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New Haven Unified School District parcel tax, Measure H (June 2012)
A New Haven Unified School District parcel tax, Measure H ballot question was on the June 5, 2012 ballot for voters in the New Haven Unified School District in Alameda County, where it was defeated.[1]
If Measure H had been approved, it would have levied a $180 annual parcel tax for four years. It was anticipated that the tax would have generated about $3 million a year for the district during each of the four years it would have been in effect.
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was needed for approval.
Voters in the district narrowly rejected a similar proposal, Measure B, in May 2011.[2]
Election results
| New Haven Unified School District parcel tax | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 No | 3,735 | 37.06% | ||
| Yes | 6,344 | 62.94% | ||
- These results are from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters and are reported as of June 28, 2012.
Supporters
- Linda Canlas, a member of the school board, said, "Make sure that you go there to vote because every single one of those ‘yes’ votes counts. You will make a difference."[1]
- Jonas Dino, also a member of the school board, said, "This is one of those things that I would encourage people to support. We definitely need it in this district. ... We need to find a source of revenue for our kids."[2]
- School board member Michael Ritchie, referring to cuts in the district's budget in recent years, said, "Bad things have happened, and worse things will happen" if the new tax proposal is not approved.[2]
- The editorial board of the Oakland Tribune endorsed a "yes" vote on Measure H, saying, "These are tough times for schools. We support reasonable tax increases, but districts should prudently spend the money on preserving educational opportunities for students. Voters should not think that simply casting one's ballot is the end of things. We believe district residents should pass these taxes and then watch carefully to ensure that the revenues are spent wisely."[3]
The official voter guide arguments in favor of Measure H were signed by:
- Mark Green, Mayor of Union City
- Mary Schlarb, a community activist and grandmother
- Jeff Macalolooy, a part-time teacher
- Hugh McNamara, a senior citizen commissioner
- Gertrude Gregario, a former New Haven Board of Education President[4]
Ballot text
The question on the ballot:
| MEASURE H: "To support high-quality local elementary, middle and high school education to prepare students for college and careers with outstanding core academic programs in reading, writing, math and science and highly qualified teachers and classified staff, shall New Haven Unified School District authorize a school parcel tax of $180 per year, for four years, with citizen oversight, no funds for administrators' salaries, an exemption available for seniors and the disabled, and all funds staying in our local schools?"[5] |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Union City Patch, "School Board Approves Parcel Tax for June Ballot," February 22, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Inside Bay Area, "New Haven district to try to pass parcel tax again," February 22, 2012
- ↑ Oakland Tribune, "Oakland Tribune editorial: Three school districts make reasonable tax request of the voters," April 19, 2012
- ↑ Union City Patch, "Measure H Ballot Filed With No Formal Opposition," March 27, 2012
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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