Piedmont resident Rick Schiller compares high-scoring California school districts API scores, school parcel tax and exemptions for property owners 65 or older.

Top Ten California School Districts by Academic Performance Index (API). All have Age 65 only to qualify 100% Senior Exemption except Piedmont.

35 Regional School Districts have age 65 Senior Exemption

Local Schools with age 65 Senior Exemption and “very low income” Verification

 Berkeley USD –below $37,400 per household to qualify

Moraga School District – below $32,250 to $49,850 depending on household size to qualify

Oakland USD – below $31,250 – $58,950 depending on household size to qualify

Orinda Union SD – below $46,150 to $60,950 depending on household size to qualify

 The Federal poverty definition for a single person is below $11,170

 Piedmont’s “low-income” Senior Exemption defined as SSI “qualified”

Disqualified above SSI $730 monthly / $8,760 annual unearned income limit Disqualified from SSI if resources exceed $2,000

Editors’ Note:  The chart is the research product of the author and not the work of the Piedmont Civic Association.

5 Responses to “Piedmont Seniors Not Exempt From $2,406 School Tax”

1. Jim McCrea
   

   January 25th, 2013 at 9:29 am

   Excellent analysis! Thanks, Rick, for compiling this and thanks to the PCA for publishing it.

   The truth SHALL make us free!

2. Karen Mead
   

   January 25th, 2013 at 12:25 pm

   I agree that an exemption could be desirable for very low income seniors, but otherwise I don’t see any particular rationale for a senior exemption (and I’m over 65). Many seniors who still live in Piedmont are no less able than younger residents to afford the extra taxes that help to support our outstanding schools and help to keep our home values high. Many of us (including my husband and I) have pre-Proposition 13 taxes, so our tax rate is already a lot lower than most younger families.

3. Gregory Jurin
   

   January 25th, 2013 at 5:07 pm

   A meaningful low-income VOLUNTARY senior exemption is not for those seniors that can easily afford the high tax. The exemption is for those seniors who are severely impacted by it.

   Seniors throughout California are covered by Prop 13 but more than 35 school districts in our region alone have seen fit to allow VOLUNTARY senior exemptions when requested. Why is Piedmont so different, particularly in light of what appears to be the highest school parcel tax in this region, or possibly in the entire state?

4. Karen Mead
   

   January 26th, 2013 at 9:41 am

   I interpreted “Age 65 only 100% exemption” as indicating that ALL residents over 65 would qualify for an exemption in those districts that offer it. My point is that there are plenty of seniors in Piedmont who are no worse off (and quite possibly a lot better off) than younger families who are struggling to raise their kids and already paying higher taxes than many seniors.

5. Gregory Jurin
   

   January 26th, 2013 at 4:38 pm

   A VOLUNTARY over 65 senior exemption should be made available. I have lived here since 1978 and paid more than a few dollars in school parcel taxes. I don’t feel any guilt about pushing for the ability for those who wish to take advantage of a VOLUNTARY senior exemption to do so.

   Piedmont should treat its seniors in the same manner that the 35 districts enumerated above do.

   Unfortunately Piedmont has chosen to offer an exemption that, in all likelihood, will not be available to hardly any seniors who are fortunate enough to live in this fair city.

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