Now isn't the right time to seek a tax hike

Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) is circling its wagons. It's a wise choice because budget cuts from Sacramento are just around the corner, unless the Legislature can twist the arm of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, which seems unlikely.

The state budget is again in the red, and Schwarzenegger has vowed he won't agree to a tax increase. According to the governor, it's time for California to stop spending money that it doesn't have.

That seems reasonable, although a case could be made that public schools deserve to be an exception. Of 50 states, California ranks 46th in per pupil funding. That puts the Golden State among such educational giants as Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi.

The slashed budget in CVUSD is in anticipation of Schwarzenegger's proposed $4.8 billion in cutbacks in education. The school district is already set to close two schools a year from September because of reduced enrollment.

To save our schools, a parcel tax has been discussed, but it would require the approval of voters. Two letter writers in today's paper are voicing their approval for putting a parcel tax on the ballot.

There's resistance, however, in CVUSD. Asking for a tax increase while the economy is booming is one thing, but more people every day are convinced that we're in a recession and have been for six months.

Conejo Valley voters aren't likely to approve higher taxes when they're already cutting corners.

Complicating matters, the district would be required to pay the costs of the election or getting it on the ballot, if it were combined with Election Day.

The district may want to reevaluate the call for a parcel tax next winter, or whenever the economy has corrected itself.