I guess I am not really elated, it should have failed by a lot more. There will be a reconsideration tomorrow. There was one excused vote today. It could still eventually pass.
I have said from the beginning any plan that uses an increase in sales taxes is short-sighted and fiscally irresponsible.
Think about it, just for a moment. While almost half of school kids in the SF School District get free or reduced lunches (because their parents are living in poverty and can’t afford to buy food) the solution for higher teacher pay is to RAISE the tax on food that these student’s parents can’t afford. I guess as long as teacher’s can afford to buy themselves lunch, the FEDs will continue to feed the needy.
There are options, SEVERAL options;
• Use 100% of lottery money to fund education by upping the state’s take.
• Equalize school administrator pay with teacher pay (we are 26th in the nation for admin pay).
• Reduce reserves of school districts and funnel that money towards teacher pay. I have never understood putting tax dollars in savings accounts. Either spend it, or give it back.
• Eliminate several sales tax exemptions like on advertising.
• Equalize ag land property taxes with urban taxes. Let’s face it, farming is more and more a corporate venture not a small family business.
• Implement more taxes on tourism.
We have options, hundreds of options. Raising taxes on food, utilities and clothing is short sighted and counter productive. Let’s raise teacher pay, but let’s do it in an educated way and responsibly.