Menlo Park City Elementary School District, California, Parcel Tax Increase, Measure A (May 2016)
| Measure A: Menlo Park City Elementary School District Parcel Tax Increase |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| May 3, 2016 |
| Status: |
 DefeatedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| California parcel tax Expires in: Never |
| Related articles |
| California parcel tax on the ballot May 3, 2016 ballot measures in California San Mateo County, California ballot measures Local school tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Menlo Park City Elementary School District, California |
A parcel tax increase was on the ballot for Menlo Park City Elementary School District voters in San Mateo County, California, on May 3, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing a parcel tax of $201.38 per year per parcel without a built in sunset date. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the proposed parcel tax. |
Voters also decided a separate parcel tax increase, Measure C, with a rate based on student enrollment increases.
Voters approved a $178 parcel tax in 2010 under the name Measure C, which increased to $201.38 by 2016 due to inflation and was set to automatically expire on June 30, 2017. As of 2016, district residents paid a total of about $851.6 per year through four separate parcel tax measures, including the parcel tax set to expire in June 2017.[1]
The approval of Measure A would result in a continued total parcel tax rate of $851.6, adjusted for inflation. The approval of both Measure A and Measure C would result in an estimated total parcel tax rate of between $1,007.8 and $1,320.20 per parcel. The rejection of both Measure A and Measure C would result in a total parcel tax rate in the district of about $650 per parcel, adjusted for inflation, by June 30, 2017.[1]
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure A.
Election results
| Menlo Park City Elementary School District, Measure A | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 2,340 | 39.7% | ||
| Yes | 3,557 | 60.3% | ||
- Election results from San Mateo County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[2]
| “ | To maintain our community commitment to existing small class sizes, high qualify teachers and comprehensive academic programs, and renew the expiring educational special tax, shall the Menlo Park City Elementary School District continue to levy at the current annual rate of $201.38 per parcel, spent only on teachers and educational programs, beginning July 1, 2016, adjusted annually for inflation, with an exemption available to individuals 65 and over?[3] | ” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the county counsel:
| “ | The California Constitution and state law authorize school districts to levy
qualified special taxes for specified purposes. Government Code Sections 50077 and 50079 provide that such a tax measure passes if two-thirds of those voting on it vote to approve the measure. The Menlo Park City Elementary School District (the “District”) currently has a parcel tax (passed as “Measure C” in 2010) that imposes a tax of $178, adjusted upwards for inflation, per parcel per year. The 2010 tax expires June 30, 2017. By this measure, the District’s Board of Education proposes to implement a new tax beginning July 1, 2016. If this measure is approved, a new tax of $201.38 per year per parcel on taxable parcels in the District, adjusted annually for inflation, will be implemented without an end date. This measure states an intent to replace Measure C with the new tax, if it is approved. The proposed tax applies to any unit of real property in the District that receives a separate property tax bill from San Mateo County tax collection officials. However, any property owner who occupies a parcel and is aged 65 years or older will, upon application, be exempted from the tax, and no new exemption application is required if the person already has a valid exemption from the District. Property otherwise exempt from property taxes will also be exempt from this tax. The stated purposes of the parcel tax are: to employ and retain teachers; to maintain low student-to-teacher ratios; to preserve educational programs; and to purchase equipment, supplies, and materials for instruction. No proceeds from the tax may be spent on District administration. The proceeds of the parcel tax will be placed in a special account. An annual report accounting for parcel tax revenues collected and expended and the status of projects or programs funded by the tax will be filed with the Board of Education. A “yes” vote on this measure would impose a tax of $201.38, adjusted annually for inflation, on each taxable parcel within the District beginning July 1, 2016, and with no end date for the purposes listed above. A “no” vote on this measure would not allow the new parcel tax to be levied, allowing the current tax of approximately $178 (increased due to inflation) to continue until June 30, 2017. This measure passes if two-thirds of those voting on the measure vote “yes.”[3] |
” |
| —San Mateo County Counsel[2] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[2]
- Jody Buckley
- Charlot Singleton, community volunteer
- Allen Weiner, Sequoia Union High School District Trustee
- Tom Lemieux, realtor
- Shari Conrad, community volunteer
- Mark Box, retired business executive.
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[2]
| “ | Measure A renews our community’s commitment to high quality public schools.
Our strong community support enables the Menlo Park City Elementary School District to deliver an excellent education to our local students at Encinal, Laurel, Oak Knoll and Hillview schools. However, the small class sizes, high quality teachers and comprehensive academic programs our students experience daily are at risk if the expiring 2010 parcel tax is not renewed. The need to renew is clear:
Measure A maintains:
Measure A simply continues the expiring 2010 parcel tax at the existing $201.38 amount taxpayers currently pay. Without approval of Measure A, the District will lose existing funding for at least 13 teachers, increasing class sizes and jeopardizing our current outstanding programs. An independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee will review an annual audit of funds. Measure A offers an exemption to those 65 and older. Please join us in voting Yes on Measure A to renew our community’s long-term investment in our outstanding public schools.[3] |
” |
Opposition
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[2]
- Alexander Keh
- Jennifer Sun.
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[2]
| “ | In 2010, voters approved a TEMPORARY parcel tax (Measure C) "in the face of deep state budget cuts and growing local enrollment."
It's 2016. The economy has recovered. Property tax revenues are at all time highs. Yet, the district wants to replace this with a PERMANENT parcel tax. Those budget cuts? In 2011, state funding was cut from $2.13 million to $1.07 million'. In 2012, state funds totaled $2.02 million. By 2013? The district received over $3.33 million' from the state. Remember Measure B in 2003? It was passed "to restore programs lost due to state budget cuts." MPCSD's revenue has doubled since 2003. Somehow, they managed to stick us with a PERMANENT tax. We're still paying long after the budget cuts were restored. The district is trying to fool you into thinking tax revenues are not keeping up. In 2005-06, MPCSD collected $19,885,846 in revenue. By 2014-15, they collected $38,089,7922. In that 10 year period, enrollment grew 36%. They're telling us $18.2 million is not enough to fund 772 additional students. That's about double Woodside Elementary's entire budget for 452 students'. MPCSD is one of the highest funded districts in the entire state. They don't need the money. But I'll tell you why they WANT it. The existing parcel taxes (Fund 17) generated a surplus. Instead of saving it for a rainy day, MPCSD decided to use it to fund their deficit spending. The continued deficit spending will deplete the Fund in 2017. The obvious solution: balance the budget and end deficit spending. MPCSD's solution? They're adding TWO permanent parcel taxes. Measures A and C reward and enable further deficit spending by the district. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Tell the district to be fiscally responsible by voting NO on A.[3] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Menlo Park City Elementary School District Board of Trustees.
Related measures
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Menlo Park City Elementary School District parcel tax Measure A. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Almanac, "Menlo Park school board places two tax measures on May ballot," February 2, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 San Mateo County Elections Office, "May 3, 2016 Special Mail Ballot Election," accessed March 20, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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