If your response to reading the headline is “tax, election, what?” chances are you do not have children currently attending Novato public schools. The Novato school district has put forth “Measure A”, a covert campaign to tax each parcel $251 a year for eight more years, creating a tax bill of over $2,000 for Novato property owners.
The school district hired expensive consultants (at taxpayer expense) to tell them the best way to pass this parcel tax. These consultants have apparently advised not to publicize the parcel tax election to the entire community, but to target only their supporters. This means running a stealth election, communicating only to parents with children in the schools or those who voted in favor of the last parcel tax in 2009.
Because parcel tax measures must receive two-thirds approval of votes cast, they are commonly placed on low turnout special elections, even though such elections are very expensive, in an effort to sneak through the tax. Measure A is the only item on a special, mail-in ballot, due back to the County Elections Office by May 6th (not postmarked, received, so mail your ballot before May 1st). Ballots can be dropped off at the Marin Civic Center, Room 121, or at the United Methodist Church at 1473 S. Novato Blvd. on May 6th. If you can’t find your ballot, call the Marin Elections office at 415-473-6456.
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Read more on parcel taxes in CA.
