IRVINE : School Board OKs Parcel Tax Vote Plan

The school board approved a timeline this week expected to lead to a September tax referendum in which voters would be asked to save school district funding in danger of being cut.

Trustees agreed to hold public hearings on a so-called parcel tax at their May 2 and 16 school board meetings, with a final decision expected at the May 16 meeting. The board has identified Sept. 26 as a potential election date.

Although a formal vote has not been taken, all five school board members have expressed support for the proposed property tax.

School district officials estimate that a yearly levy ranging from $100 to $182.50 on each of Irvine’s nearly 36,200 eligible commercial and residential parcels could net the district an extra $3.6 million to $6.6 million a year. Residents age 65 and older would be exempt.

The tax proposal was spurred by district’s potential $11-million loss from the county investment pool. The district had $107 million in the pool, more than any other Orange County school district.

The school board has identified $3 million in potential cuts from next year’s $100-million budget and has sent notices of potential layoff to 30 administrators and 120 teachers.

School district bankruptcy attorney Marc Winthrop has warned that Irvine Unified could be forced into bankruptcy if the county settlement agreement does not yield funds in time for the district to meet a $54.5-million bond payment due June 13.

The last time the school district put a parcel tax on the ballot was in June, 1991. The ballot measure fell 211 votes short of the necessary two-thirds required for passage.

School board members must now decide the amount and life span of the proposed tax and how funds raised from a parcel tax would be spent.