Supporters of a Nov. 3 ballot measure that would temporarily hike property taxes to pay for school funding on Thursday announced the support of Councilman Robert Garcia.
Proponents of Measure T, which would add $95 a year for five years to property tax bills to raise money for the Long Beach Unified School District, e-mailed a campaign message to voters from Garcia.
"As a Long Beach city council member and a proud college educator who has taught at both Cal State Long Beach and Long Beach City College, I am passionate about education and empowering our youth," Garcia said in the message. "As the youngest person ever elected to the Long Beach City Council, I am proud to represent a generation that has a bright future in our community. And that future begins in the classrooms of our award-winning Long Beach Unified School District."
Garcia, 31, works as an LBCC administrator, however the college would not directly benefit from the tax aimed at supporting K-12 programs.
The initiative is expected to garner about $12.5 million a year for classroom instruction, after-school programs, art, music and related additivities. Property owners age 65 can opt out of paying by applying for an annual exemption.
The 1st District councilman joins a high-profile list of Measure T supporters that include former Mayor Beverly O'Neill and retired Gov. George Deukmejian -- a Long Beach resident -- and the American Federation of Labor, AFL--CIO.
A group calling itself Citizens for Sensible Schools argued in the ballot statement against Measure T that voters have already agreed to significant special assessments added to property-tax bills in recent years to pay for LBUSD projects. The additional taxes are added onto the bills property owners normally pay that are based on the assessed values of their homes and buildings.
In addition, the Press-Telegram's editorial board recently opposed the measure.
Long Beach Unified faces a projected $95 million shortfall over the next two years, and school officials have said teacher layoffs are possible. Measure T backers argue that the tax could save jobs.
The initiative, which was placed on the ballot by the school board, requires a two-thirds' vote to pass. The tax would take effect in July 2010 and apply to all residential and commercial properties within the LBUSD.
