GILROY
– An ambitious county education improvement plan is being lauded
locally, but some Gilroy leaders doubt its most expensive element
could be accomplished any time soon.
GILROY – An ambitious county education improvement plan is being lauded locally, but some Gilroy leaders doubt its most expensive element could be accomplished any time soon.
The Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group – an organization of area education, business and political leaders – has recommended that Santa Clara County promote a countywide education ballot initiative in 2004. The ballot measure, the group says, should use a parcel tax or sales tax to fund a variety of education programs and services in jeopardy of being cut due to the state’s $35 billion revenue shortfall.
If two-thirds of voters approved such a ballot measure, county education coffers could increase by hundreds of millions of dollars.
“We’re not endorsing a particular tax measure right now, but this may very well lead to something on the ballot,” said Larry Carr, the group’s director of education.
In December, the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group conducted a survey of county residents, asking whether they would support an increase in their property or sales tax if the extra money went toward retaining quality teachers and various educational programs.
“Our numbers hit 70 percent when combining those who said they ‘strongly’ and ‘very strongly’ supported such a measure,” Carr said.
County Supervisor and Gilroy resident Don Gage is not getting his hopes up, noting that already the county ballot is stacked with funding initiatives.
“I think we’re just out of alternatives. Everyone is looking for the voter to bail them out,” Gage said. “I’m more than willing to try and support this, but I think with the economy it’s going to be an uphill battle.”
Gilroy Unified School District President Jim Rogers also acknowledged the struggle that would lie ahead for such a measure.
“It would take quite an educational process to get something like that passed right now,” Rogers said. “Timing is everything.”
In November, GUSD passed a $69 million school facilities bond. The local initiative only needed 55 percent voter approval and only covers new construction and site improvements. It does not improve teacher salaries or fund in-class programs the way the county ballot measure could.
Rogers said that if Gilroy voters understood the new ballot measure would support the operational expenses not covered by facilities bonds, there may be hope for passage.
“Remember, support for education is high in the valley,” Rogers said.
