Letter to the Editor by Matti Christiansen for Petaluma Tomorrow on the Petaluma School Parcel Tax measures, published in the Press Democrat, February 28, 2004

Petaluma Tomorrow

EDITOR: Few things can be more important to any community than a well-educated populace -- and well-supported public schools serve as the foundation of that need. Three Petaluma area school districts have funding initiatives in front of voters on Tuesday's ballot, ranging in cost from $45 to $75 per parcel per year.

These relatively small costs have been earmarked for programs that have sustained budget cuts from the state of California. Critical programs and needs such as music, libraries, reading specialists, technology and class-size reductions for grades four through six would be reinstated if the funds are raised. If the state will not support our community's children's needs, these parcel tax programs will allow us to show that we can provide the needed support through local initiative. The only way to reinstate programs such as these that were cut last year due to the state's budget deficit is to come together locally and fund these programs from our own communities.

As our name suggests, Petaluma Tomorrow is all about the future of Petaluma, and there is no better investment in a community's future than public education, which helps cultivate young people who can more fully contribute to the economic, cultural and civic life of our city. The Petaluma Tomorrow board of directors urges passage of Petaluma City Schools Measure C, Old Adobe School District's Measure B and Wilmar School District's Measure E.

MATTI CHRISTENSEN

For Petaluma Tomorrow

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