1.

WHY IS MEASURE B NEEDED?

The Board of Trustees determined that the District needed to ensure more local control of funding to make certain our students sustain high achievement. The California State Legislature fails to provide adequate and predictable funding for schools, and as a result of this lack of financial support, without renewal and extension of the existing parcel tax, the Larkspur School District (the “District”) would be forced to reduce or eliminate important programs and instructional staff beneficial and necessary to the children who attend Neil Cummins Elementary and Hall Middle Schools.

2.

What can I do to help win voter approval for Measure B and support our schools?

The first thing is to make sure you are registered to vote and that you cast your ballot by mail on or before Nov. 3rd, or cast your ballot in person on Election Day.  If you’ve changed your address, your name has changed or you’ve changed political parties, you MUST reregister to be eligible to vote.  Many people who think they are registered to vote, in fact, are not.  The deadline to register for the Nov. 3rd election in Oct. 19th.  Contact the Marin county Registar of voters at 499-6456 to confirm your registration status or check online at www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/RV/Main/reg/index/cfm.  To get involved in the campaign: Click here to volunteer on the campaign or provide your endorsement.

3.

What are the state budget cuts that everyone is talking about?

In July 2009, responding to a shortfall in California state tax revenues, the legislators passed a state budget that implements an 18% funding cut per pupil.  The impact on the state education budget is about $8 billion for K – 12 schools. Even prior to this round of spending cuts, California ranked 47th in the country in per pupil spending.

4.

Why doesn’t the state take care of the schools’ needs?

California already ranked 47th nationally in its per-pupil expenditures in 2007. That spending level is likely to plummet even more in the wake of the latest round of state spending cuts. We cannot count on unstable state funding for priority programs. Measure B provides locally controlled funding that can’t be taken away. Furthermore, we are a basic aid district, meaning that our funding is a set amount, so despite the fact that our enrollment is up 40% since 2000, we receive only a set amount of state funding.

5.

Is this a short-term problem that will resolve itself when the economy recovers?

No, mid-year cuts are expected this year and additional reductions for the 2010-2011 school year. Additionally, school funding typically lags two to three years behind the beginnings of an economic recovery.  The current unprecedented level of budget cuts highlights the unreliability of state funding. We should protect our schools from their vulnerability to these economic cycles. Steady parcel tax revenues lessen the impact of this funding volatility.

6.

What cuts has the District had to make in order to balance its budget?

During the last 18 months, the Larkspur School District has lost $1.2 million dollars in state funds and has had to impose severe cuts. The following is a partial list of programs that have been lost:

-No instructional materials for classrooms, e.g., crayons, pencils, paper
-No science teacher for grades K-5*
-No technology equipment
-Reduced physical education for grades K-4
-Elimination of Kindergarten extended day program
-Reduced counseling services for grades 5-8
-Elimination of many support personnel positions key to safe, efficient school operations

For information on budget reductions go to: http://larkspurschools.org/businessoffice/budget/index.htm.
*Since the beginning of the school year, SPARK has stepped in to fund a science teacher for both schools and a technology teacher for Neil Cummins.  SPARK is using funds from its family giving reserves to fill this need at the schools.

7.

How do our students compare to their peers in the state? Why are they successful?

Our students rank in the top 10% statewide for academic achievement, and we are also one of the top performing elementary school districts in Marin County (our Academic Performance Index is 915/1000).  Neil Cummins and Hall have both received California Distinguished School awards and Hall was designated a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Academic achievement for students in the Larkspur School District is a direct reflection of the highly trained teaching and professional staff; students’ enthusiasm, abilities and hard work; the degree of support and involvement by parents; and the high level of commitment and financial support from the entire school district community.

8.

How much revenue does the parcel tax provide the Larkspur School District?  What revenue does the District receive from other sources? 

For the 2009-10 school year, the parcel tax will generate $1.5 million. This represents 13% of the District’s $12 million budget. The District receives funding from several sources:                                                
                          61%     from local basic aid - local property taxes
                          13%     from voter approved parcel taxes
                           7%      from SPARK – the Corte Madera Larkspur Schools Foundation
                           7%      from lease revenue
                           6%      from other local revenue
                           5%      from state and federal categorical funds
                           1%      from state lottery funds

9.

Shouldn’t the parent community be asked to contribute something?

An active parent community consistently supports the Larkspur School District.  Every year families are asked by the SPARK Foundation (formerly named the Corte Madera Larkspur Schools Foundation) to contribute over $700 per child. During the 2008-09 school year family donations, from the Family Giving Campaign and additional fundraising, amounted to over $1 million.

10.

Don’t local businesses already support the Corte Madera Larkspur School District?

This past year, the Foundation’s Business Supporting Schools Program generated donations totaling approximately $60,000 from local businesses, including many parent owned businesses.

11.

What is the purpose of the parcel tax?

The parcel tax provides funds for the Larkspur School District to maintain high academic achievement levels through: quality programs in reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies, technology and music; highly qualified and experienced teachers and staff; current educational and instructional equipment, supplies, library and text books; and small class sizes and support services.

12.

Has our community supported Larkspur School District parcel taxes before?

Yes, our community has consistently recognized the value of quality local education and has been very supportive of the needs of our children and schools. Voters in the Larkspur School District initially passed a parcel tax in 1988. Subsequently, the voters approved renewals in 1993, 1999, and 2005. In addition, a 2-year emergency supplemental parcel tax was passed in 2003, which expired in 2005.

13.

How much revenue will Measure B provide the Larkspur School District?

The parcel tax will provide $2 million to the District, which would equate to 17% of the District’s 2009-2010 budget. Eighty percent paid by homeowners and 20% paid by commercial property owners.

14.

What if we don’t approve Measure B?

The District would need to cut approximately $2 million more from the budget. Teaching positions would be eliminated (one out of every six positions), core academic programs for students would be diminished, class sizes would increase, and support for classroom teachers would be reduced. The direct result would be a severe decline in the quality of our local elementary school education, and it would likely reduce property values in our community. See Money Magazine video.

15.

As a homeowner, how will Measure B affect me?

For homeowners, Measure B is a renewal of the existing parcel tax passed in 2005; it is not a new tax.  Homeowners will pay $368.88 per year, for a period of 8 years, beginning on July 1, 2010, with an annual cost of living adjustment of 5%.

16.

As a condominium owner, how will Measure B affect me?

Condominiums are listed on the assessor’s roles as a separate parcel for each unit. Thus, condominium owners pay the same parcel tax as all other residential parcel owners.

17.

As a renter, how will Measure B affect me?

In the case of rental properties, a parcel tax is levied on the owner of the parcel, not the renter. For parcels containing more than one single-family residence or dwelling unit e.g., apartments, the tax will be imposed at the rate of $368.88 per year for the first unit and $50 per year, $4.17 per month, for each additional unit.

18.

As a commercial property owner, how will Measure B affect me?

Measure B proposes a tiered rate structure for commercial properties according to the parcel’s square footage. Commercial properties of less than 10,000 square feet will have either a small increase or none at all. Most of the largest parcels are multi-store shopping malls. Presently, 96% of the Larkspur School District parcel tax revenue comes from homeowners and 4% from commercial properties. Measure B will increase the commercial property owners’ share of the parcel tax to approximately 20%.          

19.

I’ve heard this parcel tax will force some small businesses to close, is this true?

According to the County Assessor’s office there are a total of 194 commercial parcels within the District boundaries. Approximately 90% of the parcels will pay $4000 or less.  Here’s how that breaks out:

19% will see NO INCREASE and pay $368 (< 5000sf) e.g. parcels that have the following businesses on them: DJ’s, Benissimo’s, M Clothing, D&K Automotive
13% will pay $700, approx. $2/day (<10,000sf) e.g. parcels that have the following businesses on them: Stellar Spa, Bergelli Gallery, Silver Peso
29% will pay $2000 (<25,000sf) e.g. parcels that have the following businesses on them: Toscalito Tire, Tamalpais Bank, Tamalpais Paint
28% will pay $4000 (<100,000sf) e.g. parcels that have the following businesses on them: Hertz Rental, Paradise Foods, Joann Fabrics 

Note that many commercial parcels, particularly the larger parcels, contain numerous tenant businesses within their parcel boundary and presumably the parcel tax would be divided accordingly, thereby effectively lowering the amount the average individual business will pay.

20.

How much are commercial property owners paying now in parcel taxes?

Measure B seeks to improve the uniformity of the parcel tax.  Currently, commercial property owners (who in most cases directly pass the tax down to their leaseholders such as Nordstrom, Safeway, and Macy’s) pay the same parcel tax as you and I, as homeowners, pay e.g., currently $351 per parcel. As a result less than 4% of parcel tax revenues come from commercial property owners and 96% from homeowners. Under Measure B commercial property owners' portion will increase to approximately 20%.

21.

Do other school districts have a tiered rate assessment from the commercial property owners in their districts?

Yes. Such a tax is assessed in Kentfield, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Mountain View and Piedmont, as well as other districts around the state. For comparison purposes, here is the Kentfield school district’s commercial property rate structure:

22.

Shouldn’t the parents financially support the schools?

Yes, and they do.  The parents of the Larkspur School District financially support the schools through the volunteer fundraising efforts of the nonprofit SPARK (formerly named the Corte Madera Larkspur Schools Foundation) and the Neil Cummins and Hall PTAs. The Foundation started 29 years ago, after passage of Proposition 13, by raising a modest sum, which it then donated to the District’s General Fund. In the 2008-2009 school year the Foundation raised over $1 million and its contributions to the District comprised approximately 7% to the District’s adopted revenue budget.
Additionally, funds raised by the PTAs have been used to pay for important subsidies to the academic program, campus improvements, and now in the current economic downturn, the District is relying on the PTAs and the parents to supply all classroom supplies, such as paper and pencils. However, private fundraising does not provide stable or reliable long term funding that is essential to maintaining our excellent schools.

23.

What are the amounts of parcel tax revenues collected by neighboring districts on residential properties?

24.

How does the parcel tax differ from bond measures? Can parcel taxes be used to fund school construction or modernization? 

Parcel taxes can be used to pay for program and personnel, but not construction or modernization. Bond measures can only be used to fund construction or modernization.  Parcel tax funds contribute directly to the District’s general fund and are used to fund the core educational programs at our schools.

25.

Is the proposed parcel tax deductible from my income taxes? 

Yes. The parcel tax is a property tax and may be deducted in the same way that you deduct your Marin County property tax.

26.

Can District funds be used to campaign for Measure B?

No. California law clearly states that a school district may not provide campaign funds, use district resources, or provide staff time to support the passage of a parcel tax. The District may use public funds to provide impartial, factual information about the parcel tax and the impact of such election on the District’s overall budget. An independent volunteer committee has been formed “Citizens Supporting Corte Madera Larkspur Schools” which is supported by donations from the community.   

27.

How many votes are needed to pass Measure B?

According to Proposition 13, parcel taxes require a 2/3’s yes vote of all votes cast including absentee ballots.

28.

Are seniors exempt from the proposed parcel tax?

Yes.  Exemptions are available for individuals who are 65 years or older prior to June 1 of each applicable year and an owner of a parcel that is their principal place of residence. Each exemption will continue for the remaining term of the assessment period so long as the applicant continues to use the parcel as his or her principal residence.  Seniors can request an application by contacting the Larkspur School District at 927-6960, ext. 3207 or by visiting their website at www.larkspurschools.org.