Voters have rejected Measure T, a local measure that would have provided about $60 million to help the Long Beach Unified School District offset ongoing state budget cuts.
In a special election Nov. 3, about 13 percent of 245,877 registered voters cast ballots. Of those voters, roughly 43 percent – or 13,823 – favored the measure while 57 percent – or 18,238 – opposed the measure.
“The voters have spoken, and we respect their decision,” said Christopher J. Steinhauser, LBUSD superintendent of schools. “We have some tough decisions ahead, but we’ll find a way to balance our budget and give our students the best education possible. We’re still America’s best urban school district, and we plan to keep it that way.”
Measure T would have levied a $92 parcel tax for five years. Facing unprecedented budget cuts due to the state’s fiscal crisis, the school district placed the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot. LBUSD has cut more than $100 million during the past five years and must cut as much as $90 million more over the next two years due to multi-billion-dollar state cuts to education.
