Alameda has many redevelopment projects underway, why can some of that money be spent on the schools?
By law, schools get their funding from very limited sources. From 1995 onwards, State law requires that any money transferred to schools from redevelopment be subtracted from the amount that the state sends to the district, which, in the end, leaves the district with the same overall funding. Alameda has some redevelopment funding agreements that pre-date the 1995 state law, but use of these funds is restricted to affordable housing projects. While we cannot directly benefit the school district with redevelopment funds, we can place a parcel tax on those developments, though, which does go to the school district’s general fund. For more information about redevelopment funding and the Alameda Unified School District, please refer to the City of Alameda’s FAQ.
