Jefferson Union High School District, California, Parcel Tax, Measure E (June 2016)

To protect quality education for all students with funds that cannot be taken by the state by: enhancing math, science, reading/writing skills; providing career training, college preparation/21st-century computer instruction; and attracting/retaining qualified teachers, shall Jefferson Union High School District replace its expiring parcel tax at $60 per parcel annually for 10 years, with exemptions, including seniors, independent citizen oversight, no money for administrators and all funds benefitting students in Brisbane, Broadmoor, Co/ma, Daly City and Pacifica? ^[2]

The California Constitution and state law authorize school districts to levy qualified special taxes for specified purposes. Government Code Sections 50077 and 50079 provide that such a tax measure passes if two-thirds of those voting on it vote to approve the measure.

The Jefferson Union High School District (the “District”) currently has a parcel tax approved in 2012 that imposes $48 in taxes per taxable parcel per year. The 2012 tax expires on June 30, 2016. By this measure, the District’s Board of Trustees proposes to renew and increase this tax beginning July 1, 2016. If this measure is approved, the current $48 tax would be replaced after June 30, 2016, for a period of ten years, with a new tax of $60 per parcel annually on taxable parcels in the District.

The proposed tax applies to any unit of land in the District that receives a separate property tax bill from San Mateo County tax collection officials. However, any individual who owns and occupies a parcel as their principal residence may apply for an exemption to the tax if they also: 1) are age 65 years or older; 2) receive Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age; or 3) receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, regardless of age, and have an annual income less than 250% of the 2012 federal poverty guidelines. Property otherwise exempt from property taxes will also be exempt from this tax.

The stated purposes of the parcel tax are to: support math, science, reading, and writing; support art, music, and electives; retain qualified teachers; support computer and technology instruction; provide college preparation; and maintain programs to support struggling students. No proceeds from the tax may be spent on District administration.

State law requires that the proceeds of the parcel tax be placed in a special account and that an annual report accounting for parcel tax revenues collected and expended and the status of projects or programs funded by the tax be filed with the Board of Trustees.

A “yes” vote on this measure would increase the current tax to a total rate of $60 per taxable parcel on property within the District for a period of ten years beginning July 1, 2016, for the purposes listed above.

A “no” vote on this measure would not allow the parcel tax to be levied, allowing the current tax of $48 to expire on June 30, 2016.

This measure passes if two-thirds of those voting on the measure vote “yes.”^[2]

Vote Yes on E to prepare local high school students in Daly City, Pacifica, Brisbane, Colma and Broadmoor for college and high-paying careers.

Jefferson Union High Schools provide a great education for students in our communities. Student achievement and test scores have increased significantly in recent years and three of our local high schools are California Distinguished schools. Our schools need a stable source of funding to continue strong student achievement.

Our community generously supported students through voter-approved local education funding in 2012, which retains our highly qualified teachers and protects academic programs.

We can't rely on the State to provide the quality education that our local high school students need. That is why your YES vote on Measure E is critical.

Every penny of Measure E will go straight to our local high schools and cannot be taken away by the State. Vote YES on E to prepare local high school graduates for success:

• Enhance math, science, reading and writing programs
• Attract and retain qualified teachers
• Prepare students for college and high-tech, 21st century careers

Support educationally at-risk students to keep them on the right track Measure F is fiscally responsible:

• All funds go directly to local high schools—the State can't take a single penny
• Citizen oversight and annual audits ensure all funds are used for voter-approved purposes
• No funds can be used for administrators' salaries
• Senior citizens may receive an exemption
• Expires in four years and cannot be renewed without voter approval

Measure F will continue great education in local high schools, keeping our schools strong and protecting property values for all of us, even residents without children in school. Join us and vote YES on Measure F.^[2]

This latest tax increase from Jefferson Union High School District tries to use the state budget-crisis to.grab unearned money. The district wants to increase and "extend" (read: increase) the 2012 parcel tax of $48/year for another 10 years, and hike it to $60 per year just when we thought its expiration would give our family budgets a boost.

Besides the fact that enrollment here is declining, has the district earned this extension that will cost our households another $600 each?

Let's look at student test scores:

2012-13 English results: 56% met proficiency

2012-13 Mathematics: 25% met proficiency

2012-13 Science: 55% met proficiency

2012-13 History: 51% met proficiency

(Source: Education Data Partnership)

If you got 25-56% of the answers right on a test, that would be a failing grade, would it not? Should we, the voters, reward a 44-75% failure rate? If you answered "no," we encourage you to vote NO on Measure E. The average expense per student statewide is $10,194 per year, versus Jefferson Union High School District's $10,374, or 102% of the statewide average. Yet, they want more of your hard-earned money to pad their salaries and fat pension plans. Most school districts' parcel tax measures state, "None of the funds will be used for administration." But, that wording is missing from Measure E. That means funds WILL be used for administration expenses without limits.

Here is the latest salary information for the district: 2014-15: Average teacher salary = $65,619, plus hefty benefits.

Their "family plan" benefits package costs us $17,504 per teacher per year, while they work an average of only 180 days per year.

Tell Jefferson Union High District to be financially responsible, by voting No on Measure F.^[2]