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San Mateo County, CA November 6, 2007 Election
Smart Voter

The District's Financial Position

By Mark D. Hudak

Candidate for School Board Member; San Mateo-Foster City School District

This information is provided by the candidate
In four years, the District has moved from near-insolvency to a balanced budget and adequate reserves. Given the State's financial situation, careful budgeting is needed to protect the District
In 2003, the District was nearly insolvent and was on the verge of laying off teachers and other staff. Through the efforts of parents and Board members, San Mateo and Foster City passed a parcel tax that helped restore these positions and provided needed funding for our schools. I was the spokesman for the parcel tax campaign and a key volunteer. After the success of the parcel tax campaign, I was elected to the School Board to help ensure that this new money was spent correctly.

Four years later, the District is in a sound financial position. The budget is balanced and we have built up adequate reserves. We completed our school modernization program, on time and on budget. Last year, we refinanced the facilities bonds for the modernization program in a way that allowed the District to purchase an office building for its administrative operations and still reduce the burden on taxpayers.

With careful financial management, we have been able to increase salaries for our employees and we continue to pay for full health insurance for each employee. We continue to upgrade our school facilities as funding permits. Even though our District is among the lowest-funded in the County, we have spent our money wisely and the District is now in good financial shape.

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ca/sm Created from information supplied by the candidate: November 5, 2007 18:32
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