information:
Click here to email all School Board members
Oct 7 2012
Signs being removed from Piedmont properties –
Shortly before 11p.m. Saturday evening, October 6, a group of teens gathered in front of a Piedmont home. The family was away for the weekend. Someone in the teen group yanked the “Romney Ryan” yard sign off its metal stand and threw it away. On Sunday morning the neighbor observing the teen group Saturday evening searched for the sign and found it crumpled.
Oct 5 2012
Piedmont’s Election Forum on Thursday, October 11, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Piedmont City Hall, will include:
- Measure Y, City of Piedmont Parcel Tax
- Measure A1, Alameda County Oakland Zoo Parcel Tax
- Measure B1, Alameda County Transportation Sales Tax
The League of Women Voters of Piedmont will host the Forum, with speakers presenting both “pro” and “con” positions concerning the
All are invited to attend the Forum or watch it live via KCOM-TV Channel 27 and the City’s website http://www.ci.piedmont.ca.us/video/ .
Oct 5 2012
The Citizens’ Advisory Committee on the School Parcel Tax will meet on Thursday, October 11, to hear an update from School Superintendent Connie Hubbard on the 2013 School Parcel Tax proposal. The meeting will be from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the District Administrative Office, 760 Magnolia Avenue.
Oct 5 2012
October & November School Board Meetings Open Discussions on Parcel Tax-
The Piedmont School Board Invites Public Input
The Piedmont School Board will decide whether to ask voters to renew the School Support Tax at a November 28 Special Meeting. At its next three regular meetings (October 10 and 24, and November 14), the Board will review and discuss options for the proposed measure, including duration, amount, potential to increase, and any potential exemptions. By November 14, the Board expects there will be a draft measure developed based on recommendations, discussion and public input. Given State funding cuts, the existing School Support Tax constitutes over 30% of the District’s budget and thus its renewal is incredibly important to the education of our community’s children. I encourage anyone who has input for the Board’s consideration in developing the proposal to be put to voters in March 2013 to attend one of the next three Board meetings or email Board members with your comments.
Thank you for your involvement!
Richard W. Raushenbush,
Board President Piedmont Unified School District
Editors’ Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Piedmont Civic Association.
Oct 5 2012
Resident Rebuts Council Member’s Assertions –
Editor,
Piedmont City Councilman Jeff Wieler has recently argued that a reduction of one firefighter per shift in Piedmont would result in a lower rating for the city’s fire protection by the Insurance Services Office (ISO), and a higher insurance cost for homeowners.
This is absolute nonsense and another example of Measure Y proponents’ scare tactics. > Click to read more…
Oct 5 2012
Parcel Taxes Unfairly Based on Parcel Size –
Dear Fellow Piedmonters,
On September 19th, I received a “Vote Yes on Measure Y” mailer from Mayor
John Chiang. The proponents keep “spinning” the talking point that Measure Y is not a new tax, but just
a continuation of a old tax for General City Services. This is not true. > Click to read more…
Oct 5 2012
Resident Wants “Transparency and Honesty”-
City Council gave $2.45M of taxpayer money to the Hills undergrounding district. City Council then authorized each other to investigate themselves. Naturally, they found no fault with themselves. City Administrator Grote was the staff for the “audit” and investigated himself. Repeated requests for an independent investigation were responded to with silence. > Click to read more…
Oct 2 2012
Piedmont School Board invites public comment on the 2013 Parcel Tax Measure at Oct/Nov meetings-
Piedmont Unified School District will be recommending a School Support Tax to be placed on the ballot for March 2013.
The time to voice your opinion before the Board of Education approves a measure for the ballot is NOW.
The Board of Education would like to hear from the community on the renewal of the School Support Tax scheduled for March 2013. It has been approved by the community for the past 27 years and represents 30% of the District’s operating budget.
To express your opinion, attend one of the following Regular Board Meetings to be held:
- Wednesday, October 10, 2012
- Wednesday, October 24, 2012
- Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The Board of Education will take action on a measure to renew the School Support Tax at a Special Board Meeting to be held:
Wednesday, November 28, 2012.
All meetings start at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Ave., and will be televised on KCOM.
These meetings provide an opportunity to provide input on the amount and duration of this essential School Support Tax for all Piedmont students in grades K-12.
Input may also be provided to the Superintendent at: chubbard@piedmont.k12.ca.us and to the Board President at: rraushenbush@piedmont.k12.ca.us
– Press release – Piedmont Unified School District –
