Tax Talk Grows Among School Board

A sales or parcel tax to raise money for Hermosa Beach schools could be in the city's future if the meeting Wednesday was any indication.

As the board at sustainability options for Hermosa View and Valley schools, serious focus was turned to pursuing either a parcel or sales tax to raise up to $1.7 million annually.

At the meeting, Doug Gneiser, a member of the school board's parcel tax subcommittee, presented a report on a possible $200 parcel tax for Hermosa residents or a 1 percent sales-and-use tax.

"We have wonderful teachers, administrators, and beautiful facilities. Our problem is revenue. If we could raise it by raffle tickets or donations, we’d do that," Gnesier told Patch. "We’ve got to think of ways to do revenue and the option available to government is taxes."

Either tax would require a vote by the Hermosa Beach City Council and the support of voters. The school board discussed hiring a public relations firm to poll and survey Hermosa residents about the issue.

A summary of proposals already put forward by various public relations firm is expected to be presented to the board in a meeting that has been rescheduled to Sept. 21.

At the suggestion of Gnesier, the board also discussed the formation of a political action committee, which would be tasked with convincing Hermosa voters that the cash-strapped school district needs additional revenue.

"We have to make sure we’ve presented the case in a strong and convincing way to the public," board member Ray Waters told Patch. "I think we can make that case, but it’s easy to rouse a lot of angst, anxiety, and animosity." 

At the board meeting, members voted 3-1 to hold a public hearing during its next meeting on Sept. 21 to receive the community's input on the tax options. Lisa Claypoole voted against the hearing.

She said that she had "been through a failed parcel tax measure before," and she wanted to ensure that the board had the community’s input and approval before appearing to choose a tax increase, which she argued the public hearing would do.

"We haven't decided we are going to do this, it’s not a done deal," Waters told Patch. "What we’ve decided is that we’re going to look at it. That vote shouldn’t have been necessary."

In his presentation, Gneiser said that even with exemptions for property rent, groceries, medical care and other essential items, a sales tax of 1 percent has been calculated to raise about $1.7 million for the .

The district could also pursue a combination of both taxes, which would roughly translate to a $100 parcel tax and a 0.5 percent sales tax.  

"I think they’re both extremely viable," Gneiser said.

He added that some community members may prefer a sales tax due to the large amount of shoppers from outside of the city who frequent downtown.

On the other hand, property owners who have children in the district may wish for those within the city to take on the burden, he said.

But unfortunately, neither option would solve the district’s short term budget problem, some have said.

"Even if we got it passed between now and July 1 of 2012... we’d start getting money from it in 2013," Waters said.

Would you pay higher taxes to help the Hermosa Beach school district?