硅谷 Palo Alto 学区拟重推地块税公投：每地块904.92美元年税2027年到期，学区面临3300万美元缺口
位于加州圣克拉拉县的 Palo Alto 市，Palo Alto 联合学区教育委员会在 10 月 15 日的会议上一致表示，支持把地块税（parcel tax）提案重新交付选民表决，时间可能定在 2027 年 3 月。这项按地块征收的学区税自 2001 年起实施，现行标准为每地块每年 904.92 美元，每年为学区带来约 1650 万美元不受用途限制的经费，将于 2027 年到期。今年 6 月，学区曾以较低的每地块 800 美元标准提出续期提案（Measure B），虽获约 61% 选民支持，但没有达到所需的三分之二（66.6%）通过门槛，未能过关。
学区眼下要在未来一年削减 3300 万美元开支，才可能避免裁员等后果。助理学监 Herb Hespiritu 在会上表示，若新地块税通过，学区可望收回约 1700 万美元。多位委员主张尽早表决，以便在明年 3 月发出裁员通知之前先知道结果；委员 Shana Segal 说，社区理解学区需要这笔税，「如果通不过，后果不是问号，就是 3300 万美元的削减」。不过，学区的选举顾问建议把表决推迟到 5 月，以便有更多时间发放说明材料、修复与社区的关系。
学监 Jason Glass 表示，希望在再次要求追加经费之前先赢回公众信任。地块税的具体参数预计 11 月与选举顾问商定后成形，董事会主席 Shounak Dharap 称，最终决定很可能由新一届董事会作出。委员 Alison Kamhi 说，接下来几个月「会非常赶，竞选活动必须很快启动」。（据 Palo Alto Online 10月15日报道整理）
Palo Alto Unified Eyes a New Parcel Tax Vote: $904.92 Annual Levy Expires in 2027 as District Faces a $33 Million Shortfall
In Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California, the Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education unanimously expressed support at its October 15 meeting for putting a parcel tax measure back before voters, possibly as soon as March 2027. The district has relied on the parcel tax since 2001; the current levy is set at $904.92 per parcel and generates approximately $16.5 million a year in unrestricted funding, and it expires in 2027. In June, the board attempted to renew the tax at a lowered rate of $800 per parcel through Measure B, which won about 61 percent support but fell short of the 66.6 percent approval threshold required to pass.
The district must cut $33 million from its spending over the next year to address its budget shortfall, raising the prospect of staff layoffs. Assistant Superintendent Herb Hespiritu told the board the district could recoup approximately $17 million if a new parcel tax passes. Several board members favored voting as early as March so results arrive before layoff notices go out that month. "I feel strongly that the community understands that we need this parcel tax and if it doesn't pass, it's not a question mark as to what will happen," said board member Shana Segal. "That number is $33 million in cuts." The district's election consultant, however, recommended waiting until May to allow more time for information materials and rebuilding constituent relationships.
Superintendent Jason Glass said he hopes to earn the public's trust before asking for additional funding. Board members opted to wait until they meet with the election consultant before solidifying the measure's parameters in November, and Board President Shounak Dharap said the new board will likely make the final decisions. "It's going to be a big rush," said board member Alison Kamhi. "We're going to have to work very hard." (Compiled from Palo Alto Online, October 15.)
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：Palo Alto High School 校园实景。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons 文件 Palo Alto High School.jpg，David Sawyer 摄，CC BY-SA 2.0 授权
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