Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

BUSD wants more of your tax money – again

We Californians are feeling the burn from over- taxation. The State wants more at the gas pump, higher fees for auto registration, and changes to Prop 13. Then there are the school bond obligations. In tax year 2016-17, nearly half (45.8 percent) of San Diego County taxpayers’ property taxes went to education. Now BUSD is asking its taxpayers to pay even more by floating a $38 million construction bond in 2018.

The crazy thing is that even if this bond were to pass, the District does not have the money necessary to operate a new school. BUSD is now in its seventh year of deficit spending, budget cuts continue to be made, and reserves are projected at 1.4 percent, well below the State minimum requirement. Because the curriculum offered at BHS is based on a “New Tech” model requiring a low student/teacher ratio, expensive computer labs, and frequent travel to distant seminars, it is more expensive to operate. Unfortunately, this curriculum has NOT produced test scores that meet the overall State standards (CAASPP).

There are smart and efficient alternatives: (1) Eliminate the middle school, establish a districtwide K-8 program, and leave the high school on the Sullivan campus; (2) accommodate the high school students in portables on the Sullivan campus until BUSD gets its financial house in order.

Before the District burdens the taxpayers any further, it should examine and strengthen its fiscal policies and work to improve its students’ academic performance.

Diana Kunasz

 
 

Reader Comments(1)

Veracity writes:

If voters are asked to sign on for a 25-30 year commitment they have a right to know what they are getting. Is the proposed $38 million enough to build a high school? The answer is no! Nearby Mission Vista High cost $100 million several years ago, Sage Creek High in Carlsbad $120 million for 1200 students, and San Marcos high $150 million. This is a down payment. When will the next bill (Bond) come due? In 2 years?4?

 
 
 
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