Measure E is NO Bargain
“This schools tax is a bargain” writes LA Times columnist Steve Lopez on Measure E. “For just $8.33 per household a month, voters could save hundreds of L.A. Unified teachers’ jobs and help preserve arts education in elementary schools”
This familiar refrain has been used over and over again on previous LAUSD ballot measures:
In 1997 we were told “for just $5.00 a month…” when Prop BB was placed on the ballot.
In 2002 we had Measure K and again they said “for just $5.00 a month…!”
In 2004, when Measure R popped up on the ballot, again they said “for just $5.00 a month…”
Then in 2006, Measure Y showed up on the ballot and like the others before, it to was characterized as “for just $5.00 a month…”
All of these measures were approved by voters.
Before anyone thinks hey… what’s $20 a month? The fine print in each of these bonds was that it was $5.00 for each $100,000 of assessed value. Minor detail right?
Of course Measure E is a “parcel tax”. Just a flat $100 dollars a year or $8.33 like Mr. Lopez says but let’s take a look at what we are already adding it to on your property tax bill.
Currently property owners are paying .00151809 for UNIFIED SCHOOLS on their property tax bills so if their property is valued at $600,000 today, that homeowner is on the hook for $910 this year! If your home is assessed for more or less so will the tax be.
To give you some historical context on that piece of property, in 2008 the tax on that value was $748. In 2007 it was $740 and in 2006 it was $640. In 2002 is was $221 and before the LAUSD began squeezing us for 5 bucks at every chance they can, a $600,000 home’s bond indebtedness was a mere $20 in 1996.
So with this parcel tax the cost is really $910 + $100 for that homeowner and that’s far higher than the $8.33 that Mr. Lopez suggests we should approve.
$1,010 may be pocket change for a prominent ink stained scribe like Mr. Lopez but to most other homeowners this is serious money that is layered on top of the 1% property tax itself. 40% which goes to schools already. Then there is also the monthly mortgage to pay, the rising LADWP water and power bills, trash bills, mouths to feed, kids clothes to buy, etc.
And to add insult to the homeowners injury, that resident living in the 500 unit apartment complex down the street will pay just 20 cents for this parcel tax!!!
Vote NO on Measure E
