While cleaning house, I found this letter... how naive the writer was to think a worse time could not come!

27 Jan 2003

Pleasanton Unified School District trustees are way out of touch with the community they serve. Their recent proposal of a Parcel Tax to help cover the governor’s mandated 9% budget cuts is outrageous, and could not come at a worse time.

The industries which employ many Pleasanton residents have faced 30% and more in budget cuts during the long downturn. Taxpayers have borne

10-20% pay cuts, forced vacation without pay, transfers, and layoffs.

They certainly have not enjoyed any pay raises or promotions in the last two years (as PUSD has).

Meantime, the PUSD budget still contains a fat travel budget, cash for

“golden handshakes,” large consultant budgets and a reserve more than

double the mandatory 3%. Cutting into the fat, elimination of unnecessary positions and poor performers, and use of half the reserves should precede any discussion of increasing our tax burden beyond what the state is already planning!