And the Los Gatos­Saratoga Union High School District is no exception, planning to put a parcel tax measure on the March 2004 ballot. The $100 tax, imposed on owners of parcels of land within district boundaries, could bring in $1.8 million annually.

The parcel tax had been tentatively scheduled for the November 2003 election. But because of many unknowns—including a possible recall of Gov. Gray Davis on the November ballot, budget data from the state that is still not concrete and uncertainty about community support for the parcel tax—the item has been postponed by four months.

Los Gatos­Saratoga Union High School District board members made the timing decision on June 17, a day after Superintendent Cindy Ranii held a community roundtable to discuss the district's finances.

Attended by parents and representatives of the Saratoga Education Foundation, Los Gatos Education Foundation and Los Gatos High School's New Millennium Foundation, the general consensus was that a parcel tax was necessary. One parent pointed out that the parcel tax would be a continuous source of income over the years, while the foundations' fundraising efforts must be ongoing to have long-term effects. But in light of recent parcel tax election defeats, such as in nearby Campbell Union School District, people wanted the district to be cautious and make sure the parcel tax campaign was done right.

At the roundtable, Ranii pointed to property taxes as a factor that had contributed to the district's shortfall of $1.6 million in 2002­03. Properties in the district had been reassessed down midway through the year. "The good news is, you pay less taxes. The downside, schools get less money," Ranii said.

Those taxpayers—most of whom do not have children in district schools—could be the ones to help balance the district's budget. Consultant Barry Barnes, from the firm of Terris, Barnes and Walters, told the board that communication and community education is especially necessary for the population, and for people to distinguish between a parcel tax and bond measure.

Currently, the high school district, as well as Los Gatos Union and Saratoga Union school districts, have bond measures, which can only fund facilities and construction. Los Gatos Union, on the other hand, has a parcel tax in place, while the other two do not. Simultaneous to the high school district, Saratoga Union is considering its own parcel tax campaign. Parcel taxes can fund personnel, programs and equipment.

Barnes pointed out the unknowns to the board, and also brought up the pros and cons of taking advantage of the March election. While the district's cost of the campaign is "predictable," Barnes said voter turnout and the likelihood of a gubernatorial recall being pushed back was uncertain.

According to Barnes, the district would have to conduct a poll in the fall, print and mail information in late summer as well as November and adopt a ballot resolution by Dec. 5.

In response, the board's consensus was to wait until March, but in the meantime hire Barnes' firm to work with Ranii to examine the district's current circumstances and work out details of a parcel tax. The board authorized Ranii to spend $7,000 for the consultant's services up to Sept. 1. The vote was 4-1, with board member Ron Adolphson saying he supported the tax and supported hiring Barnes, but was opposed to placing a "dollar amount" on the decision.

At the same meeting, board members unanimously and uneventfully passed its $24.9 million budget for 2003­04. The budget, slashed by 6 percent, included the reduction of 8.45 full-time equivalent teaching positions and 5.57 classified positions.

"There are about 10 teachers you would like to bring back next fall that we cannot invite back," Ranii said. "And we have a hiring freeze, which saves a lot of money fast."

Adolphson said the district's future is full of uncertainties—but he added, "There's one thing that remains paramount: We've got a budget crunch. And we're running out of ways to cut."