San Carlos Elementary School District Parcel Tax Increase, Measure P (May 2015)
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A San Carlos Elementary School District parcel tax increase measure was on the ballot for San Carlos Elementary School District voters in San Mateo County, California, on May 5, 2015. It was approved by a margin of just 110 votes -- 1.6 percent of votes cast on Measure P.
Upon approval, Measure P was designed to:[1]
- Replace the district's expiring annual parcel tax of $78 per parcel with a tax of $136 per parcel, increasing it by $58;
- Consolidate this tax with the district's $110.60 per parcel tax.
In summary, this measure combined two of the district's parcel taxes into one tax with a rate of $246.60 per parcel per year, which amounted to about a 30 percent increase overall.[1]
The district's $78 parcel tax was last approved by voters in 2009 under the name Measure B. It was set to expire in June 2015.
The district's $110 parcel tax, which was consolidated with the Measure B tax by the approval of Measure P, was last authorized by voters in 2011 under the name Measure A.
The election for Measure P was designed as an all-mail election. The district mailed ballots to all registered voters starting on April 6, 2015, with the ballots due back by May 5, 2015.[1]
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of this measure.
Election results
| San Carlos Elementary School District, Measure P | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 4,656 | 68.3% | ||
| No | 2,163 | 31.7% | ||
- Election results from San Mateo County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[2]
| “ |
To support academic excellence and maintain high-quality educational programs, including math, reading and writing, and hands-on science instruction; attract and retain qualified and experienced teachers; and support art, music, libraries and a well-rounded education; shall San Carlos (Elementary) School District renew existing local school parcel taxes and increase them by $58 per year for six years, exempting senior citizens, with annual public reports and all funds spent to support local schools?[3] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of Measure P was provided by the office of the county counsel:[4]
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The California Constitution and state law authorize school districts to levy qualified special taxes for specified purposes. Government Code Section 50077 provides that such tax measures pass if two-thirds of those voting on them vote for them. The San Carlos School District (the "District") currently has parcel taxes approved in 2009 and 2011 that collectively impose $188.60 in taxes per parcel per year. The 2009 tax ($78 per year per parcel) expires June 30, 2015; and the 2011 tax ($110.60 per year per parcel) expires June 30, 2019. By this measure, the District's Board of Education proposes to renew, extend, and increase these taxes beginning July 1, 2015. If this measure is approved, the current $188.60 in taxes would be replaced after June 30, 2015, with a new combined total tax of $246.60 per year per parcel on taxable parcels in the District for a period of six years. The proposed tax applies to parcels of land in the District that receive a separate property tax bill from San Mateo County tax collection officials. Any property owner who occupies a parcel and is aged 65 years of older will, upon application, be exempted from the tax. Property otherwise exempt from property taxes will also be exempt from this tax. The stated purposes of the parcel tax are to fund: core academic programs in reading, writing, math, and science; library costs and programs; ongoing teacher training and development; and elective programs to support a well-rounded education, including design and engineering, hands-on science, art, music, and language classes/programs. 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 of programs funded by the tax will be filed with the Board of Education.
This measure passes if two-thirds of those voting on the measure vote "yes." (quote) |
” |
| —San Mateo County Counsel[4] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure and the resolution calling for the election can be found here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in support of Measure P:[5]
- Linda Teutschel, past San Carlos Citizen of the Year
- Lauren Pachkowski, San Carlos PTA Coordinating Council
- Marianne Jett, San Carlos Education Foundation President
- Ted Lempert, former assembly member
Arguments in favor
Superintendent Craig Baker wrote, "While the State's new school funding formula has resulted in large increases in State funding in other districts, State officials continue to see our small San Carlos School District as a low priority. In fact, the new State funding formula actually gives a smaller amount of money to the (district) compared to what it would have received under the old model. The new State funding formula prioritizes large, urban districts and small, rural districts, and our (district) falls into neither of those categories."[6]
Official arguments
The following was submitted as the official argument in favor of Measure P:[5]
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Vote YES on Measure P: help protect San Carlos elementary and middle schools' strong academic programs, including reading, writing, math and hands-on science education, from cuts. Measure P protects locally controlled funds - that can't be taken by the State - to support outstanding education for our students. Our local schools are among the best in California, and our students continue to excel. However, our per-student State funding remains among the lowest in San Mateo County. Since 2003, our community has supported San Carlos schools with stable, local funding to offset the gap between the actual cost of providing a high-quality education and the inadequate State funding our schools receive. Although the State is slowly restoring funding in some districts after a decade of cuts, State officials continue to see our small San Carlos School District as low priority. Without passing Measure P, existing local funding will expire this year, and our schools will have to make drastic cuts to academic programs. Local, voter-approved funds have been used as promised, helping to protect reading, writing and math programs and providing hands-on science curriculum. Vote YES on Measure P to:
Measure P funds stay in San Carlos classrooms:
Join us in voting YES on Measure P to continue providing great education in San Carlos schools. (quote) |
” |
| —Linda Teutschel, Lauren Pachkowski, Marianne Jett and Ted Lempert[5] | ||
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument in opposition to Measure P:[7]
- Mark W. A. Hinkle, president of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association
- Harland Harrison, secretary for the San Mateo County Libertarian Party
- Michael G. Stogner, resident of San Carlos
Arguments against
The following was submitted as the official argument in opposition to Measure P:[7]
Related measures
San Carlos School District parcel tax, Measure A (May 2011)
San Carlos School District parcel tax, Measure B (May 2009)
See also
External links
Additional reading
- San Mateo Daily Journal, "School tax appears to squeak by: Initial election results indicate San Carlos parcel tax receives just enough support," May 6, 2015
- San Mateo Daily Journal, "San Carlos schools prep for parcel tax," January 26, 2015
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 San Mateo Daily Journal, "San Carlos to vote on school parcel tax: Proposed measure will increase annual amount by $58 per year," January 31, 2015
- ↑ San Mateo County Elections Office, "Measure P Text and Resolution," accessed February 17, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 San Mateo County Elections Office, "Impartial Analysis of Measure P," accessed March 31, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 San Mateo County Elections Office, "Arguments in Support of Measure P," accessed February 17, 2015
- ↑ San Jose Mercury News, "San Carlos: School tax hikeheads to voters," April 15, 2015
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 San Mateo County Elections Office, "Arguments in opposition to Measure P," accessed February 17, 2015
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