1990 in Review : Beverly Hills : Parcel Tax Fails Again, New Bid Is Planned

Two attempts in three years by the Beverly Hills school board to push through a parcel tax to benefit the schools have failed, but the board is leaning toward trying again in June.

The board has commissioned a survey to determine whether residents would be willing to tax themselves and, if so, by how much. The survey, for which the board has appropriated $15,000, is to be completed by Jan. 15. The board must notify the county by Feb. 1 if it wants to put a tax measure on the June 4 ballot.

Parcel taxes--levied on each parcel of land in the city--must be approved by two-thirds of the voters to take effect. The first parcel tax attempt by the Beverly Hills Unified School District, in 1987, called for a flat fee of $270 on each parcel, and won approval by 59% of the voters.

The second attempt in June, 1990, fell four votes short of passage. Parcels would have been assessed between $250 and $750 a year, depending on their size and use. The tax, levied over five years, would have raised about $4.5 million annually for the schools.

After the June tax failed, the district laid off 41 teachers and cut classes. The district has a $28.6-million budget this year and projects a $1.26-million deficit for the 1991-92 school year.

The amount of the tax would depend on the survey results and “if we get anything from the city,” said district spokeswoman Hali Wickner.