City of Manhattan Beach

Measure A - 2/3 Approval Required

VOTE YES ON A to maintain and protect high-quality education in Manhattan Beach.

Manhattan Beach schools have suffered from decades of inadequate state funding. We are, in fact, among the lowest funded school districts in all of California.

To maintain and protect high-quality education for our students, we need a stable source of locally controlled funding that the State cannot take away.

That is why Manhattan Beach citizens petitioned to place this community-led initiative on the ballot as the clear solution to PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR OUR CLASSROOMS.

VOTING YES ON A directs vital resources to our classrooms to:
- Protect quality academic programs including math, science, reading, writing, social studies, language, technology, engineering, music, arts and physical education
- Maintain manageable class sizes
- Attract and retain high-quality teachers
- Prepare students for top colleges and 21st century jobs

VOTING YES ON A gives citizens local control over our schools by requiring:
- Every penny to stay in local classrooms and out of the hands of Sacramento
- Mandatory Independent Citizens Oversight Committee
- Annual audit and public disclosure of all spending
- Transparency and accountability around district spending of all funds

VOTING YES ON A safeguards against financial hardship for community members by including:
- Exemptions for Seniors 65+ and low-income residents

VOTING YES ON A protects our schools and property values – a wise investment benefitting the whole community regardless of whether you have school-age children:
- Strong Schools = Strong Community = Safe Neighborhoods = Strong Property Values

Manhattan Beach prioritizes high-quality education and stands behind our students, teachers and schools. Please join parents, educators and well-respected community leaders – VOTE YES ON A for Manhattan Beach schools.

Together, we can ensure strong education, safe schools and a secure future for Manhattan Beach children and our entire community.

RICHARD MONTGOMERY
Manhattan Beach City Councilmember, Former Mayor and 32-Year Resident

IDA VANDERPOORTE
Former Manhattan Beach USD School Board Member, MBUSD Budget Advisory Committee Member and 39-Year Resident

DAVE FRATELLO
Manhattan Beach Realtor and 23-Year Resident

MICHAEL GREENBERG
Co-Founder and President of Skechers, Founder Skechers Foundation and 34-Year Resident

RO SCHREINER
51-year Manhattan Beach USD Teacher, Manhattan Beach Library Commissioner and 39-Year Resident

We the undersigned are OPPOSED to the new parcel tax on the June 7 ballot.

The new tax:

–Begins at $1,095/year. At current rates of inflation, this tax could DOUBLE in 12 years to $2,200/year. There is no CPI cap.
–Would be the 2nd-largest parcel tax in LA County. It will be FOUR times the size of our current (fixed) rate of $225/year per parcel.
–Will be in effect for 12 years, TWICE as long as our current parcel tax of six years.
–Requires a burdensome, ANNUAL opt-out process for seniors.
–Is regressive. EVERY home and property parcel (regardless of value or size) pays the same tax.
–Raises $12 million per year with FEW limitations on how our tax dollars are spent. Tax payments will be collected in the district’s general fund.

Further, even if the tax passes, we are not confident the taxes will be spent appropriately by the current school board. A new tax does not solve the current OVERSPENDING problem of THIS school board.

We are not against a parcel tax in theory. We are against THIS parcel tax. Please vote NO on June 7.

ELIZABETH CEBULA

C.R. "BOB" HOLMES
Former Mayor Manhattan Beach

HEATHER KIM

CHRISTINE A. NORVELL, Ph.D.
Former Principal Pacific School

BOB SIEVERS

Don't believe the misinformation. Here are the FACTS:

FACT: Senior citizens are eligible for a full exemption from the tax. Consistent with State law, seniors only need to file once and the exemption continues for the duration of the measure.

FACT: By law, Measure A funds may ONLY be used for specified purposes listed in the measure, including protecting quality academic programs, attracting/retaining high-quality teachers and maintaining manageable class sizes.

FACT: Mandatory fiscal accountability requirements – including independent citizens' oversight, annual audits and public spending disclosure – ensure funds are only spent for the purposes in the measure.

FACT: $1095 is not arbitrary, but the amount required – as defined by the State – to bring adequate per- student funding to Manhattan Beach classrooms. Over 100 California school districts utilize locally controlled parcel taxes to offset inadequate state funding, with amounts of $3,000+. Manhattan Beach citizens seek a fraction of that to keep our schools among the best and solve a decades-old State funding problem with a sustainable, local solution. Exemptions for seniors and low-income residents ensure the cost is not a burden.

FACT: Increases are capped at the rate of inflation. Per Municipal Code, standard practice is the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Claims of an uncapped rate that "could double" are untrue.

For too long Manhattan Beach schools have ranked among the lowest funded. That's why over 4,000 local residents signed petitions to put Measure A on the ballot. Strong schools mean a strong community and strong property values for
everyone.

Vote Yes on A.

HILDY STERN
Mayor, 27-Year Resident

STEVE NAPOLITANO
Mayor Pro Tem, Lifelong Resident

MIKE SIMMS
Local Business Owner of Simms Restaurant Group, private school parent

LINDA MCLOUGHLIN FIGEL
Local Small Business Owner of Pages: A Bookstore, Former President of Downtown MB Business and Professional Association, 37-Year Resident

TRACEY WINDES
Former MBEF President, Former MBUSD School Board Member, Co-Founder PTA Capitol Convoy, 36-Year Resident