ORANGE COUNTY IN BANKRUPTCY : BOND TICKER : Saddleback Trustee Fights Sales Tax Measure

A Saddleback Valley Unified School District trustee who opposes Measure R wants other educators to denounce the June 27 ballot measure.

Frank L. Ury said Friday that he plans to send letters to every school board member in Orange County asking them to oppose the proposed half-cent sales-tax increase.

Ury’s letter will also ask school district leaders to adopt resolutions denouncing the tax hike.

Ury said he knows of at least 15 school board members who oppose Measure R.

Ury said that supporters of the sales tax increase are “using the schools for political purposes.”

“They’re saying, ‘Oh my God, the schools are going to collapse,’ but none of the money, if the tax is approved, would be specifically allocated for the schools,” Ury said.

He said that county officials haven’t done enough to persuade him the tax is necessary.

Other school officials have expressed support for Measure R. Many teachers’ unions are actively working for passage of the measure, which is considered more popular with elected school leaders than with city leaders.