Kentfield School District Tax Measure Tentatively Approved

MARIN COUNTY, CA – Voters in the Kentfield School District have tentatively approved a parcel tax measure to maintain core classes and retain teachers, according to results from Tuesday's vote-by-mail election.

Measure A received 68.82 percent approval and needs 66.7 percent to pass. Ballots were returned by mail or dropped off at the Elections Department only.

Ballots that were postmarked on or before Tuesday will be picked up from post offices through Friday and the next update will be Monday at 5 p.m.

There were 2,989 yes votes and 1,354 no votes at of 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Measures A renews an existing $1,143 per parcel tax and increases it by $355 to $1,498 annually for 10 years. The measure also includes an annual 3 percent increase beginning July 1, 2019.

District officials say the revenue will maintain math, science, writing and reading classes, attract and retain exceptional teachers and preserve small class sizes. They said a defeat of Measure A would have caused layoffs of teachers, librarians and counselors, close libraries and special math and science programs.

The Marin United Taxpayers Association's spokesman Michael Hartnett said the district ignored the voters' rejection of a parcel tax increase in 2016 and said budget cuts and layoffs did not occur when that measure failed.

The district has two schools, A.E. Kent Middle School with 530 students in grades 5-8 and Bacich Elementary School with 700 students in grades K-4.

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• Manual Tally Slated For March 6 Election
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By Bay City News Service

Photo via County of Marin