Teacher Parcel Tax - TAKE ACTION TODAY!

June 10, 2010

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Oakland Teachers Deserve To Be Better Compensated!

Massive funding cuts to education are currently plaguing the State of California and the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD). As of the first reading of the Adopted Budget for 2010-2011 at the June 9th Board Meeting, district officials shared that the 2010-11 budget, $558 million, represents a cut of $110 million from the previous year's. This reduction includes the elimination of 505 full-time positions (or 10 percent). OUSD expects additional cuts mid-year once the State budget is approved.

The only way we can increase teacher salaries without cutting more jobs is a parcel tax.

With all of these funding cuts, one of the only ways that OUSD will be able to support its efforts to recruit, hire, and retain the highest quality teachers is by passing a parcel tax that will bring teacher compensation more on par with compensation levels found in other Bay Area districts.

On February 1, 2010, OUSD's Board Finance and Human Resources Committee considered two draft parcel tax proposals to increase teacher compensation in Oakland. While the proposals were tabled due to time constraints, the Committee agreed to consider a parcel tax proposal for the November 2010 election. In order to understand the possible public support for a November parcel tax, the Board of Education is conducting an opinion poll of likely November voters. The Board Finance and Human Resources Committee will review the results of this poll and will make a recommendation to the full board as to whether the parcel tax should be placed on the November ballot. The full board will likely meet in a special session to make a final decision before the August 6th Alameda County filing deadline.

Oaklanders should get to decide if they want our teachers to be paid more.

OUSD Board members' feelings about the parcel tax measure continue to be mixed. While some members have expressed doubts about getting enough voter support given the state of our local economy, others have shared concerns about the lack of support the Oakland Education Association has shown for a parcel tax that includes a 15 percent allocation to public charter schools. The issue of whether the tax will be a flat parcel tax or a square footage parcel tax is also still undecided.

What would a $20 - $25 million parcel tax mean for Oakland teachers? $25 million could translate into a 5 percent raise for all public school teachers in Oakland, with 80 percent of funds raised supporting district public school teachers and support staff.

For the Board of Education to place a parcel tax to increase teacher compensation on the November ballot, all stakeholder groups will need to join together around this issue.

A parcel tax is the single largest, most immediate, and least controversial source of revenue that can be applied to employee compensation.

Let the Board of Education know that you support a local parcel tax to increase teacher compensation. Email your board member today - OAKLAND TEACHERS DESERVE BETTER!

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