I don't doubt your assertion that the money is going purely to administrative raises if you say so, but I don't see it mentioned anywhere in the article. Are you sure it's going purely to fund raises? Or could it be that what is now a 30 million shortfall would've been 40 million had the parcel tax not passed...or could it be that you're just assuming it's going to raises are perks?

"Are you sure it's going purely to fund raises? "

They have chosen not to freeze step and column, and if you look at their compensation packages, there were no cuts there either.


Of course they are not going to say it in the article. Have you seen PUSD announce that they are giving raises (step and column)? No, instead they are saying the teachers are getting a paycut. Do they think we are dumb or what? The three furloug days DO NOT even pay for the cost of step and column (raises)

It is confusion like yours that keeps districts taking advantage of the taxpayer. People in San Ramon were told their money would go to save CSR.

So where is that money? The tax runs for 4 years, so it would make sense then that CSR would be safe for that time, right? But no, because even teachers who teach in the CSR grades need their precious raise

As long as there are contracts for government service jobs stipulating automatic raises, the financial “crisis” will continue to be dramatically overstated in my mind. Private enterprise does not automatically increase pay every year. In fact throughout my career, I have only worked for one company that did a global cost of living adjustment each year, and they are now out of business.

Seriously, I defy you to identify one state run or funded service that you think is running an efficient quality operation. Parcel taxes are much like the slot machines next to the exit of the casino. It is just one last chance to throw more money at the house with little chance of a satisfying return on the investment.

""Are you sure it's going purely to fund raises? ""
You bet it is! I have a friend on the board in San Ramon -- it is the teacher raises that will be funded DIRECTLY with the parcel tax that was crammed down the throats of the residents with lies about maintaining CSR with those funds.
Until S & C is frozen or eliminated do not think for one second that a parcel tax will fund anything other than teacher raises. Voting to tax ourselves to pay automatic raises is beyond stupid.
"a reader" can just step up to the plate and donate as they wish but to continue to chant the mantra of "all the good districts have a parcel tax" and "all the good teachers will leave if we don't have a parcel tax" makes "a reader" as foolish as the San Ramon lemmings. Do not trust the PUSD, do not trust the teachers union and do not vote to hand over our money for no good purpose.

This is why parcel taxes have been resisted in Pleasanton. They do not solve the problem, only LEADERSHIP can solve the problem. A parcel tax is not "for the kids" its "for the employees" who refuse to take any kind of a wage freeze. Once you have the "precious" parcel tax in place and you still have problems, what are you going to do?...You can't go back and ask for more because nobody will listen.
During this "Great Recession" EVERYBODY needs to "take it in the shorts"...when did public employees-ALL public employees-become so important that they should be insulated from the hardships that most of us are facing? Automatic raises, insane pensions and bad contracts need to be eliminated by strong LEADERSHIP that works for the PEOPLE, not the hostage taking Unions. You want a parcel tax?, well I'llgive you a "yes" once I know that the money is for education and not wages and benefits.

I found this older article (January) about the budget situation in the East Bay. They mentioned Pleasanton. I wonder: did the board and administration try but did not get cooperation from the teachers union? Does anyone know what really went on during negotiations? Read below. The link is to the article.

"One measure discussed by Pleasanton officials would shrink the school year by 10 days and suspend step-and-column wage increases. If successfully negotiated, the cuts would save $6.1 million, officials said."

Web Link

This is all very carefully planned and executed by strategists whom decade over decade deal with the same justified resistance just different tactics. Don't think for a minute Larry Tramulula LLC has not planned a very aggressive attack on Pleasanton using the unions and PTA as it's anchors.

Parcel taxes don't work and this year it's just a distraction! Leftist Democrats are going for the jugular this November, it's called the Constitutional Corruption Convention or an Amendment to the California Constitution to steal the 2/3rds vote requirement to raise property taxes on home/property owners.

The Democrats pretend to be for the people but their legislation is against the people! I know many people who say they have left the Democrat Party because it left them long ago. Without the 2/3rds protection we will be forced out of house and home! How is that helping all those who are just barely avoiding foreclosure? They have already legislated restrictions and taxes on every form of existence in this State and California is failing miserably.

I have heard of the proposition they are trying to place on the ballot. I think a guy named Jeff spoke at a board meeting in PUSD and tried to gather support.

Please people, vote AGAINST it! 2/3 support for a tax increase is not that much, and if they are not getting it, well, there is a reason for that.

We cannot lower the percent needed to pass a tax. If the tax is such a good thing and justified, there should be no problem getting that 2/3 vote, right?

Vote NO on that proposition and talk to everyone you know across California about it because if it passes (I doubt it) it would affect all of us and benefit the union - remember that the unions are already killing the economy, do not give them more!

This is who the PUSD and City of Pleasanton is using to for the faux grassroots "AstroTurf" campaign against families, home/property owners of Pleasanton.

Web Link

Grassroots Mobilization/Community Involvement

Successful grassroots campaigns are the result of careful planning and disciplined execution of an effective strategy. At TRAMUTOLA we call this The Discipline of Winning™.

Your grassroots program will be designed specifically to your needs and objectives. TRAMUTOLA will guide you through the process of recruiting, training and coordinating volunteers and staff to ensure they become passionate advocates for your cause. Our grassroots materials, well-defined tasks, accurate data and clear objectives will keep your team motivated and enable you to track their activities and progress.

Let TRAMUTOLA bring the Discipline of Winning
to your campaign or organization

* TRAMUTOLA will help you recruit, train, inspire and coordinate an army of committed advocates for your cause
* We’ll provide well-defined, realistic, and understandable tasks and the materials you need to effectively communicate your messages.
* We help you prioritize available resources – time, people and money. – TRAMUTOLA keeps you moving forward, making certain that your campaign does not drift, that you stay on message, and that all activities help you achieve your overall goal.

Your grassroots program will be designed specifically to your needs and objectives.

Larry Tramutola and his team are nationally recognized as the leading experts in grassroots organizing, with over 30 years experience working on campaigns at the national, state and local level.

Doesn't sound like grassroots to me, sounds like Tramutola has big UNION ties and brings in his Alinsky tactics and Union thugs wherever and whenever needed.

These people don't care about the schools or the students...they only care about WINNING and shoving a parcel tax down the throats of property owners...that's why they keep telling you that your properety values will decline if you don't climb aboard their "train". Its all orchestrated toward one goal and its not the kids and it never has been. ITS TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS AND THAT IS ALL THAT THEY CARE ABOUT AND THAT IS ALL THEY WILL EVER CARE ABOUT...ITS TIME TO STAND UP, PEOPLE, AND SEND THESE [Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language] WHERE THEY BELONG.

(Post removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff.)

(Post removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff.)