Posted by Shawn, a resident of the Menlo Park: Sharon Heights neighborhood, on Nov 19, 2010 at 8:01 am

Just what we need people with agendas pushing their agendas....parcel tax this and that to cover this and that. Pay for it out of your own pockets that's what your foundation is for.

Posted by Bob, a resident of the Atherton: West Atherton neighborhood, on Nov 21, 2010 at 6:47 pm

Tax those who use your schools (voucher) don't expect everyone to pitch in. Too many people not pulling their weight. This ship is sinking, yes the "best" school district in CA is too...revenues will continue to go down and more will rent their homes out since their taxes are low from prop 13.

Posted by Stalworth, a resident of the Menlo Park: Sharon Heights neighborhood, on Dec 23, 2010 at 3:30 am

Doesn't it seem like schools are always "short" on funds?

Constantly doing fundraisers and pushing for more taxes.

No pain no gain, suck it up and start cutting costs. Too spoil and entitlment for other peoples tax dollars. East what you kill, get the people using your schools and benefiting from marketing your school ranking to pay and contribute. Get real estate agents to pay each time they use your name in their ads. Get those "rich" parents in your schools to cough it up. What's up with the taxing everyone (oh, except the seniors, like that real helps they already have tons of equity and probably renting their home out or being used by family to pump kiddos into your school for pennies) a "tiny" parcel tax that no one will feel. Well feel this....people will get sick and vote and not give no more.

Posted by Liz, a resident of the Portola Valley: Ladera neighborhood, on Jan 20, 2011 at 2:23 am

As a longtime Ladera resident I have supported first the Ladera school and then Las Lomitas and La Entrada. Our schools have become used to having generous funding from the community, but, as with everything else, hard times are here for our schools.

I don't know where the idea originates that many seniors are renting out their homes and are no longer contributing to our schools. First of all, we have contributed for many years, which is why our schools have always done so well, and secondly, most of us are still paying parcel taxes to support those schools. Remember, those are not private schools; they are public schools.

However, if you think that raising property taxes on seniors will help the situation, think again. As more houses would flood the market when seniors are pushed from their homes, prices would fall and property taxes would decrease. In fact, quite a few residents have had reassessments already, resulting in lowered property taxes.