Last week Western Placer Unified School District decided, at this point, to pursue a "substantial public information" campaign rather than their $222 million tax increase.  Brian Godbe of Godbe Research found, out of 400 potential voters surveyed, only 26% would "definitely yes" support the tax increase and 16% "probably yes" support the tax.  52% oppose the tax.  A more substantial survey of 2,736 potential voters, conducted during the same period, found 85% oppose the tax while 11% support it.

It was very evident that the $222 million tax increase was a solution looking for a problem.  According to the Godbe survey the problems were:

• -Repair or replace aging roofs
• -Modernize facilities to meet current health, fire and safety codes
• -Replace outdated electrical, plumbing, and heating and ventilation systems with energy and money saving equipment
• -Modernize school facilities to provide access for students with disabilities
• -Build classrooms and purchase equipment for job training programs in technology, and engineering
• -Upgrade classroom technology and computer labs
• -Repair science classrooms and labs

The solution is a $222 million tax increase, the Godbe survey found the problems, and then went on to find the benefits to the solution:

• -No money from this measure will be used for administrators' salaries
• -Some of our school buildings are over 60 years old.  (Blogger's note- Some buildings are brand new.)  Maintenance is needed to meet current building codes for safety and modern computing (Blogger's note- Why has maintenance been neglected?)
• -A citizens' oversight committee will oversee annual audits to ensure all bonds funds are spent as promised
• -If this measure passes, Western Placer schools will be eligible for millions of dollars in state matching funds that would otherwise go to other communities
• -The bond will only be issued as population growth and student enrollment increase the need for schools
• -Preventing student overcrowding maintains our community's quality of education
• -Many high school facilities are used by residents of all ages.  These improvements to the job training facilities, health and fitness facilities, and multi-use facilities will benefit the entire community.

If all this sounds familiar, it is.  This is the same template used for the failed attempt at a Sierra College tax increase.

President Reagan said, " Government does not tax to get the money it needs; government always finds a need for the money it gets."  According to the 2008 Placer County Grand Jury Report, WPUSD has a school construction debt of $189 million.  Fosket Ranch and Lincoln Crossing is currently paying Mello-Roos bonds for school construction.  All of Lincoln still has a $10 million debt from a former bond.  The Godbe/ WPUSD survey simply showed where money is "needed" if voters give them another $222 million.  WPUSD seems to be operating with an overriding belief that taxpayers are a bottomless pit of money just waiting for WPUSD to come and take that hard-earned money and find ways to spend it.

In the school board meeting I was sitting next to a woman who leaned over to whisper in my ear, "Times are tuff, we will just have to make due with what we have."  Amen!