MPUSD

“MPUSD,” Monterey Herald—Jan. 22, 2023

MPUSD’s is once again trying to reach into the pockets of taxpayers to fund their plan to finance teacher housing.  Residents within the district are currently paying off a $213 million dollar bond measure with fees attached to our property taxes. We will be paying these additional fees every year until 2048. Voters supported that 2018 bond as we were told by the district that “all schools need significant repairs.” MPUSD has not been transparent in how decisions have been made to allocate those funds and much of the district’s facility needs and repairs still remain unmet nearly five years later.

Why would voters support giving more money to MPUSD and again increase our property taxes, on MPUSD’s hollow promise that building teacher housing would allow them to attract and retain qualified teacher. In quoting from a 2019 survey MPUSD conveniently left out the part that shows 76% of teachers preferred “that instead of providing below-market teacher-staff rental housing the District should focus on raising employees’ wages so they could purchase housing on their own.”

We all know that housing is expensive and we also know that teachers deserve a raise.  Let MPUSD use their own financial resources to increase salaries district wide instead of asking taxpayers to fund real estate improvements.

— Marta Kraftzeck, Monterey