By Sara Ballenger

Facing a $3 million deficit for next year, the Los Altos School District’s Citizens Advisory Committee for Finance (CACF) has recommended another hike in the district’s parcel tax among other options presented to the school board May 7.

“Our recommendation is really in two phases,” committee chairman Dick Hasenpflug told the board. “The long-term solution has got to be some kind of increase in the district’s parcel tax. But it’s too late to do this for the 2001-2002 school year, so we are looking at fund-raising as a short-term solution, primarily from the Los Altos Educational Foundation, the PTA, and other appropriate organizations and foundations.”

Hasenpflug said that the current deficit issue for the school district, as well as any such issues in the future, are rooted in a flawed system.

“There are flaws in the way the state provides funding to local schools. We have two problems,” he said. “One, the state assures us a minimum income per student that is increased yearly by a cost of living adjustment. But only 60 percent of our revenues come from the state, so our total income goes up by less than the cost of living each year. The other problem is that the district gives teachers raises which are, on average, greater than the cost of living increases determined by the state.”

Hasenpflug hopes the district will be able to maintain its current rate of raises for teachers, as well as keep most of the district’s educational programs in place.

“We currently offer an academic program of extremely high quality, with the lowest class sizes in the county, small neighborhood schools, well-trained and highly qualified teachers, a full-time school library program, and an excellent curriculum that meets state standards,” said Margaret Gratiot, superintendent of the Los Altos School District.

“The quality and richness of our program produces successful and competent students, outstanding academic achievement, and strong community support. Since the costs of providing this program are rising much faster than our revenues from the state, increased local support is the only way of bridging the gap and protecting the quality of the program.”

“To maintain the district’s current excellent programs over the long term, we are going to have to increase the parcel tax. It could be doubled or more,” Hasenpflug said. “That makes everybody nervous. We are still discussing the numbers, but one of the options being considered is to index the parcel tax for future inflation.”

To increase the parcel tax, a two-thirds majority would have to approve. Hasenpflug said since the issue has to go on the ballot, he foresees an increase in parcel tax sometime before the end of June 2002.

A parcel tax is defined by each city tax assessor. Most commonly, a parcel is considered to be the lot upon which a house is built. Los Altos’ current parcel tax is $264 a year.

“The CACF will be making their recommendation after engaging in a study session with the board,” said Randy Kenyon, assistant superintendent for business services. “This will probably be before the June 18 board meeting.”