Here’s a letter I had published in today’s Monterey Herald. What’s important is not so much the measure being debated and voted on, but the way the local school district used our money. It was the lead letter in the Herald and I like the title the Herald‘s editors gave my letter.

Compensate taxpayers for costly mailing

The Pacific Grove Unified School District has gone too far. It has sent out a mailing, at taxpayers’ expense, telling why Measure A is needed. Measure A, if passed, would raise taxes on property in Pacific Grove. The employees and board members of PGUSD have every right to use their own resources to urge people to vote for the tax increase. But they have no right to use our money. This is especially galling for those of us who oppose the tax increase and yet are having to pay to be propagandized.

We hear that the tax increase is for education for the children. But the most important thing we can do for children is teach them right from wrong. PGUSD, it seems, does not know right from wrong.

By using our tax money, and probably breaking the law in the process, PGUSD has lost any claim to the moral high ground. Superintendent Ralph Porras and board members Debbie Crandell, John Paff, Bill Phillips, Tony Sollecito and John Thibeau, all of whose names are on the mailing, should resign in shame. And they should personally compensate Pacific Grove taxpayers for the expensive mailing.