Voters Renew San Rafael School Parcel Taxes

With the strongest backing school supporters have seen in decades, a resounding majority of San Rafael voters have chosen to renew two parcel taxes to support San Rafael schools.

The results for the special election, posted at 8 p.m. on May 7 with 100 percent of the precincts reporting, showed 78 percent of voters voting to renew Measure A and 79 percent of voters opting to support Measure B, which supports the San Rafael High School district.

The measures needed a two-thirds majority to pass.

Patty Garbarino, the campaign co-chair for the measures, said the results were the best she’s seen in the last 20 years, a timeframe that has included eight campaigns to support the schools.

“I’m just thrilled. I’m so happy that the community has supported our public schools in this way,” she said Tuesday night.

Garbarino said hundreds of volunteers helped with the campaign outreach, which included phone bank calls and mailers.

“It all came down to getting the message to the community and allowing them to understand how important the support of the schools is to building a fabric in the community,” said Garbarino, the president of Marin Sanitary Service.  

The parcel taxes, which exclude north San Rafael, generated $4.8 million last year to San Rafael City Schools. The taxes currently increase by 5 percent each year. When they expire in June 2014, it will be $203.70 per parcel for elementary schools and $139 per parcel for the high schools.

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

Check out what else is on San Rafael Patch:

• Officials Investigating Suspicious San Rafael Fire

• Marin Residents: Slow Down Plan Bay Area Housing Plan

• Comparing Rent in San Rafael

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