Oceanside School District Superintendent Larry Perondi says all district employees will need to take a pay cut if the school is to avoid deeper cuts as it faces a $19 million deficit this coming year, reported the Union-Tribune. Perondi also recommended the district increase fees for busing, eliminate transportation for athletic events and reduce the budget for conferences, consultants and cell phones.

                                        

Written by Councilman Jack Feller with help from members of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC), the controversial proposal was drafted piecemeal from sections of other cities’ charters, including neighboring Vista and Carlsbad. There was no public process involved in its development.

“What should have occurred to get to this point was a series of open, public meetings to air ideas for a charter,” read a Feb. 21 North County Times editorial.

Citizen groups couldn’t agree more.

“The process was a real bummer,” said Dixie Bales, co-founder of the group Citizens Against Charter, claiming the proposal was drafted “behind closed doors” by Feller and ABC. Few seem to disagree with her.

In fact, Feller doesn’t like it either.

“I would have preferred to have the process different,” he said.

                                        

A four-page charter proposed for the June ballot has activist group Citizens Against Charter rallying to defeat a measure they say was drawn up by developers for developers, reported the Union-Tribune. The charter would give the city greater authority over municipal issues and ultimately save the city money by allowing more flexibility in awarding contracts, according to charter sponsor and Councilman Jack Feller.