Lagunitas School District, California, Parcel Tax, Measure A (November 2017)
| Measure A: Lagunitas School District Parcel Tax |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 7, 2017 |
| Status: |
 ApprovedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| California parcel tax Expires in: 8 years |
| Related articles |
| California parcel tax on the ballot November 7, 2017 ballot measures in California Marin County, California ballot measures Local school tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Lagunitas School District, California |
A parcel tax measure was on the ballot for Lagunitas School District voters in Marin County, California, on November 7, 2017. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the district to impose for eight years an annual parcel tax—a kind of property tax based on units of property rather than assessed value—at a rate of $535 per year, with an annual 6.5 percent cost of living adjustment. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the district to impose for eight years an annual parcel tax—a kind of property tax based on units of property rather than assessed value—at a rate of $535 per year, with an annual 6.5 percent cost of living adjustment. |
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure A.
As of 2017, Lagunitas School District in Geronimo, California, serves Lagunitas School and San Geronimo School, including the middle school, Montessori, and open classroom programs.
Election results
| Measure A | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 1,072 | 71.75% | ||
| No | 422 | 28.25% | ||
- Election results from County of Marin
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
Special Tax Assessment for Educational Programs. Shall the Lagunitas School District maintain vital educational programs including basic educational programs, enrichment and support services for students, by levying a $535.00 assessment per assessor’s parcel per year, with 6.5% yearly cost-of-living adjustment for 8 years, beginning July 1, 2018, exempting any single parcel used as a principal place of residence by any owner 65 years of age before February 1st of that year?[2] |
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Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Marin County Counsel:
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This Measure was placed on the ballot by the Board of Trustees of the Lagunitas School District. If this measure is approved by a two-thirds vote, the Lagunitas Elementary School District will be authorized to levy a special tax of Five Hundred, Thirty-Five Dollars ($535.00) per Assessor’s parcel per year, with a 6.5% yearly cost-of-living adjustment for eight (8) years, beginning July 1, 2018. This measure specifies that proceeds of the tax are to be used for maintaining vital education programs currently threatened by cuts in state funding including maintaining District Programs, maintaining Support Services and maintaining Basic Instructional Materials. An exemption is created for any parcel used as a principal place of residence by any owner aged Sixty-Five (65) years and older before February 1st, 2018, or February 1st of any succeeding assessment year.[2] |
” |
| —Marin County Counsel[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[1]
- Stephen J. Rebscher, president, Trustee Lagunitas School District
- John A. Carroll, superintendent, Lagunitas School District
- Dave Cort, executive director, San Geronimo Valley Community Center
- Dennis J. Rodoni, supervisor, Marin County
- Zoila Berardi, resident
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
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Vote YES to Renew the Lagunitas School District Parcel Tax The Lagunitas School District provides an outstanding education for students in the San Geronimo Valley. Our graduates excel in high school as measured by academic success and outstanding participation in extramural activities including sports, music, art and theater. Many go on to attend leading colleges and universities throughout the world. Our innovative programs serve as models for other schools across the nation. California currently ranks 46th in state spending per student and the Lagunitas School District has historically been one of the lowest funded school districts in Marin County. For more than twenty years our community has responded to this funding shortage by supporting our local students through a yearly parcel tax. This measure is a renewal of that parcel tax and provides 18% of our total school budget. Our District depends on this parcel tax, parent contributions and other local funds. This revenue specifically provides:
Valley voters have proudly supported local funding for these programs for more than 20 years. This measure is not a request for a new tax, but continues our commitment to these critical programs. Without that support our classes would increase from the current 22 students per classroom to as many as 35. Strong schools like ours develop responsible citizens that keep our community vital, attract new families and enhance our property values. Your support is essential for the District to continue to provide quality education that the children of our Valley deserve. If Measure A fails, local funding for these programs will end next June. Please Vote YES on Measure A.[2] |
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Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Alex Easton-Brown, Lagunitas resident
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
The last time Lagunitas asked for a parcel tax they promised no more special taxes. A 6 ½ percent yearly ‘cost of living’ increase is well above the 1.7 percent rate of inflation and will cause the initial $535 tax on each parcel to grow to more than $880 in 8 years. This is when average incomes are currently growing at less than 3%. A lack of fiscal control should not be rewarded with endless tax dollars. Lagunitas has had a parcel tax increasing at 6 ½ percent annually for 16 years now which has multiplied into a huge cost of living increase. The parcel tax itself is ungainly and unfair and is large enough that renters are likely to see this roughly $45 to $75 a month added to their rents. There are no specifics as to how this money is to be spent. How much will be going to try to remedy past mistakes? How generous has the board been to previous administrators? How much will actually be spent in the classrooms and on teachers? Lagunitas School District needs to sharpen its pencil and figure out how to live with escalators closer to 3 percent and bring back a new ballot measure that’s sustainable for taxpayers -- not make it harder for people to stay in their homes. With many homeowners facing difficult economic times, this is not the time to pile on more hardship. Vote No on Measure A.[2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a unanimous vote of the Lagunitas School District Board of Trustees on March 16, 2017.[1]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Lagunitas School District California parcel tax Measure A. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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