School Board to Hold Public Hearing on Increase in Parcel Tax Levy

The Piedmont Unified School District's Board of Education will hold the first of two public hearings Wednesday on a proposed 5 percent increase in Measure B parcel taxes for fiscal year 2012-2013.

A second hearing is scheduled for the board's April 17 meeting, when board members will also vote on any increase.

The district's Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Parcel Tax Program, Measures B and E, has recommended the 5 percent increase, and all five school board members indicated at their March 14 meeting that they are leaning toward the 5 percent levy.

The increase, for fiscal year 2012-13, would raise about $430,000 in additional funds for the Piedmont Unified School District, according to the committee's report. It would, roughly, offset projected increases in "step-and-column" pay for PUSD teachers (automatic salary increases for length of service and additional teacher education) in 2012-2013. Teachers and other ceritifcated personnel will not receive any cost-of-living salary increase for 2012-2013.

With the Measure B increase and use of reserves, PUSD Superintendent Constance Hubbard projects, the district would be able to break even on its budget for 2012-2013.

The increase would coincide with the expiration of Measure E, an emergency parcel tax measure that expires at the end of 2011-2012.

Measure B, approved by voters in 2009, allows the school board to levy an annual increase of up to 5 percent over the previous year's tax. The board authorized two previous 5 percent increases, for fiscal years 2009-10 and 2011-12.

In total, Measure B raises about $8 million a year for the district.

See below for a chart showing the impact of the proposed 5 percent increase on Piedmont property owners.

The school board will also vote Wednesday on authorizing a $36,311 increase in the guaranteed maximum price for current seismic safety construction work at Beach Elementary School.

The board will meet in public session Wednesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. in the City Hall council chambers, 120 Vista Ave. It will be broadcast on KCOM-TV, cable channel 27, and simultaneously be shown on video on the City of Piedmont website. A closed session to discuss labor negotiations with the Association of Piedmont Teachers will be held at 6:30 p.m.

The meeting agenda is attached as a PDF above. Staff reports on agenda items are available at the PUSD website.

Comparison of Current Year Measure B&E Taxes with Impact of 5% Increase in Measure B for 2012-13 (PUSD figures)

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