A long-fought battle for the city of Burlingame to fund crossing guards may be over.
Councilwoman Rosalie O'Mahony said Tuesday she will ask the City Council to advance the $32,000 needed by the Burlingame Elementary District to fund crossing guards, contingent on a healthy positive closing financial statement for this fiscal year.
The City Council had voted 3-2 last year not to fund $64,000 for crossing guards. With O'Mahony lending support, there are now three votes to fund the guards since Councilwomen Terry Nagel and Cathy Baylock support the idea.
After the council's vote, Safeway donated $32,000 to fund half the amount and the Citizens for a Better Burlingame raised the other $32,000. The city's $32,000 contribution will help fund crossing guards for the second half of next school year.
O'Mahony's decision was rooted in the city's positive balance sheet this year after years of cuts.
Since the city's economic picture looks brighter every day, we should count our blessings and share them too, O'Mahony said.
At a budget study session last week, O'Mahony said the city should revisit the crossing guard issue in October when this fiscal year's final numbers are in. However, she said wanted to speed the timeline because of anticipated state-wide debates and other concerns about state funding for schools.
The city took up the responsibility of funding crossing guards when it had additional revenue. However, with its finances tightening, the city informed the school district in 2003 that it would no longer fund crossing guards in 2004 if it meant going into reserves. City Attorney Larry Anderson said the city was no longer responsible for funding crossing guards.
The decision caused uproar among some in the community who believed the city should do all it could to protect its children.
Jon Mays can be reached by e-mail at jon@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 107. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.
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