And the Los Gatos­Saratoga Union High School District is no exception, planning to put a parcel tax measure on the March 2004 ballot. The $100 tax, imposed on owners of parcels of land within district boundaries, could bring in $1.8 million annually.

The parcel tax had been tentatively scheduled for the November 2003 election. But because of many unknowns—including a possible recall of Gov. Gray Davis in November, budget data from the state that is still not concrete and uncertainty about community support for the tax—the item has been postponed to March.

District board members made the timing decision on June 17, a day after Superintendent Cindy Ranii held a community roundtable to discuss the district's finances.

Attended by parents and representatives of school foundations, the general consensus was that a parcel tax was necessary. One parent pointed out that the parcel tax would be a continuous source of income over the years, while the foundations' fundraising efforts must be ongoing to have long-term effects.

At the roundtable, Ranii pointed to property taxes as a factor that had contributed to the district's shortfall of $1.6 million in 2002­03. Properties in the district had been reassessed down midway through the year.

Taxpayers—most of whom do not have children in district schools—could be the ones to help balance the district's budget. Consultant Barry Barnes told the board that communication and community education is especially necessary for the population, and for people to distinguish between a parcel tax and bond measure.

Currently, the high school district, as well as Los Gatos Union and Saratoga Union school districts, have bond measures, which can only fund facilities and construction. Los Gatos Union, on the other hand, has a parcel tax in place, while the other two do not; Saratoga Union is considering its own parcel tax campaign. Parcel taxes can fund personnel, programs and equipment.

Barnes brought up the pros and cons of taking advantage of the March election. While the district's cost of the campaign is "predictable," Barnes said voter turnout and the likelihood of a gubernatorial recall being pushed back was uncertain.

According to Barnes, the district would have to conduct a poll in the fall, print and mail information in late summer as well as November and adopt a ballot resolution by Dec. 5.

In response, the board's consensus was to wait until March, but in the meantime hire Barnes' firm to work with Ranii to examine the district's current circumstances and work out details of a parcel tax. The board authorized Ranii to spend $7,000 for the consultant's services up to Sept. 1.

At the same meeting, board members unanimously and uneventfully passed its $24.9 million budget for 2003­04. The budget, slashed by 6 percent, included the reduction of 8.45 full-time equivalent teaching positions and 5.57 classified positions.

"There are about 10 teachers you would like to bring back next fall that we cannot invite back," Ranii said.

Adolphson said the district's future is full of uncertainties—but he added, "There's one thing that remains paramount: We've got a budget crunch. And we're running out of ways to cut."