Vote no on supplemental levy

Unemployment is at a 26-year high, increasing.

Global financial crisis worst since Great Depression.

Obama states economy will worsen before improving, recession long and severe. Expert economists agree.

LPOSD's $13 million supplemental levy budget. Up $4.1 million, 46 percent, from current $8.9 million supplemental levy. Principals ask to keep current staff despite planned 34 position cuts, declining enrollments.

Levy funds extracurricular programs, particularly expensive athletic programs not essential to education.

LPOSD needs to be forced back to basic essential education preparing students to earn a future living, three Rs and computer sciences. Extracurricular programs are not essential particularly in tough times.

If positions, particularly non-teaching, not essential in accomplishing this, unjustified and should be cut.

LPOSD can implement cost-cutting measures - four day week, pay-to-play sports, staff cuts, close a school and continue operations providing basic essential education. Won't unless we force it by denying supplemental funding.

Law allows districts having approved supplemental levies seven consecutive years for 20 percent or more of maintenance and operations funding to submit to voters an indefinite-term supplemental levy requiring only a simple majority approval.

See where LPOSD is heading with continuous increased supplemental levies.

Time for a solid "no" vote. Get LPOSD back to essential basic education and stop their drive towards an indefinite levy proposal. In these hard times we property owners simply are not LPOSD's unlimited money tree.

PHIL POUTRÉ

Cocolalla