Posted by Miss USA, a resident of another community, on Mar 30, 2011 at 2:24 pm

This is excellent news for the schools in Mountain View who have suffered so much from shriveled budgets. The Voice brought this story to light in the last year; Community journalism is as important as ever! Congrats to the Voice, the MV schools, Share Shoreline and the city for making this happen.

Posted by Margaret, a resident of the Willowgate neighborhood, on Mar 30, 2011 at 2:24 pm

Congratulations to everyone who worked on this! This is a great step forward step forward for the schools. I'm really looking forward to seeing what is determined based on a full review of the Community.

Great work and cooperation!

Posted by George, a resident of the Rex Manor neighborhood, on Mar 30, 2011 at 2:59 pm

I'm glad for the School Districts.. They can use the money. BUT it should not be spent for on going expenses, since it well may not continue beyond the three years. Use it for capital upgrades, maintenance, etc

Don't put it into salaries.

Does this mean that these taxes were not necesary at all ? If I were Goggle, etc, I'd be suing for a rebate.

Posted by Steven Nelson, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Mar 30, 2011 at 4:01 pm

George - remember these funds are DIVERSIONS by Shoreline from the regular flow of funds generated by normal 1% property taxes. Google, Microsoft etc. pay them like everyone else, but instead of half going to elementary, high school, jr. college and county education - 99% of it now goes to Shoreline (Chapter 1109 of Cailf Statues of 1969). It is a 'super redevelopment district' that is 'never' to end. In some ways it is also a conglomeration of a Regional Park District (why it supports the park and Stevens Creek Trail).

Jim Pollard's point is also one I have been making to the school boards and superintendents for several month's, without a statute change, this victory is just partial and temporary, although GREAT! About 1/5 of the normal property taxes will flow to County and Education for the next several years.

Posted by Sue, a resident of the Rex Manor neighborhood, on Mar 30, 2011 at 4:27 pm

The Shoreline District was formed to redevelope a blighted area and the funds are very much needed for maintaining the clay barrier at the former MV Dump. This is not a good thing especially in light of the MV Council and School Districts previously approving an agreement several years ago to give money to the schools.

Will the School Districts pinch in when the EPA comes calling for dump maintenance and mitigation? I doubt it - this is NOT GOOD for the City overall!

Posted by Voter, a resident of the Rex Manor neighborhood, on Mar 30, 2011 at 5:34 pm

I thought that Steven Nelson was the one opposed to the recent education funding ballot measure.

Posted by Parent, a resident of the Waverly Park neighborhood, on Apr 1, 2011 at 2:19 pm

@Sue, I think Shoreline will still have enough money left over after sharing with the schools to maintain the area. I believe that this is one reason that this agreement is not to completely dismantle the special district, nor, as Steve Nelson pointed out, is this agreement giving the schools what they would really get if the special district did not exist. The city knows very well that Shoreline requires funds for future maintenance, and they will be sure that that happens.

@George--what the schools need is unrestricted operating funds. Putting this money into maintenance and/or reserving it for capital improvements while letting the school PROGRAMS fall apart because they don't have enough operating cash makes zero sense.

Posted by Steven Nelson, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on May 9, 2011 at 9:31 am

Sue of Rex Manor, there is currently $30 million in reserves for the maintenance of the dump. Comparison with other dumps in Calif. governed by the same long-term-maintenance laws shows that this is entirely adequate (city has to document this). There is over $6.6 million a year from city owned Shoreline land (seized by eminent domain decades ago) that gives the city an income stream on top of the 1/4 of property taxes that a city would normally get. Now (May) there is an additional $30 million from Google for a 50 year lease. IF THIS MONEY WAS DEPOSITED IN DUMP RESERVES, and not spent on city salaries, there would be no need to divert money from the elementary schools in MV (Los Altos elementary is not affected).

-PS "Voter", in a Public Policy Debate, it is germane to debate the method of achieving a goal if not debating the goal itself. Shoreline diverts sufficient taxes to entirely pay for the recent capital bond project of the High School District.