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San Mateo County, CA May 5, 2009 Election
Measure B
Parcel Tax
San Carlos School District

2/3 Approval Required

Pass: 5,746 / 71.2% Yes votes ...... 2,324 / 28.8% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

To protect San Carlos' excellent elementary and middle schools; maintain high-quality programs including hands-on science, literacy programs to ensure all students read at or above grade level; attract, retain, and avoid laying off highly qualified teachers; and maintain art and music; shall the San Carlos School District impose a $78 per parcel school tax per year for six years, with independent citizen oversight, an exemption for those 65 and older, and all funds supporting local schools?

Impartial Analysis
The California Constitution and state law authorize a school district, upon approval of two-thirds of the voting electorate, to levy a qualified special tax for specified purposes.

In 2003, voters approved a parcel tax in the San Carlos School District which will expire in 2011. Each parcel is currently taxed at a rate of approximately $110 per parcel, as adjusted for inflation.

By this measure, the Board of Education of the San Carlos School District proposes, beginning July 1, 2009, for a period of six years ending on June 30, 2015, to impose an additional, new parcel tax of $78 per year per parcel. For the two tax years from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011, the combined parcel tax for each of those years would be approximately $188 per year.

A parcel shall be defined as any unit of real property in the District which receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the San Mateo County tax collection officials. Any property owner aged 65 years or older may qualify for an exemption from the special tax if that property owner occupies the parcel. All property which would otherwise be exempt from ad valorem property taxes will also be exempt from the imposition of this tax.

The stated purposes of the special tax are to: maintain elementary and middle school programs; maintain hands-on science and literary programs; attract and retain teachers; and maintain art and music programs.

The proceeds of the special tax will be placed into a special account. An independent citizens' oversight committee will be established to monitor the expenditures of the parcel tax revenues. An annual report is required that accounts for the parcel tax revenues collected and the manner in which they have been spent.

A "yes" vote on this measure will allow a new special tax to be levied on property within the boundaries of the San Carlos School District beginning July 1, 2009 for a period of six years in an amount of $78 per year per taxable parcel. For the two tax years from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011, the combined parcel tax for each of those years would be approximately $188 per year. The new special tax would be used to maintain elementary and middle school programs; maintain hands-on science and literacy programs; attract and retain teachers; and maintain art and music programs.

A "no" vote on this measure would not allow the new special tax to be levied.

This measure passes if two-thirds of those voting on the measure vote "yes."

 
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Arguments For Measure B Arguments Against Measure B
Measure B is needed to maintain the high standard of education in our local schools by preserving high quality science and literacy programs and retaining highly-qualified teachers.

The San Carlos School District provides an exceptional academic environment to all of its elementary and middle school students. With National Blue Ribbon School recognition, exceptional student test scores, strong parent involvement, and recognition for excellence in curriculum, our schools and students excel year after year.

Unfortunately, our local schools face immediate budget cuts of at least $2 million in 2009-10. San Carlos School District is already among the lowest-funded in San Mateo County. With ongoing State cuts to education and unpredictable State funding for the next several years, we cannot allow our high performing local schools to decline.

Measure B would raise approximately $800,000 a year to protect San Carlos schools.

The measure will:

  • maintain high-quality programs, including hands-on science and literary programs to ensure all students read at or above grade level.

  • Attract, retain, and avoid laying off highly qualified teachers

  • Maintain art and music programs in our school

  • Protect the District's well-rounded elementary and middle school academic curriculum

Measure B also contains taxpayer protections:
  • Money raised would go to our local schools, be controlled locally and could not be taken away by the state

  • an independent oversight committee would ensure proper spending

Exemptions would be available for those 65 and older. The measure would expire in six years and could not be renewed without voter approval.

Measure B is a simple but critical step we can take to ensure San Carlos elementary and middle school children continue to learn in quality schools. Please join parents, teachers, and San Carlos neighbors in voting YES on Measure B.

Rebuttal to Arguments For
It adds up:

Cost per parcel would total $468 (6 x $78) with no opportunity for voters to change their minds.

Budget Cut Threats:

Politicans always threaten to cut school budgets if voters don't approve yet another tax. But, with or without new taxes, schools typically end up with more money than ever when the dust settles.

Remember the 2003 parcel tax?

Voters already approved a $98 parcel tax in 2003, based on almost identical arguments! The amount of that tax increases each year and it won't expire until 2011.*

In 2003, proponents predicted "a serious budget crisis" due to "the State's current fiscal crisis", suggesting that they faced a $1.5 million budget cut.

Their fears proved unfounded. Non-parcel tax revenue per student increased the following four years in a row: up 4.5%, 3.9%, 7.2%, and 8.6%.**

That parcel tax proved unnecessary but the district continues to collect it anyway.

So, this year --- even if you believe the cuts will be real --- please relax, vote "no", and rest assured that the district already has a parcel tax to cover the contigency they describe.

Yes, things are tough all over, --- but not equally.

  • Businesses are hurting worst of all, and face the greatest financial uncertainty; depending on (falling) consumer spending for income, and vulernable to rising taxes that erode their ability to stay afloat.

Homeowners and renters are in the same position.

  • Government budget makers are comparatively fortunate regarding income. Taxes are not optional! (And any declines are secondary to someone else's greater misfortune.)

  • Among government agencies, Schools sit at the top of the food chain. Their primary source of revenue is property taxes --- the most stable of all revenue streams.

Normally, regular property taxes on most parcels automatically increase 2% each year (with no voter approval required), and taxes on properties that change hands typically increase by much greater amounts. Total property tax assessments in San Mateo County have increased steadily under this formula. Growth rates in the last 10 years were 8.2%, 7.7%, 8.7%, 7.4%, 4.7%, 5.7%, 12.6%, 10.3%, and 8.9%*

Moreover, Prop 98 guarantees schools the lion's share of state general fund spending, filling school coffers further.**

  • It is shameful, and unfair, for schools to seek higher property taxes, kicking the less fortunate when they're down.

  • Government officials who care about the people should be struggling to find ways to reduce the cost-of-living at this time; not increase taxes to feather their own nests.

Today it is up to the voters to do the right thing. Please vote "no". Thank you.

Rebuttal to Arguments Against
San Carlos schools are prized elements of our community. Yes, times are tough, which is why we need to protect local elementary and middle schools from ongoing state budget cuts.

Our opponent, who doesn't live in San Carlos, may not realize state government is cutting millions of dollars in local school funding. Nor does he understand the impacts of these cuts on our students.

Measure B is needed to protect essential programs and high quality teachers in San Carlos elementary and middle schools.

San Carlos voters have made clear that excellent schools are a community priority. We're proud of our distinguished schools, which help support our property values.

Measure B is needed to maintain the quality of education we expect in our neighborhood schools -- while ensuring local control of school funding.

Measure B:

  • preserves high-quality academics, including hands-on science, music, art, and literacy programs that ensure all students read at or above grade level

  • ensures our schools can attract and keep outstanding teachers

  • adds local control to San Carlos school funding

  • protects local taxpayers by ensuring Measure B funds can only be used in local schools and cannot be taken away by state government

  • mandates independent community oversight and annual audits to ensure funds are spent properly

  • prohibits use of Measure B funding for administrator salaries

  • offers an exemption to those 65 or older

Our great schools benefit all of us --- and our strong community. Please protect the vitality of San Carlos schools by voting YES on Measure B.


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Created: July 31, 2009 13:01 PDT
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