Union Elementary School District Parcel Tax Renewal, Measure B (November 2015)

Measure info Amount: $96 per parcel Expires in: 10 years
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A parcel tax renewal was on the ballot for Union Elementary School District voters in Santa Clara County, California, on November 3, 2015. It was approved.

Measure B authorized the district to continue for ten years its annual parcel tax—a kind of property tax based on units of property rather than assessed value—of $96 per parcel.

In June 2014, district voters approved Measure J, authorizing a $125 million bond issue. Before Measure B, the last time voters renewed this $96 parcel tax was in May 2010, when they approved Measure H.

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure B.

Election results

Union ESD, Measure B
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		5,454	74.77%
No		1,840	25.23%

Election results from Santa Clara County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The following question appeared on the ballot:

“

Without increasing the current tax rate, to support high academic achievement for local Union Elementary School District students by protecting strong academic programs like English, reading, math and science, retaining qualified teachers, keeping schools safe, expanding rigorous science, technology, engineering and math programs district-wide and helping maintain smaller class sizes, shall Union Elementary School District renew its annual education parcel tax of $96 per parcel for 10 years, exempting seniors, persons receiving Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") for a disability, and persons receiving Social Security Disability Insurance ("SSDI") benefits whose yearly income does not exceed 250 percent of the 2012 federal poverty guidelines issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and guaranteeing: no use of funds for administrator salaries; independent oversight and annual audits; and every dollar staying in our local schools?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis of Measure B was prepared by the office of the county counsel:

“	A school district may levy a special tax upon approval by two-thirds of the votes cast on a measure pursuant to section 4 of article XIIIA of the California Constitution and sections 50075 et seq. of the California Government Code. The Board of Trustees (Board) for the Union Elementary School District (District) proposes renewing an existing parcel tax that expires on June 30, 2016. If approved, the renewed parcel tax will commence on July 1, 2016 and expire on June 30, 2026 and will continue to be levied at the current amount of $96 per parcel per year. An exemption from the proposed tax is available for any parcel that is occupied by and is a principal residence for (1) a person 65 years or older; (2) a person receiving Supplemental Security Income; or (3) a person receiving Social Security Disability benefits whose yearly income does not exceed 250% of the 2012 federal poverty guidelines issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. State law requires the District to state the specific purposes for which the tax proceeds will be used and only spend the proceeds of the tax for these purposes. The stated purposes of the tax proposed are to: (1) support and protect excellence in core academic programs such as English, reading, math, and science; (2) attract and retain qualified teachers; (3) keep schools safe; (4) expand rigorous science, technology, engineering, and math programs district-wide; and (5) help maintain smaller class sizes; (6) protect local schools from ongoing state cuts to education funding by providing a stable local funding source that cannot be taken away by the state; and (7) provide for independent oversight and annual financial audits of revenues and expenditures. The Measure states that revenue generated by the tax will not be used for District administrators' salaries or benefits. The District is required by law to provide additional accountability measures for the proceeds. These measures include: (1) depositing the proceeds into a fund that is separate and apart from other District funds; and (2) providing an annual written report to the Board detailing the amount of funds collected and expended and the status of any project authorized to be funded from the tax proceeds. The Board will appoint an independent Community Oversight Committee to monitor expenditures funded by the measure. An annual, independent performance and financial audit will also be conducted to determine whether taxes processed have been expended only for the specified purposes. Measure B was placed on the ballot by the Board. A "yes" vote is a vote to approve a parcel tax of $96 per parcel on parcels within the District for ten years commencing on July 1, 2016. A "no" vote is a vote to not approve a parcel tax of $96 per parcel on parcels within the District for ten years commencing on July 1, 2016.	”
—Deputy Santa Clara County Counsel Danielle L. Goldstein

Support

Supporters

The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of Measure B:

• Carl Guardino, president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group
• Sam Acchione, chairperson of the Union School District Bond Oversight Committee
• Mike Guglielmo, small business owner
• Sherine Zaky Johnson, Union School District parent and president of the Union Middle School Home and School Club
• Edward L. Chirco, chairperson of the Cambrian Community Council

Arguments in favor

Official argument

The following official argument was submitted in favor of Measure B:

“	Vote Yes on B to renew stable, local education funding to maintain a first-class education in our neighborhood Union Elementary School District by protecting outstanding academic programs and retaining highly qualified teachers, without increasing taxes by a single penny. Our strong elementary and middle schools are an integral part of our community. Over 90% of local children attend a neighborhood public school. High test scores, excellent teachers and strong academic programs rank our schools among the top in the state. Our top-notch schools attract new families to our community, keeping our neighborhoods desirable and property values strong. Since 2010, thanks to overwhelming community support, our schools have relied on voter-approved local funding to support top-quality education. Measure B renews this vital funding before it expires next year. Our schools can count on Measure B every year. It is money that stays in our local elementary and middle schools and cannot be taken away by the state. Vote Yes on B: Protect Our Excellent Neighborhood Schools Maintain strong core academic programs like English, reading, math and science Attract and retain highly qualified, experienced teachers Maintain smaller class sizes Expand rigorous science, technology, engineering and math programs district-wide Measure B is Fiscally Accountable and Doesn't Increase Taxes Every penny stays in local schools and cannot be taken by the state Annual audits and citizen oversight continue to ensure all funds are spent as promised No funds can be used for administrators' salaries Homeowners age 65 and older continue to be eligible to receive an exemption Measure B expires in 10 years and cannot be renewed without voter approval Our excellent elementary and middle schools are a source of community pride. Join parents, teachers and community leaders and Vote Yes on B to protect top-notch education in our neighborhoods.	”
—Carl Guardino, Sam Acchione, Mike Guglielmo, Sherine Zaky Johnson and Edward L. Chirco

Opposition

Opponents

Mark W.A. Hinkle, president of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association, signed the official argument in opposition to Measure B.

Arguments against

Official argument

The following official argument was submitted in opposition to Measure B:

“	Just last year, voters approved $125,000,000 in loans, and now Union Elementary School District is coming back for more loot. They are asking us to renew the "temporary" $95 parcel tax approved by voters in 2010--a whole year before its promised expiration. Why are they jumping the gun? Answer: They are manipulating us. Holding this election in an "off" election year means that fewer voters will participate--which increases the District's chance of pulling off this tax hike. Hardly "taxation with representation." Hardly democratic! According to Education Data Partnership, District revenues for school year 2013-14 (latest figures available) were $40,317,222 and for 2012-13, revenues were $37,018,408. (Source: www.Ed-Data.K12. ca.us) That's a $3,298,814 jump in revenues, in just one year. That's MORE THAN THREE AND A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS. So, why do they need to renew this $95 parcel tax early? Answer: They don't need to. They spent $7,614 per student per year in 2013+14, versus $7,177 per student the prior year. That's a $437-per-student hike, year over year. If these administrators are already receiving and spending $437 more per student than the prior year, why do they need an early renewal of this $95 parcel tax? Answer: They don't need it. Remember: That's on top of the $125,000,000 bond approved last year--estimated to cost over $23,000 per student--not counting interest expense. It's time we said NO to the tax-and-spend, special-interest crowd. It's time to let a temporary tax expire, when we had been promised it would expire! It's time to say NO to this parcel tax. Throwing more money at school districts never guarantees higher test scores, but it DOES guarantee bigger bureaucracies and fatter pensions. Please vote NO on Measure B.	”
—Mark W.A. Hinkle, president of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association

Path to the ballot

Measure B was put on the ballot by a vote of the Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees.

Related measures

• Union School District Bond Issue, Measure J (June 2014) a
• Union Elementary School District parcel tax, Measure H (May 2010) a

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Union Elementary School District parcel tax Measure B. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Union Elementary School District Parcel Tax Renewal, Measure B (November 2015) - Google News

See also

• School bond elections in California
• Local school bonds on the ballot
• Santa Clara County, California ballot measures
• November 3, 2015 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• Santa Clara County Elections Office website
• Union School District website