We are seeing
parcel taxes coming up in special election in both the Kentfield School
District and the Dixie School District. I'm sure there are - or will be -
more. As the report states, "Even rich suburban districts in Marin County are shifting resources from classrooms because of rising retirement costs."
The report places the blame where it rightfully belongs - NOT on local schools, but on the Governor and the State Legislature. Without legislation, the schools are incapable of stretching their dollars far enough to pay unfunded pension/health benefits in addition to assuring that the best teachers are hired and the students receive all necessary learning materials.
While we all want our local schools to thrive, and for our children to get the very best education, this is not possible with the current system in place. Each year the unfunded pension debt mounts and the schools are left to scrounge for classroom needs. California ranks 42nd nationally in education. How high will taxes have to go to solve this problem?
Send all of your representatives the link to this report and demand immediate attention to this devastating problem. Their email addresses are posted below.To save our schools, it will take a combined effort of taxpayers pushing for change, the willingness of teachers' unions to confront the issues head on and to realize that pension reform is the only solution.Regards,
Jody Morales
CSPP
www.facebook.com/citizens4pensionreform
EMAIL OFFICIALS
MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Damon Connolly dconnolly@marincounty.org
Judy Arnold jarnold@marincounty.org
Dennis Rodoni drodoni@marincounty.org
Katey Rice krice@marincounty.org
Kate Sears ksears@marincounty.org
Matthew Hymel mhymel@marincounty.org
Governor Jerry Brown: http://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php
Congressman Jared Huffman: http://huffman.house.gov/contact
State Assembly Marc Levine: Assemblymember.Levine@assembly.ca.gov
State Senator Mike McGuire: senator.mcguire@senate.ca.gov
Marin Independent Journal (for letters to the editor) : opinion@marinij.com