Two New School Parcel Taxes Proposed for Nov. 5, 2019 Ballot
One tax measure taxes every parcel equally and the second measure is an additional tax based on building square footage. Both measures will have a term of 8 years.
The public is invited to attend or watch the live broadcast on Cable Channel 27 and from the City website under videos/School Board meeting.
8:45 PM Piedmont Unified School Board meeting, June 12, 2019, Piedmont City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue.
Staff recommendation to the School Board:
Given the recent poll results and Piedmont’s current educational needs, District staff recommends that the Board of Education consider asking voters to support the renewal of its existing parcel tax to maintain current programs at the $2,709 flat rate (“Measure A”) and in a separate measure (“Measure B”) asking voters for an additional amount ($0.25 per square foot of building improvements) to ensure that Piedmont schools will be better able to attract and retain highly qualified teachers and educational support staff. Renewing the existing parcel tax (“Measure A”) would secure, $10.6 million in revenues.
Measure A is a continuation, no tax increase measure. We would also recommend an 8-year “duration” of the tax to provide a stable ongoing source of revenue to the District and fulfill the description as a pure continuation of what is in place today. Additionally, we recommend that a second measure (“Measure B”) be placed on the ballot. This second measure would be set at $0.25 per square foot of building improvements and would also have an 8-year duration. Passage of Measure B would result in an additional $2.6 million to the Piedmont schools. Importantly, the entire community would share the burden of an increased tax (although larger properties would pay more and smaller properties less – $139 per year for the smallest residential parcel). An added benefit is that if this tax were challenged from a legal standpoint, only the supplemental tax would be at legal risk. If both measures pass, the smallest square foot homeowner would pay $2,795 per year, and the largest square foot homeowner would pay $6,568 per year. Together, both measures would raise $13.3 million.
II. RECOMMENDATION: REVIEW AND ACTION District staff is recommending that the Board convene two (2) public hearings—June 12, 2019 and June 26, 2019—and adopt the two subsequent Board Resolutions that authorize both the renewal of a qualified special tax and a second qualified special tax for voter approval on November 5, 2019.
“The Board is requested to approve the attached Resolution 19-2018-19 “Proposing a Qualified Special Tax and Establishing Specifications of the Election Order Measure A”.
The Resolution calls for an election on November 5, 2019 to extend the authorization of the Board to levy the current School Support Tax as permitted in Measure A for eight years starting on July 1, 2020. The new Measure “A” is a renewal of the current School Support Tax—a uniform flat tax on all parcels. The new Measure “A” will continue to provide an exemption for churches, public utilities, and those eligible for Social Security Supplemental Income. The new Measure “A” also continues to permit an inflation growth rate of up to two (2) percent per year.
VI.F. Approve Resolution 20-2018-19 “Proposing a Qualified Special Tax and Establishing Specification of the Election Order Measure B”
9:05 PM
The Board is requested to approve the attached Resolution 20-2018-19 “Proposing a Qualified Special Tax and Establishing Specifications of the Election Order Measure B”.
The Resolution calls for an election on November 5, 2019 to authorize the Board to levy a new School Support Tax as permitted in Measure “B” for eight years starting on July 1, 2020. The new Measure “B” is a uniform tax applied at $0.25 per square foot of building improvements. The new Measure “B” will continue to provide an exemption for churches, public utilities, and those eligible for Social Security Supplemental Income. The new Measure “B” does not include an inflation growth rate.
Well, between the proposed increase to Parel Tax A and new Parcel Tax B, I’ll be faced with another $550 for the schools. I don’t use the schools and live on a fixed income. Sooooo — Anyone willing to help me pack up my household in preparation for me to move out of Piedmont?