FOUNTAIN VALLEY : No Support From Board for Tax Plan

Despite support from some trustees for a sales tax increase, the Fountain Valley school board took no action last week on a resolution endorsing the move.

At the urging of Trustee Robert J. Sedlak, school board members Thursday discussed a resolution of support for a sales tax measure, which may be placed on the June 27 ballot as a way of helping the county recover from its financial crisis.

“I think that somebody has to step up to the plate,” Sedlak said. “If you personally support something, I don’t think there’s anything wrong in making a resolution to support it.”

Some trustees said they support the proposed tax hike from 7.75% to 8.25%. But they were unwilling to put the school board on record by approving a resolution.

Calling the tax hike “a necessary evil,” Board President Catherine Hacker said, “I don’t think anybody wants it, but it’s something we can do to help the school district get back their money.”

But Hacker added: “It’s not our place on the school board to tell the supervisors what they should be doing. They just need to do the right thing. It’s an unfortunate situation, and now the supervisors need to take the helm.”

Trustee Julie Hoxsie said she too supports the tax, but believes the school board “shouldn’t tell the voters what to do.”

“It may have been a handful of people responsible for making this happen,” she added, “but it’s going to take all of us to pull the (county) out of it.”