Elementary Schools Suffer Deflated Funds

Anti-tax crusader Lanny Ebenstein approached the Santa Barbara School Board on 5/22 to pitch a $20 parcel tax increase to help fund the financially beleaguered elementary school district. Ebenstein said the money should be spent on music and arts instruction, after-school programs, and additional staff. The school district is looking at nearly $2.5 million in cuts and has blamed the recent pay increase negotiated with the teachers’ union for the crunch.