How Measure K Compares to Other Local Parcel Taxes

In June, the Scotts Valley Unified School District a $48 a year parcel tax (Measure K) before voters. Dedicated toward maintaining current educational programs in the District, the tax requires a two-thirds vote to pass.

The tax, which will be in effect for three years, will generate $350,000 annually. Those in favor say it will cushion the impact of the $1.1 million in cuts that the district faces this fall.

A number of nearby cities have recently passed parcel taxes, which collect fees per parcel. Below is a glimpse of the measures Santa Cruz and Silicon Valley cities have enacted, where they’re funneling the funds, and how they compare to Scotts Valley.

Santa Cruz and Soquel
Scotts Valley, unlike Santa Cruz, does not have a background of taxing property owners for school improvements. Both Santa Cruz School districts voted on a parcel tax in 2005.

Measure I, the measure for Soquel, Santa Cruz, Costonoa and Harbor highs, raised the tax from $28 to $38 a parcel. The middle school Measure J raised tax from $70 to $85 per parcel. Both measures helped retain school librarians, counselors and arts and music programs.

As with Scotts Valley, both measures–which are up for vote again this election cycle–required a two-thirds majority to pass.

Property owners 65 and older can apply for an exception from the tax by filing an exception between May 1 and July 1 each year. The same policy holds for Scotts Valley, where only about 30 percent of voters have children in local schools.

Santa Clara County
In a mail-in election last week, Saratoga and Santa Clara school districts resoundingly passed parcel tax measures: Santa Clara’s Measure A with 72.92 percent of the vote and Saratoga’s Measure B with 69.64 percent.

As with Scotts Valley, both required a two-thirds voter threshold to pass, and will provide exemptions for senior property owners. Now the two districts are able retain counselors, librarians, and home-to-school transportation.

In May 2011, a $49 annual parcel tax (aka Measure A) with 72.6 percent of the vote for the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District. It’s expected to generate $4.6 million over six years.

The money will support teachers as well as core academic programs such as Math, Science and English, replenishing funding that was lost over the past few years.