The Measure I debate

Tracy Pellman

Measure I is bad for our children and for Huntington Beach taxpayers. By

prohibiting a commercial project at the abandoned Crest View school site,

Measure I will rob our schools and our city of desperately needed

revenues at a time when we need these revenues the most.Those of us who

have dedicated ourselves to building better futures for Huntington Beach

children worked long and hard to develop a plan that would make the best

use of the Crest View school site. Our commitment, along with the advice

of expert financial consultants, came after years of study and numerous

community meetings.

We arrived at the informed decision that leasing the site would be the

best answer for providing the revenues needed to repair leaky roofs,

remove asbestos, fix heating and air conditioning, and purchase computers

to prepare students for the types of jobs and careers they want and

deserve in this fast-paced, high-tech 21st century.

By leasing the site, we would qualify for $27 million in state matching

funds, and receive those funds over time so that they could be used

responsibly and efficiently, and we would retain ownership of the

property at the end of the lease for future income or use.

The assumption that selling the property is best is just plain wrong. By

selling the site, we would receive one lump sum of $6 million (according

to a property appraisal done in August) and that would qualify for state

matching funds all at once. But these funds must, by law, be spent within

an 18-month period or the money reverts back to the state.

There is absolutely no way the school district can, or should, rush

forward to make $27 million in repairs in that brief period of time. And

what of future school children -- how do we pay for their needs?

The school district is prohibited from investing funds. We cannot afford

to lose the $68 million in lease revenues -- desperately needed new funds

-- and give up ownership of valuable property that Measure I would take

away. Selling the site would be selling out our kids.Our city and our

taxpayers will also lose with Measure I because they will be robbed of

guaranteed critical sales tax revenues -- $400,000 each and every year --

that are needed for police and fire protection, to fix our streets and

water and sewer systems, and that are vital to pay for beach cleanup,

parks and open space.

On the commercial side, Huntington Beach just dropped to 20th place among

Orange County cities in per capita sales tax revenues, meaning local

residents are spending their shopping dollars in other cities, and those

cities are reaping the rewards. Without these new sales tax revenues, can

a tax increase for Huntington Beach residents be far behind?

We have heard city taxpayers and parents loud and clear that they do not

want more taxes. Last year’s Measure A, the high school bond, didn’t

receive sufficient support, and similar taxmeasures have failed in the

past. We have also heard that city residents and parents want quality

education for their children, and safe and clean city and community

amenities to enjoy.That’s precisely why school and city officials

listened to leading outside financial experts and pursued the commercial

development at a long-idled school site [near] the corner of Beach

Boulevard and Talbert Avenue, and imposed the most conditions on any such

project in the history of Huntington Beach. The conditions were imposed

not because this was a bad project, but to make the project compatible

with the surrounding community.

Furthermore, this is the most viable site for such a development. Other

mentioned sites, such as Huntington Center, are not viable from the

city’s, the center’s or the business’ position because in most cases

those sites are already committed to other tenants. The Crest View site

has already stood idle for eight years, costing the school district and

city taxpayers significant money. We have a unique opportunity to turn

this site into something positive and beneficial for our residents and

children.That’s why city residents, parents, teachers, city officials,

business leaders and thousands of others committed to a better Huntington

Beach have joined together to say No on Measure I. It’s bad for our city

and bad for our children.

* TRACY PELLMAN is a member of the Ocean View School District board of

trustees. She is also the head of Save Our City, Save Our Schools, a

pro-Wal-Mart campaign.