Two Marin school districts seek approval of parcel tax on Nov. 5 ballot

Voters in the Sausalito Marin City School District and Bolinas-Stinson Unified School District will be asked to approve a parcel tax on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Both Measure G and Measure C would require approval by two-thirds of voters in their respective districts for the measures to pass.

Measure G in the Sausalito Marin City School District would impose a tax of 15 cents per square foot per residence or commercial building annually for eight years. For a 2,000-square-foot home, the tax would be $300 per year.

The tax would be limited to 23,000 square feet. Unimproved properties would pay a flat tax of $25 annually. Measure G includes an exemption for lower-income seniors.

Measure G would raise about $1.3 million annually for the school district. It would be the first parcel tax in the district’s history. The district is the only one of Marin’s 17 school districts that does not have a parcel tax.

According to the argument in favor of Measure G submitted for the Nov. 5 ballot, the money would be spent to “attract and retain high-quality teachers, provide additional reading and math programs, provide educational opportunities and programs that students need to succeed in high school and college, maintain manageable class sizes, improve instructional materials, and provide academic intervention for children who need additional support.”

“Our Sausalito-Marin City Schools have suffered for many years from inadequate funding from state and local resources,” the argument states. “This, coupled with the high cost of living in the Bay Area, makes recruiting and retaining quality teachers and instructional staff increasingly difficult for all subjects and grade levels.”

The argument in favor was signed by District Board Chair Lisa Bennett and four others: Shirley Thornton, Ida Times-Green, Kirstin Thomas and Laura Diaz.

“Strong schools are the foundation of our property values,” the argument concludes. “Whether children attend school or not, Measure G is a solid investment in our community.”

Measure G also has the support of the Coalition of Sensitive Taxpayers of Marin (COST), said leader Mimi Willard. Willard, who has studied the district’s budget, said she supports the district receiving additional revenue to attract and retain staff and improve academic programs.

Additionally, COST supports the use of the square foot parcel tax, he said.

“SMCSD is pioneering a fairer school parcel tax, the first of its kind in Marin, that is levied on a per-square-foot basis rather than per property basis,” Willard said. “COST has long opposed flat parcel taxes, whereby the owner of a mansion pays the same as a studio condo.”

No arguments against it were posted, according to the county elections office.

In the Bolinas-Stinson Unified School District, Measure C would impose a flat tax of $390 per parcel annually for five years, with an annual increase of 3%.

Measure C would raise about $682,500 annually to support the district’s arts programs and diverse students, provide competitive salaries, fund school operations and achieve educational goals.

It is a renewal of the district’s parcel tax that expires on June 30, 2025. Measure C also offers exemptions for residents 65 years of age or older.

According to the county elections office, no arguments were filed for or against Measure C.

The Marin County Elections Department is expected to mail ballots for the election that begins Oct. 7.