School parcel tax measures in Contra Costa County will be on the June ballot in the communities of Moraga, Lafayette, and Walnut Creek, all of which contain districts that say they are feeling a pinch.
Moraga, Measure I
Moraga School District’s Measure I would raise funding through a parcel tax of $295 for local elementary and middle schools that proponents say will prevent teacher layoffs and classroom cuts. If passed with two-thirds of the vote, it would generate $1.7 million annually for seven years.
The argument in favor of the measure sent to voters asserts that Moraga is among the lowest-funded in the state, ranking 902 out of 905 districts in state per-pupil funding. Those in favor of the measure said Moraga loses teachers to other districts that pay better and that the district has already had to make $1 million in cuts and is looking at $1 million more if the measure does not pass.
Signatories for the argument in favor of Measure I are 2017 Moraga Teacher of the Year Amanda Lorie, 2018 Citizen of the Year Sam Sperry, a member of the Moraga Education Foundation board, and others.
Those opposed to Measure I call it an “overreach,” according to county literature on the measure, and say that Moraga already has an existing parcel tax of $541 per year, meaning this will add nearly $300 more annually, or an increase of 55%.
“That is a substantial and prolonged commitment on top of taxes that never expire,” reads the “no” argument given to voters written by Denise Kalm, president pro tem of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, and retired engineer David Berti.
Lafayette, Measure H
In the Lafayette School District, voters are being asked to weigh in on Measure H, which would replace an expiring parcel tax at $585 per parcel for nine years and generate $5.1 million annually.
The measure needs two-thirds of the vote to pass and would benefit elementary and middle schools. It would add $257 to the previous parcel tax of $328. There is currently another parcel tax of $695, meaning if Measure H is passed, the total parcel tax revenue would be $1,280.
Those who support the measure in county literature going out to voters say things similar to Moraga — that Lafayette is underfunded by the state and has to make “millions” in cuts and cannot attract and retain teachers.
The signatories on the argument in favor of the measure sent to voters include Mayor Carl Anduri, former Teacher of the Year Eileen Leach, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce board member John McCormick, and others.
There is only one named person against the measure in the county’s campaign literature and it is Kalm. She opposes the nearly $1,300 tax and says the district should spend money on academics, not things like “[diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging] programs and gender ideology — priorities many Lafayette families never voted for and cannot opt out of, and which could cost them their federal funding,” she wrote.
Walnut Creek, Measure L
Another district looking at a parcel tax is Walnut Creek School District, which has placed Measure L on the ballot. The measure needs two-thirds of the vote and would impose a $98 parcel tax for nine years and generate $1.5 million annually for elementary and middle schools.
Walnut Creek already has an existing parcel tax of $82, so this would bring the annual tax up to $180, according to the county.
Those in favor of the tax include Walnut Creek City Councilmember Cindy Silva and district governing board president Wenlei Johnson.
Proponents say it will allow the district to retain the high-quality education it provides its students by keeping great teachers, academic programs and small class sizes. They say the cost of providing a quality education has doubled over the last 17 years but the district’s parcel tax has not kept up pace, according to election literature sent to voters.
Penning the “no” argument against the measure is Sandra Kallander, chair of the Libertarian Party of Contra Costa County. According to Kallander, Walnut Creek is one of the wealthiest communities in the county and “already benefits from some of the highest per-pupil property tax revenue in the region,” her argument reads. She would like better use of existing funds.
“If you were shopping for a new car and heard an argument in favor like the one in favor of Measure L, you would probably go somewhere else,” she writes. “It basically describes the fairytale: everything they think you want to hear. Sounds suspiciously good.”
The rebuttal argument against Kallander’s sent to voters is blunt.
“The lone opponent doesn’t live in Walnut Creek, hasn’t visited our schools, and doesn’t understand the needs of our students,” it reads. “She submitted similar arguments against every school funding measure on the ballot, without regard to the need or specifics. She is spreading false information.”
Proponents say the assertion that Walnut Creek gets high per-pupil funding is incorrect.
“In fact, the roughly $14,902 per student that WCSD receives is well below the $18,705 average in Contra Costa County,” reads the rebuttal. “(The district) receives thousands less per student than most local school districts. Measure L simply brings our funding closer to the average.”
