SchoolsIn light of the very low turnout of the 2007 off-year elections, there were a number of proposals to both increase voter turnout and save money. One idea that Freddie Oakley put out there was to go to either a heavily mail-in election, where there would only be a very small number of polling stations available and the majority of voters would simply mail-in their ballots.
While this was not a bad idea, the idea that I favored is one that I had seen areas like San Luis Obispo go to, which was to consolidate all of their elections onto the even year.
There are of course both positives and negatives to that. On the one hand, you are assured of having a reasonable turnout. On the other hand, it is possible that school board elections and other lower ballot races would get lost in the mad shuffle of Presidential, Senatorial, Congressional, Gubernatorial, and other large elections. This is of course a risk, but then again only a small number of people pay attention to the school board elections during the odd-year anyway.
The key is that this would be a way for the school district and the county to save money. And the cost factor is considerable. According to Freddie Oakley, off-year elections cost between $200,000 and $300,000. This is due to the small number of races across very few jurisdictions. However, if the school district were to hold its elections during the general, that cost would be shared, and the cost to the school district would be $60,000 to $80,000. Savings of a substantial amount of money in dry years.
Cost is perhaps not the only consideration here however. The turnout two weeks ago was a staggering 79.5% compared to the paltry 32.8% in 2007.
Unspoken in this consideration is that the district often chosen these off-year elections with low turnout for the parcel taxes, believing that the people who turned out would be more inclined to support schools since they were likely people who had a stake in schools having turned out for an election almost exclusively for the school board. However, the overwhelming success of Measure W may (stress on the may since this is all speculation) have changed that calculus. The community as a whole seems very supportive of education and educational funding.
To me this makes perfect sense and was actually the approach I advocated over a year ago. Put the elections together and make decisions when the majority of the people vote rather than 67.2% of the electorate stay home.
Now there is one downside or it could be an upside depending on how you view the current school board. If the board makes this change, it would mean they stay on for another year. This happened in San Luis Obispo as well. However, in San Luis Obispo the issue was put on the ballot. In fact, I believe it was the first election I ever voted in. There are bound to be some questions about extending their own terms by a year. But I hope the public looks past that and views it as a way to save between $120,000 or even $220,000 of taxpayer money and increase voter participation in very important school board elections. In other words, I think this is the right thing to do from both a fiscal standpoint and a democratic participation standpoint.
If you have questions for the school district, click here to participate in our virtual townhall meeting set for December 2, 2008.
—David M. Greenwald reporting
The Woodland Journal wrote about this issue for the Woodland school board about a month ago. They made reference to the likelihood of DJUSD considering it.
Click here.
The Woodland Journal wrote about this issue for the Woodland school board about a month ago. They made reference to the likelihood of DJUSD considering it.
Click here.
The Woodland Journal wrote about this issue for the Woodland school board about a month ago. They made reference to the likelihood of DJUSD considering it.
Click here.
The Woodland Journal wrote about this issue for the Woodland school board about a month ago. They made reference to the likelihood of DJUSD considering it.
Click here.
The topic also shows up in today’s Enterprise to introduce the topic as an agenda item for tonight’s school board meeting. (You have to be paid subscriber to see full article, but here’s the link to the front page.
One interesting question: when would the district run a parcel tax renewal election? Measures Q and W are set to expire in 2011, an odd year.
The topic also shows up in today’s Enterprise to introduce the topic as an agenda item for tonight’s school board meeting. (You have to be paid subscriber to see full article, but here’s the link to the front page.
One interesting question: when would the district run a parcel tax renewal election? Measures Q and W are set to expire in 2011, an odd year.
The topic also shows up in today’s Enterprise to introduce the topic as an agenda item for tonight’s school board meeting. (You have to be paid subscriber to see full article, but here’s the link to the front page.
One interesting question: when would the district run a parcel tax renewal election? Measures Q and W are set to expire in 2011, an odd year.
The topic also shows up in today’s Enterprise to introduce the topic as an agenda item for tonight’s school board meeting. (You have to be paid subscriber to see full article, but here’s the link to the front page.
One interesting question: when would the district run a parcel tax renewal election? Measures Q and W are set to expire in 2011, an odd year.
Maybe they would have to do it a year early?
Maybe they would have to do it a year early?
Maybe they would have to do it a year early?
Maybe they would have to do it a year early?
Maybe they would have to do it a year early?
I suppose that makes the most sense. Given the current state of budget affairs, this is probably one policy (consolidating elections) that has to be implemented soon to help save money.
But it is an added complication to explain to voters — that this parcel tax will go into effect two years from now. It doesn’t allow as much flexibility in determining what to fund and by how much. The fiscal situation can change a lot in two years.
So what may be voted on, hypothetically, in November of 2010 may not make as much sense by July/fall of 2012 when the parcel tax would go into effect.
The problem is that this situation would more likely create the potential for having to pass another supplemental parcel tax (like Measure W) if the renewal ends up being estimated too low for the real needs of the district.
This was an awkwardness that existed with Measure Q and W, and that was under “normal” circumstances.
There may not be any great solution, but it is something to consider in approaching this decision. Perhaps faith in Mr. Colby’s ability to help everyone plan appropriately will be tested through this situation.
Maybe they would have to do it a year early?
I suppose that makes the most sense. Given the current state of budget affairs, this is probably one policy (consolidating elections) that has to be implemented soon to help save money.
But it is an added complication to explain to voters — that this parcel tax will go into effect two years from now. It doesn’t allow as much flexibility in determining what to fund and by how much. The fiscal situation can change a lot in two years.
So what may be voted on, hypothetically, in November of 2010 may not make as much sense by July/fall of 2012 when the parcel tax would go into effect.
The problem is that this situation would more likely create the potential for having to pass another supplemental parcel tax (like Measure W) if the renewal ends up being estimated too low for the real needs of the district.
This was an awkwardness that existed with Measure Q and W, and that was under “normal” circumstances.
There may not be any great solution, but it is something to consider in approaching this decision. Perhaps faith in Mr. Colby’s ability to help everyone plan appropriately will be tested through this situation.
Maybe they would have to do it a year early?
I suppose that makes the most sense. Given the current state of budget affairs, this is probably one policy (consolidating elections) that has to be implemented soon to help save money.
But it is an added complication to explain to voters — that this parcel tax will go into effect two years from now. It doesn’t allow as much flexibility in determining what to fund and by how much. The fiscal situation can change a lot in two years.
So what may be voted on, hypothetically, in November of 2010 may not make as much sense by July/fall of 2012 when the parcel tax would go into effect.
The problem is that this situation would more likely create the potential for having to pass another supplemental parcel tax (like Measure W) if the renewal ends up being estimated too low for the real needs of the district.
This was an awkwardness that existed with Measure Q and W, and that was under “normal” circumstances.
There may not be any great solution, but it is something to consider in approaching this decision. Perhaps faith in Mr. Colby’s ability to help everyone plan appropriately will be tested through this situation.
Maybe they would have to do it a year early?
I suppose that makes the most sense. Given the current state of budget affairs, this is probably one policy (consolidating elections) that has to be implemented soon to help save money.
But it is an added complication to explain to voters — that this parcel tax will go into effect two years from now. It doesn’t allow as much flexibility in determining what to fund and by how much. The fiscal situation can change a lot in two years.
So what may be voted on, hypothetically, in November of 2010 may not make as much sense by July/fall of 2012 when the parcel tax would go into effect.
The problem is that this situation would more likely create the potential for having to pass another supplemental parcel tax (like Measure W) if the renewal ends up being estimated too low for the real needs of the district.
This was an awkwardness that existed with Measure Q and W, and that was under “normal” circumstances.
There may not be any great solution, but it is something to consider in approaching this decision. Perhaps faith in Mr. Colby’s ability to help everyone plan appropriately will be tested through this situation.
This may not be as onerous a problem as WDF suggests. Typically parcel tax renewals have been place on odd-year ballots (every four years) in November.
One way out of this would be to place the Measure Q renewal (with whatever programs the district decides on) on the March (primary) in 2012.
Measures Q and W are set to expire in 2011, an odd year.
Measures Q & W are actually set to expire in June 2012, not 2011. Renewal elections have usually been in odd years. If the renewal were passed in March 2012, then it would be set to continue funding for the following school year.
This may not be as onerous a problem as WDF suggests. Typically parcel tax renewals have been place on odd-year ballots (every four years) in November.
One way out of this would be to place the Measure Q renewal (with whatever programs the district decides on) on the March (primary) in 2012.
Measures Q and W are set to expire in 2011, an odd year.
Measures Q & W are actually set to expire in June 2012, not 2011. Renewal elections have usually been in odd years. If the renewal were passed in March 2012, then it would be set to continue funding for the following school year.
This may not be as onerous a problem as WDF suggests. Typically parcel tax renewals have been place on odd-year ballots (every four years) in November.
One way out of this would be to place the Measure Q renewal (with whatever programs the district decides on) on the March (primary) in 2012.
Measures Q and W are set to expire in 2011, an odd year.
Measures Q & W are actually set to expire in June 2012, not 2011. Renewal elections have usually been in odd years. If the renewal were passed in March 2012, then it would be set to continue funding for the following school year.
This may not be as onerous a problem as WDF suggests. Typically parcel tax renewals have been place on odd-year ballots (every four years) in November.
One way out of this would be to place the Measure Q renewal (with whatever programs the district decides on) on the March (primary) in 2012.
Measures Q and W are set to expire in 2011, an odd year.
Measures Q & W are actually set to expire in June 2012, not 2011. Renewal elections have usually been in odd years. If the renewal were passed in March 2012, then it would be set to continue funding for the following school year.