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Board endorses Schools and Local Communities Funding Act, citing need to restore school funding
Summary
After a round of public testimony, the board unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the 2020 Schools and Local Communities Funding Act, a statewide initiative to reform Proposition 13 that proponents say would shift tax burden to large commercial properties and increase funding for K–14 schools and local services.
The San Francisco Board of Education voted to endorse the Schools and Local Communities Funding Act, a statewide initiative to reform aspects of Proposition 13 that supporters say would restore local revenue to public education and other services by reassessing large commercial properties.
The board first suspended rules to consider the resolution and heard a steady stream of public testimony supporting the initiative. Speakers including community organizers and parents cited research and local examples they said show decades of underfunding since Prop 13's passage in 1978. "After 40 years of giving large corporations tax breaks, it is now time to reclaim over $800,000,000 every year for San Francisco's schools and communities," said Rachita Rawls, a parent and organizer.
Other public commenters emphasized statewide figures and encouraged the district to take an early public stance in favor of the measure. Commissioners discussed the initiative's history and technical issues like split-roll assessment; several noted prior statewide attempts to amend commercial assessment rules and urged careful ballot wording.
Outcome: The board adopted the resolution by roll call, recording support from commissioners and urging continued advocacy. Several commissioners encouraged future endorsements once the measure qualifies for the ballot and noted the importance of broad coalition work.
