#parcel-tax

#parcel-tax

On Monday, the district presented a 2% raise for teachers next year, when the Palo Alto Educators' Association said they had requested 13%. But in a statement to the Daily Post, Austin said the 13% actually equates to an 28% increase, as the district factors in other benefits and compensations. Austin said the district's counter of 2% came from its analysis of what would be an appropriate cost of living increase.

A group of students who are eager to learn about advanced math are asking for multivariable calculus, and teacher Daniel Nguyen has obtained a master's degree in order to teach it. The school board told Paly to add the class on Dec. 16, but the teachers council said no. Apparently the school is run by a committee of teachers, called the council of administrators and instructors, who oppose adding the class.

Facing a substantial maintenance backlog and continued revenue challenges, San Jose could ask voters if they would support a measure on next year's ballot as a potential financial lifeline for its park system - with a sugary-drink tax or another attempt at a parcel tax among the options. The city's deferred maintenance backlog has swelled to more than half a billion dollars, and a survey conducted in the fall found that 75% of participants agreed that San Jose needed more funding to sustain its parks.

Berkeley voters may be asked to consider a ballot measure next year that would increase property taxes to generate money for performing arts organizations, which have struggled to bounce back from the pandemic and fear they can no longer rely on federal funding. A new coalition of arts groups that includes Berkeley Repertory Theater, Berkeley Symphony Orchestra and the Freight & Salvage announced last week that it will start collecting signatures for a parcel tax of 7 cents per square foot.

The district, formed in 1948, today operates a 415-bed acute care hospital. For the current and past two fiscal years, the district shows operating losses of about $30 million annually, or about 3.5% of its operating expenses. Measure B would cover about $13 million of that shortfall. Those taxes would be on top of the district's bond program, which voters in 2020 agreed to increase to pay for hospital seismic improvements.

"We have to figure out how to get out there as soon as possible... the reality is we cannot afford not to have the parcel tax in our budget."