San Diego Unified School District officials are looking into whether a school parcel tax would would be acceptable to voters in San Diego. A parcel tax is a property tax that pays for local public services. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has the story.
San Diego school board president Katherine Nakamura says a local school parcel tax could help the district cope with state budget cuts that could cost the district $80 million.
Unlike a school bonds measure, a parcel tax can pay for anything from books to teachers salaries.
Nakamura says the tax would need a two-thirds majority vote to win, but the district is not rushing to place it on a ballot.
Nakamura : I'd want to do some polling to find out how the people of San Diego feel about it. And think about it good long and hard before we do that.
About 20 percent of California's school districts have tried to pass a parcel tax. The Bay Area has approved some of the most expensive and long lasting parcel taxes in the state.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
