TAX TO FUND SCHOOL FIELDS ON THE TABLE CONSULTANT SHOWS DISTRICT HOW MILLIONS COULD BE RAISED.

Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer

BURBANK - In the first sign that Burbank voters might soon be asked to approve a parcel tax, a hired consultant Tuesday showed the school board how it could use the tax to raise millions of dollars to upgrade high- school sports fields.

While the presentation was preliminary, Burbank Unified School District officials say they need the money to rip up fields, build drainage systems, install artificial turf and add rubberized surfaces to tracks at Burbank and Burroughs high schools.

While no cost estimates have been made, officials say they don't have the money to fund the projects now and have put the parcel tax issue on the table.

``This was initiated by the need to do something about the athletic facilities at the two high schools,'' said Gregory Bowman, superintendent of the 15,000-student district. ``This is just very cursory and very preliminary at this point.''

If the parcel tax plan is approved by the school board, officials could pay about $75,000 to hire the Oakland-based firm Tramutola, which helped the district pass a school facilities improvement bond nearly a decade ago. The city is also meeting with the district about the plan because the facilities are used for city programs.

At the special meeting Tuesday, school board member Larry Applebaum said he wanted to see a parcel tax go toward arts.

``I was elected on a platform of improving arts in the district,'' he said. ``I see that as a real need.''

Consultant Bonnie Moss said if the board is serious about winning the parcel tax vote, officials are going to have to make a convincing argument to get voters to shell out more in taxes.

``Voters are smart. They can figure it out,'' Moss said. ``So we need to be in alignment with them.''

Moss cautioned that while most local school bonds win in California, less than half of parcel tax measures win. Part of the reason is the measures require a two-thirds vote to pass.

A parcel tax is a way to generate revenue by levying an annual assessment on each parcel in the district. In Burbank, officials could ask voters for as much as $100 per parcel. There are 45,000 households and 6,000 businesses in town.

In 1997, Burbank voters approved a $112.5 million bond to rebuild the city's two public high schools and renovate middle and elementary schools, all of which were over 40 years old at the time. An additional $64.5 million has come through community development, state school bonds, and developer fees, Bowman said.

So far, the district has spent $150 million of the money for reconstructing Burbank and Burroughs high schools, repairing inadequate electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning systems at all schools, and bringing schools into compliance with fire, earthquake, health and safety standards.

Jason Kandel, [phone]

jason.kandel(at)dailynews.com