Editorial: We have reached an S in the road

Burbank voters are weighing two distinctly different proposals this election season that carry the same name, “Measure S.” How could such a confusing turn of events come about?

We’re told it’s by accident.

At about the same time Burbank Unified School District moved forward on a $110-million bond vote in hopes of improving its schools, the city decided to ask voters to approve a special tax on trash and sewer bills to subsidize those fees for low-income seniors and disabled people. It was only after both measures were given identical names and it was too late to turn back that it occurred to civic leaders there could be a problem.

This begs the question: Do our school and city officials communicate effectively with one another when they’re planning to ask the residents to dig a little deeper into their pockets?

There is the almost-amusing twist to this dual Measure S flap: A candidate for the Burbank City Council shares a last name with any “No on S” signs that could spring up. David Nos, having apparently taken some heat for his “Just say NOS” lawn signs, took pains to write a letter to the editor running in today’s paper to explain that he’s in support of the schools’ Measure S, although we note he didn’t mention his stance on the city’s measure of the same name.

We’re still mulling our thoughts on Burbank Unified’s Measure S. Watch for an editorial on the subject in coming days, as the election is March 5. In the meantime, we hope officials involved in both campaigns take note of the confusion that has reigned due to the unfortunate lack of communication and coordination when these two important measures were named.