Comments on: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Wants to Raise Our Taxes http://mayorofconcord.com/2008/gov-arnold-schwarzenegger-will-raise-our-taxes/ The Concord California News Blog Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:03:31 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Homeless People Have Rights in Concord | Mayor of Concord |Focus on Concord http://mayorofconcord.com/2008/gov-arnold-schwarzenegger-will-raise-our-taxes/#comment-618 Homeless People Have Rights in Concord | Mayor of Concord |Focus on Concord Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:42:52 +0000 http://mayorofconcord.com/?p=702#comment-618 [...] if the Mayor didn’t already have his hands full with taxes, hookers, cranksters, and internet scandal. Bill Shinn is having to open up the debate on the land [...] [...] if the Mayor didn’t already have his hands full with taxes, hookers, cranksters, and internet scandal. Bill Shinn is having to open up the debate on the land [...]

]]> By: john http://mayorofconcord.com/2008/gov-arnold-schwarzenegger-will-raise-our-taxes/#comment-466 john Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:03:33 +0000 http://mayorofconcord.com/?p=702#comment-466 Mr. Eberhart, thanks for responding. When people look at bond measures it might appear that alot of money is spent on schools. That obviously isn't the case. I think people like you could help out the state voters alot in the descision making process. This type of information is rarely passed on to the voting public. Thanks again. Mr. Eberhart, thanks for responding. When people look at bond measures it might appear that alot of money is spent on schools. That obviously isn’t the case. I think people like you could help out the state voters alot in the descision making process. This type of information is rarely passed on to the voting public. Thanks again.

]]> By: Gary Eberhart http://mayorofconcord.com/2008/gov-arnold-schwarzenegger-will-raise-our-taxes/#comment-464 Gary Eberhart Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:40:46 +0000 http://mayorofconcord.com/?p=702#comment-464 Hello John, I believe that California ranks about 46th in the nation in per pupil spending. It is not all about money, but as a start I think that California should be spending at least the national average in per pupil spending. I think we can make a good argument that California has an above average cost to do business. Energy costs more here, employee salaries are more here, etc. There are also extreme differences in how much money is provided by the state of California from district to district. That has to do with laws that were passed years ago when each district use to set their own tax rates. Those districts like ours that were imposing a relatively low tax versus other districts that were charging much higher taxes. When the law went into affect, it essentially froze the tax rates that we were using at the time and we have been stuck there. So all districts had their tax rates frozen; some were high and some were low. There has been little effort to equalize the differences in revenue. So there are districts out there that get thousands of dollars per pupil more than MDUSD gets. I know that must sound incredibly hard to believe, but it is fact. The education system in the State of California must be overhauled if we are ever going to stabilize school districts in the State of California. Hello John,

I believe that California ranks about 46th in the nation in per pupil spending. It is not all about money, but as a start I think that California should be spending at least the national average in per pupil spending. I think we can make a good argument that California has an above average cost to do business. Energy costs more here, employee salaries are more here, etc.

There are also extreme differences in how much money is provided by the state of California from district to district. That has to do with laws that were passed years ago when each district use to set their own tax rates. Those districts like ours that were imposing a relatively low tax versus other districts that were charging much higher taxes. When the law went into affect, it essentially froze the tax rates that we were using at the time and we have been stuck there. So all districts had their tax rates frozen; some were high and some were low. There has been little effort to equalize the differences in revenue. So there are districts out there that get thousands of dollars per pupil more than MDUSD gets. I know that must sound incredibly hard to believe, but it is fact.

The education system in the State of California must be overhauled if we are ever going to stabilize school districts in the State of California.

]]> By: john http://mayorofconcord.com/2008/gov-arnold-schwarzenegger-will-raise-our-taxes/#comment-463 john Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:53:33 +0000 http://mayorofconcord.com/?p=702#comment-463 Mr. Eberhart ,I was wondering how California ranks in per capita spending per student versus other states? I was also wondering what your thoughts are on what should be spent to ensure academic success? Mr. Eberhart ,I was wondering how California ranks in per capita spending per student versus other states? I was also wondering what your thoughts are on what should be spent to ensure academic success?

]]> By: Gary Eberhart http://mayorofconcord.com/2008/gov-arnold-schwarzenegger-will-raise-our-taxes/#comment-462 Gary Eberhart Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:40:13 +0000 http://mayorofconcord.com/?p=702#comment-462 The budget reductions that the Governor has proposed for schools are draconian at best. His latest proposal would require our district to reduce the 2008-2009 budget by $10 million. The 2008-2009 budget has already been spent. This business of telling school districts how much money that they have to spend and then telling them they don't get all the money that was promised after they have already spent the money, must stop. Our district is going to have reduce $17 million dollars over a two year period. Because the politicians in Sacramento can't figure out how to produce a budget that provides adequately for our schools, our students suffer. The situation in Sacramento has never been worse. Term limits are not working. The two thirds majority to pass a State budget is not working. The Governor's budget proposal is not working. When will our State's politicians decide to truly make our kids a priority? I am sickened by the lack of foresight in our State. The budget reductions that the Governor has proposed for schools are draconian at best. His latest proposal would require our district to reduce the 2008-2009 budget by $10 million. The 2008-2009 budget has already been spent. This business of telling school districts how much money that they have to spend and then telling them they don’t get all the money that was promised after they have already spent the money, must stop. Our district is going to have reduce $17 million dollars over a two year period. Because the politicians in Sacramento can’t figure out how to produce a budget that provides adequately for our schools, our students suffer. The situation in Sacramento has never been worse. Term limits are not working. The two thirds majority to pass a State budget is not working. The Governor’s budget proposal is not working. When will our State’s politicians decide to truly make our kids a priority? I am sickened by the lack of foresight in our State.

]]> By: john http://mayorofconcord.com/2008/gov-arnold-schwarzenegger-will-raise-our-taxes/#comment-461 john Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:40:54 +0000 http://mayorofconcord.com/?p=702#comment-461 I don't like it either, but I don't see a choice here. If the economy gets rolling again, it may change. I don’t like it either, but I don’t see a choice here. If the economy gets rolling again, it may change.

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