MARIN COUNTY VOTERS FACE a wide range of local tax measures on the June 2 election ballot, but the burden is not evenly spread. Sales taxes spread the cost across consumers, including commuters and visiting vacationers, while parcel taxes fall directly on property owners. School parcel taxes stand out as the heaviest recurring charges in the county.
Measure J in Fairfax would raise the town’s sales tax from three-quarters of a cent to a cent per dollar with a simple majority of the vote. Estimated to generate $1.3 million annually, the funds would support general town services, public safety, emergency response and street work.
At the broadest scale, Measure B for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District would extend the current quarter-cent sales tax for 30 years, generating about $51 million annually for regional train and trail service beyond 2029. This measure will appear on both the Sonoma County and Marin County ballots. As a citizen initiative, this tax requires a simple majority.
Ranked from lowest to highest, the lightest property tax burden comes with Measure K in San Rafael, a tax of $74.18 per parcel that would go to support after-school youth programs, digital collections, library staff and technology access.
Next is Measure L for the Firehouse Community Park Agency, which would replace an expiring $75 parcel tax with $150 annually to support Mesa Park and Downtown Park maintenance and improvements.
After that comes Measure G in Novato Unified School District, a $249 per parcel tax aimed at raising $4 million annually over eight years to preserve core instruction and retain teachers and counselors. According to the measure, none of the funds will go to administrators, and seniors are except.
The burden rises with Measure M in the Muir Beach Community Services District, which would impose a $386 annual parcel tax for 10 years to raise about $61,000 annually to fund firehouse maintenance, emergency preparedness and equipment upgrades.
Measure H in Ross Valley School District would add $540 per parcel on top of the current $742 tax, for a total annual parcel tax of about $1,282, with senior exemptions. This ballot measure states that the funds would go to preserve academic programs, class sizes and teacher retention.
Measure C in Kentfield School District would add $148 per parcel to the existing $1,842 rate, bringing the total to about $1,990. The measure estimates the tax would provide $5.9 million annually over 10 years for school funding on core academic programs, teacher staffing and class-size limits.
Measure E in Mill Valley Elementary School District would reauthorize the current $1,520 tax and restore an expired tax of $234 per parcel, for a total of about $1,754 annually. The ballot states that this measure is needed to prevent cutting the district budget by a quarter.
All of the parcel tax measures on ballots in Marin County for the June election require two-thirds approval to pass.
Measure I in the Sausalito Marin City School District would authorize $12.5 million in bonds to be repaid through a levy of $8 per $100,000 of assessed property value. It is expected to generate $860,000 every year to improve play fields, recreation facilities and accessibility. This measure requires 55% voter approval.
Measure D, which also requires 55% voter approval, would authorize Larkspur-Corte Madera School District to receive $44 million in bonds for capital improvements. An estimated levy of about $24 per $100,000 of assessed value would repay the bonds, raising about $3.4 million annually to repair roofs, HVAC systems, plumbing and safety infrastructure in elementary and middle schools.
