Santa Rosa school board won't seek parcel tax yet

<p>Facing nearly $14 million in potential cuts, Santa Rosa school board members will continue to debate whether to ask voters to support a parcel tax, but it will not appear on a ballot before 2011.</p><p>Board members expressed concern Wednesday that voters do not yet know the real impact of the estimated $13.9 million in cuts expected to come from the 2011-12 school year.</p><p>The looming cuts come on the heels of the $5.6 million that Sonoma County's largest school district cut from the school year that starts Aug. 17.</p><p>"As draconian as the cuts were, as difficult as it has been on everyone, I think the next round of cuts will frankly be much more difficult and much more difficult to manage," school board member Frank Pugh said.</p><p>Board members debated whether to pay for a voter-sentiment poll or whether to seek donations for the approximately $20,000-$30,000 survey.</p><p>"I do not believe we should spend any money on polls," board president Bill Carle said. "I'd have a hard time writing any money out of the general fund for that."</p><p>Trustee Tad Wakefield, who just last month pushed the board to consider a parcel tax as early as the November general election, said recent public spending scandals at the California School Boards Association and the Southern California town of Bell have soured voters.</p><p>"I'm going to be against a parcel tax, I have changed my position," Wakefield said. "We need to focus on how we can make painful cuts while keeping teachers and programs."</p><p>"I don't know if we are magicians and can do that, but I think that is what the public wants to see," he said.</p><p>The board directed district staff to pursue information on polling, ballot language, timing and other issues related to a parcel tax in 2011.</p><p>Staff writer Kerry Benefield writes an education blog at extracredit.blogs.pressdemocrat.com. She can be reached at 526-8671 or kerry.benefield@pressdemocrat.com.</p>