After reading the Acorn letters to the editor on Measure K and having the opportunity to speak with the community during the phone banks I feel it’s time to clarify some of the misinformation.
First, bond money from Measure G cannot be used for anything other than construction and acquisition of capital equipment. Use of bond funds for operating expenses or payment of ongoing salaries of teachers would be a violation of the law.
I have also compared actual numbers from the 2006/07 school budget to the 2011/12 school budget:
- Total enrollment has declined by 651 students.
- Per pupil funding has declined from $5,536 to $5,220, down $316 per student.
- Total state annual per pupil funding has declined by $8 million, $3 million from declining enrollment and $5 million from budget cuts.
- State categorical funding has been reduced by $3 million (budget cuts).
- The district received (one time) federal funds in 2009/10 of $3 million.
As noted, LVUSD is down over $10 million in state revenues from the 2006/07 school year and yes a portion is due to declining enrollment.
But $8 million dollars ($709 per student) is due to state budget cuts. In an effort to balance the district budget, LVUSD capped all health benefits five years ago. Administrative staff and teachers have taken pay cuts and furlough days (unpaid days off).
If you are still unsure of the need for Measure K, here is one more statistic: The state will almost certainly be redoing their current budget this December. One estimate from the school district is that an additional $2.9 million ($260 per student) will be cut from the budget. This $95-a-year parcel tax for eight years will bring in $2.2 million dollars to our school district annually.
What will the district have to do now to balance the budget? More teacher layoffs? More counselor layoffs? Less school days? Additional pay cuts? None of this is acceptable.
How can you help keep yours and your neighbor’s property values high, prepare our children for the new jobs and technology of the 21st century and maintain a stable income stream to the district?
This measure needs a two-thirds vote to pass. We need every resident of Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and Hidden Hills to vote.
Vote YES on Measure K on Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Lesli Kraut, Chair
Measure E Oversight Committee
Local Business Owner
Resident
