5 ms·

By what measure? Major cities in CA saw significant population declines during the pandemic and the SF Unified School district has a major budget short fall now

By what measure? Major cities in CA saw significant population declines during the pandemic and the SF Unified School district has a major budget short fall now. Places like Miami and Austin which were much less restrictive are now booming and gaining residents by all accounts. SF crime is so bad businesses are closing because no sooner do they stock the shelves than roving bands of thieves clean them out.

cmh89 5y ago
Is there any evidence that the SF Unified School District short fall has anything to do with either the pandemic or population decline? California has population decline because its such an attractive place to live, which I know goes against the conservative narrative but its the reality. Austin, Seattle, Portland, Denver, and Phoenix are full of Californian expats who would move back in a heart beat if they could afford it.
- pmorici 5y ago
  The budget problem is a direct result of losing 3,500 students since COVID began. schools are funded based on the number of pupils they serve. It also didn’t help that they remained shutdown longer for in person learning than most other districts while they did stuff like soap box about eliminating advanced math.
  - cmh89 5y ago
    Schools are funded through income tax and property tax generally. Where did they lose the 3,500 students to? Some other school?
    - pmorici 5y ago
      Other school districts, out of state. Tax revenue is distributed to school districts based on their student population.
  - wahern 5y ago
    The SFUSD faced huge budget shortfalls before the pandemic. Here's a June 2020 article discussing the ongoing issue: https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/breed-announces-parcel-tax-measure-to-fund-teacher-salaries/ https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/breed-announces-parcel-tax-m... Notice that they mention that the potential for layoffs were already announced in February of 2019 (see earlier article at https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/educators-hit-with-first-layoff-warning-in-a-decade/ https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/educators-hit-with-first-lay...). The costs of the pandemic and the decline in enrollment have certainly significantly exacerbated the problems. But one of the reasons so many locals (of all political persuasions) were upset with the school board committing so much attention to changing the names of schools and related social activist causes is because all the while they were dithering on addressing far more pressing budgetary problems and related structural issues. And they continued to do so even into the pandemic.
- srj 5y ago
  Anecdote: I've lived in Santa Clara, Seattle, and now Austin. I've been much happier in Seattle/Austin and it's not even close. The thought of moving back hasn't ever entered my mind and is frankly repulsive.
- pmorici 5y ago
  They can’t afford it because they aren’t building enough housing and especially higher density housing. The high cost of living is a direct result of political policies that keeps housing supply low and taxes high.

cmh89 5y ago

Is there any evidence that the SF Unified School District short fall has anything to do with either the pandemic or population decline? California has population decline because its such an attractive place to live, which I know goes against the conservative narrative but its the reality. Austin, Seattle, Portland, Denver, and Phoenix are full of Californian expats who would move back in a heart beat if they could afford it.

pmorici 5y ago
The budget problem is a direct result of losing 3,500 students since COVID began. schools are funded based on the number of pupils they serve. It also didn’t help that they remained shutdown longer for in person learning than most other districts while they did stuff like soap box about eliminating advanced math.
- cmh89 5y ago
  Schools are funded through income tax and property tax generally. Where did they lose the 3,500 students to? Some other school?
  - pmorici 5y ago
    Other school districts, out of state. Tax revenue is distributed to school districts based on their student population.
- wahern 5y ago
  The SFUSD faced huge budget shortfalls before the pandemic. Here's a June 2020 article discussing the ongoing issue: https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/breed-announces-parcel-tax-measure-to-fund-teacher-salaries/ https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/breed-announces-parcel-tax-m... Notice that they mention that the potential for layoffs were already announced in February of 2019 (see earlier article at https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/educators-hit-with-first-layoff-warning-in-a-decade/ https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/educators-hit-with-first-lay...). The costs of the pandemic and the decline in enrollment have certainly significantly exacerbated the problems. But one of the reasons so many locals (of all political persuasions) were upset with the school board committing so much attention to changing the names of schools and related social activist causes is because all the while they were dithering on addressing far more pressing budgetary problems and related structural issues. And they continued to do so even into the pandemic.
srj 5y ago
Anecdote: I've lived in Santa Clara, Seattle, and now Austin. I've been much happier in Seattle/Austin and it's not even close. The thought of moving back hasn't ever entered my mind and is frankly repulsive.
pmorici 5y ago
They can’t afford it because they aren’t building enough housing and especially higher density housing. The high cost of living is a direct result of political policies that keeps housing supply low and taxes high.