Scotts Valley schools told to wait for November on parcel tax

A polling firm recommended Wednesday night that Scotts Valley Unified School District trustees wait until November 2011 to put a parcel tax measure on the ballot.
The parcel tax has been suggested by trustees and community members as the only way to maintain the current level of teacher salaries and to avoid further program cuts.
“I think there is a very solid base for a parcel tax in this district, however I do think that there is some work to be done,” said Bryan Godbe of Godbe Research which completed the survey of 300 telephone voters in the district.
“I think there is support for this kind of issue going forward and should be on the ballot at some point, but I think you have some work to do to ensure the area doesn’t play against us,” Godbe said.
Godbe was hired by the district to poll voters about a parcel tax. The firm found that there is support among voters in the district for the tax, but not enough to recommend putting it on the ballot in May or earlier.
The first question asked found that 70 percent of those polled would “probably” or “definitely” support an annual $96 parcel tax that exempts senior citizens.
A parcel tax requires a two-thirds (about 67 percent) “Yes” vote to pass.
Godbe recommended a public outreach campaign to educate voters before a measure is placed on the ballot.
District trustees will discuss the survey results and their next action at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25 at the City Council Chambers, 1 Civic Center Drive at their next regularly scheduled board meeting.
For the full story, see the January 28 edition of the Press-Banner.