Vote Against San Antonios Pre-K 4 SA Tax
By Ken Mercer
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Working Americans are in
the 4th year of a major recession and according to some experts perhaps the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression. Knowing how tenuous our present economy is our San Antonio City Council believes now is a great time for a
brand new $31 million dollar annual tax.
Every taxpaying parent can share stories of the numerous tough cuts and personal sacrifices they are making for their precious children.
Nonetheless San Antonios Pre-K 4 SA Tax initiative will be on our November 2012 ballot as:
SALES AND USE TAX FOR THE PRE-K 4 SA"
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM
After one year of operation the Council estimates $30.5 million in new taxpayer revenue" to provide Pre-K for 700 four-year-olds
(Source: City Managers Office Program Budget). That is a whopping $43500 per child.
St. Marys Hall one of the most recognized private schools in San Antonio costs $11360 per Pre-K student.
In contrast the City Council predicts that after three years the total number of children served in its Pre-K program will be 3900. The published Program Budget expects the new tax revenue for those three years to surpass $100 million.
The Councils plan calls for the starting salary for its Pre-K teachers to be at least $60K. That is $12K per year more than our local school districts pay beginning high school educators to teach calculus chemistry or physics.
Texans understand the benefits of Pre-K. The Texas Education Code section 29.153 requires that school districts shall offer prekindergarten classes if the district identifies 15 or more children" at least four years of age who are eligible.
The Texas Education Code defines eligible children as meeting one of these criteria:
- Unable to speak and comprehend the English language;
- Educationally disadvantaged;
- A homeless child;
- The child of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States;
- The child of a member of the armed forces of the United States who was injured or killed while serving on active duty; or
- In the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
I applaud the fact that San Antonio taxpayers currently fund over 200 Head Start and public
school Pre-K programs. However instead of improving the infrastructure of these programs the Council wants to create its own Department of Education."
Why would those parents who do not utilize over 200 existing neighborhood programs drive or bus four-year-olds clear across town to one of the Councils Pre-K facilities?
Taxpayers are clearly pro-child but you can be pro-child and still oppose this new tax.
Finally the Texas Constitution and Attorney General Opinion JM-1255 remind elected officials of the strict division of governmental powers between municipalities and school districts" which raises the issue of the state constitutional provisions governing municipal and school finance."
Clearly I strongly oppose this new tax. I believe it is both unconstitutional and bad public policy that increases the footprint of government.
Please vote AGAINST this tax on your November 2012 ballot.
Ken Mercer (RSan Antonio) is a Member of the State Board of Education and a former State Representative. Mercer represents some 1.7 million constituents in 12 counties including: Blanco Burnet Caldwell Comal Gillespie Guadalupe Hays Kendall Llano and parts of Bell Bexar & Travis.
