Moraga School District parcel tax, Measure A (May 2012)
A Moraga School District parcel tax, Measure A ballot question was on the May 8, 2012 ballot for voters in the Moraga School District in Contra Costa County, where it was defeated.[1][2]
If it had been approved, Measure A would have levied a $225 annual parcel tax. This would have been in addition to the Measure K parcel tax of $325/year. The new tax would have lasted indefinitely; that is, it did not include a sunset provision.[1]
The election was held as a mail-in ballot election. A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was needed for approval.
Voters in the Moraga School District approved a parcel tax (Measure K) on March 2, 2004 with 66.8% of the vote.[3] Measure K indefinitely imposed a $325 annual parcel tax. Measure K generates about $1.8 million each year for the school district.[4] Measure K replaced a previous parcel tax set at $129/year.[5]
Election results
| Measure A | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 No | 1,949 | 35.03% | ||
| Yes | 3,615 | 64.97% | ||
- Election results are from the Contra Costa County elections office as of 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Support
The homepage of the Moraga School District's website included a statement from the district's superintendent, Bruce Burns, arguing in favor of Measure A. The headline of the superintendent's article on the website's front page was, "The Time Has Come for a New Local Parcel Tax."
The statement by Burns said in part, "The quality education we are so proud of has become more challenging to provide. The State’s structural funding deficit has significantly impacted our schools and is chipping away at the quality we strive for in educating our future surgeons, judges, engineers, teachers, musicians, software developers, and community leaders...The MSD has reached a crossroad where an ever increasing gap between revenue and expenditures necessitates taking local control to ensure we can continue to provide our students a quality educational experience."
Opposition
The editorial board of the Contra Costa Times opposed Measure A, saying, "While we usually support school-funding measures, two Contra Costa districts are asking too much as they seek voter approval to raise property taxes. We urge rejection of Moraga's Measure A in vote-by-mail balloting due back by May 8, and West Contra Costa's Measure K on the June 5 ballot. Each requires two-thirds approval for passage. We understand districts are struggling to balance budgets. But these measures create unreasonable burdens on property owners."[6]
Ballot text
The question on the ballot:
| MEASURE A: This measure will secure local funding for K-8 Moraga School District students. It will sustain our nationally recognized schools; offset state budget cuts; preserve small class sizes and strong academics; and attract and retain outstanding teachers. Shall the Moraga School District be authorized to collect an additional parcel tax in the amount of $225 with a citizen’s oversight committee and an exemption for low income seniors?[7] |
See also
External links
- Measure A ballot pamphlet
- Contra Costa County election information
- Moraga School District website
- "A for Moraga Schools" website
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 LaMorinda Weekly, "Moraga School District Plans May Parcel Tax," January 18, 2012
- ↑ Mercury News, "Moraga's Measure A short of passing," May 9, 2012
- ↑ Smart Voter, "Measure K"
- ↑ Lamorinda Patch, "Moraga School District Reviews Special Education Needs and Parcel Tax Activity," January 11, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, "Schools' requests for funds draw mixed reactions," February 27, 2004
- ↑ Contra Costa Times, "Contra Costa Times editorial: Two school districts asking for too much from property owners," April 19, 2012
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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