2 weeks Ago
In a special election, the Ross Valley School District Board of Trustees is asking voters to revamp its longstanding parcel tax that in the past has won passage to support the district’s elementary schools in San Anselmo, Fairfax and Sleepy Hollow.The school board says it needs passage of Measure E to raise teachers’ salaries in order to recruit and retain top-notch instructors. Its current parcel tax will soon expire and without the extension, the district will not be able to cover promised pay raises without cutting classroom courses that make Ross Valley’s schools among some of the most desirable in the county.
The election is on May 6 and district voters should have already received their ballots. The mail-in election makes it easy to vote.Measure E’s outspoken opponents say the district chose to hold a special election in order to guarantee a low voter turnout that they say will make it easier to pass the measure.
It’s voters who determine turnout. The ballot makes it crystal clear that this is a tax measure that will be added to property owners’ tax bills. Every voter has his or her right and privilege to participate – or decide not to.
Voters in school districts across the county have passed parcel taxes because districts’ income from property taxes falls short of their budgetary needs. Importantly, these taxes provide districts with local income that is controlled by locally elected decision-makers, not Sacramento politicians.Measure E revamps the tax, changing it from a flat per-parcel tax – now $699 per year – to one based on the square footage of the built space on residential and commercial property.
The flat tax meant that the owner of a large home paid the same as the owner of a tiny house.The nine-year square-footage tax will change that, some – those whose home is 1,384 square feet or smaller – might see their school tax bill go down, but most will see it rise – some by a lot.The average home – about 1,900 square feet – would see a $268 per year increase.
In addition, Measure E includes a 3% annual increase.Seniors could file for an exemption. Some 30% already do.
A local taxpayers group – the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers – has been pushing to change the parcel tax to square-footage, but it is opposing Measure E, saying the change the district is proposing is too costly, especially at a time of economic uncertainty.Supporters point out that even with the increase, Ross Valley’s parcel tax would still be less than other elementary school districts where that annual change is over $1,000. For example, taxpayers in the Kentfield School District pay $1,799 per parcel.
The tax in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District is $1,003.In addition, they point out that Ross Valley gets less per-student funding from the state than other Marin districts.Related ArticlesRoss Valley School District counters tax proposal criticsMarin tax watchdog group opposes schools measure in Ross ValleyFive Marin elementary schools get state honorsRoss Valley School District clears tax measure for ballotBesides raises for teachers, the parcel tax will continue to fund smaller class sizes and preserve campus library programs.
Measure E is not perfect. The built-in flat annual increase would be fairer if the school board voted yearly whether to impose it, taking into account the economy and swings in state and federal funding.The “No on E” campaign has taken to low-road scare-tactic politics, characterizing the measure as “sneaky,” including having the image of a masked cat burglar on its campaign web page.
The district has been upfront about the cost. Every voter is getting a ballot and has the opportunity to vote. Both sides have been covered in our pages and have their positions in the voters handbook and posted online.
It’s up to local voters whether or not they cast their ballots.Measure E extends and increases funding that the district counts on. The increase is needed to keep pace with salaries offered in other districts, including many in Marin.
Backers of Measure E have made a strong case for the need to extend and raise the tax. The IJ editorial board recommends a yes vote..
