• Measure B is a straight renewal of the existing parcel tax for homeowners and small commercial property owners (<5,000sf). Measure B adds a commercial tiered rate structure for commercial parcels over 5,000 sf. Also, multi-unit residential properties will pay an additional $50 per unit to the base tax.

• Measure B seeks to secure stable local funding to offset the impact of volatile state funding.  Every dollar raised by the parcel tax stays right here in our community and cannot be taken away by the state.

• If Measure B does not pass, the district will need to cut $2 million more from its future budget.  Teaching positions would likely be eliminated (one out of every six positions).  Class sizes will likely increase.   Core academic programs for the students would be diminished and support for classroom teachers would be reduced.

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

• Prior to the passage of Proposition 13, California’s per pupil spending was in the top 10 in the nation, now we rank near the bottom. California was ranked 47th prior to this past year’s drastic education cuts.  Commercial property owners benefit from the low property tax rates instituted because of Proposition 13.  It is only fair that they should share the responsibility of filling the widening gap in state funding for quality public education.

• Our district’s enrollment is up 40% since 2000.  Excellent schools are reflected in property values.  All these new families for our schools are also new customers for local businesses.  See Money Magazine video.

• Under Measure B, the largest three parcels (at Town Center, The Village and the Niven property), which are over 700,000 square feet, will each pay $20,000. But approximately 61% of the commercial parcel owners will pay $2,000 or less, including no increase for the 20% of properties less than 5,000 square feet. When business owners allege that they will be driven out of the community, they merely need to look at the moderate tiered rate structure to see the impacts are reasonable and are necessary for maintaining our excellent schools.

VOTE NOVEMBER 3rd

YES on MEASURE B