West Contra Costa district to survey voters on school-funding measures
By Shelly Meron
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 09/08/2009 10:17:30 AM PDT

http://www.contracostatimes.com/richmond/ci_13263097?nclick_check=1

COMMUNITY DIGEST

Sept. 5, 2009

WEST COUNTY — Hoping to find new revenue sources, the West Contra Costa school district will survey voters on their support for a new school parcel tax or bond.

Last week, school board members approved the $36,000 survey process, which could begin as early as October.

"People know what the budget impact is. They're seeing it, they're feeling it," said board member Charles Ramsey. "This is the time to tap into that."

District officials want to see if voters would get behind new school-funding measures, either in the June or November 2010 elections. They are considering a general parcel tax, a bond measure to pay for building improvements, or both.

Board member Tony Thurmond expressed concern about the timing of such measures while the city of Richmond is reportedly considering its own funding mechanism, possibly for the June ballot, to keep several Richmond schools open.

"We need to look at how all these things impact each other. The voters are feeling the brunt of the economic recession," Thurmond said. "It's tough to ask local citizens to pay more. But clearly we need (the funding), and I support anything that will get us more revenue."

Reach Shelly Meron at 510-243-3578.