San Rafael Voters to Consider School Parcel Tax this Spring

Will you vote to renew a San Rafael parcel tax this spring? 

Officials with San Rafael City Schools are hoping a majority of San Rafael voters are willing to renew a 24-year-old parcel tax in a special mail-in election this spring, which the school board unanimously approved on Jan. 28, according to the Marin Independent Journal.

The tax, which excludes north San Rafael, generated $4.8 million last year to San Rafael City Schools, according to the IJ. Voters will receive a special ballot on April 8 and must return it by May 7.

The tax currently increases by 5 percent each year and includes two separate amounts. When it expires in June 2014, it will be $203.70 per parcel for elementary schools and $139 per parcel for the high schools.

According to resolutions the school board approved, the tax will maintain class sizes, support counseling programs, maintain school libraries and technologies, attract and retain teachers, prepare students for college and enhance core academic programs including match, science and reading. 

San Rafael voters received a mailer (see images of it at the right) from the district earlier this month with information about the board voting on the ballot measure at its Jan. 28 meeting.

An independent community-based campaign committee, chaired by San Rafael High School alumnus Patty Garbarino, will promote the parcel tax in the next 10 weeks, according to the district. 

The district schools include Madrone High, San Rafael High, Terra Linda High, Venetia Valley K-8, Davidson Middle School and the following elementary schools:

• Bahia Vista
• San Pedro
• Coleman
• Short
• Glenwood
• Sun Valley
• Laurel Dell
• Venetia Valley

Last November, the district avoided $2.2 million in cuts when California voters approved Prop. 30. The district, along with Novato Unified School District and Ross Valley School District, would have been affected more than other Marin school districts because they are the only three “revenue limit” districts, which rely on a larger amount of funds from the state. The other school districts in Marin are basic aid districts and funded largely through property taxes. 

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