PIEDMONT — Both school parcel taxes before Piedmont voters — Measures G and H — passed by a wide margin in the Nov. 5 special election, with six out of six precincts reporting.
In unofficial final results Measure G garnered 2,691 “yes” votes and 616 “no” votes, passing with 81.37% in favor. To pass, both measures needed a two-thirds majority, or 66.67% of the vote. Measure H drew 2,417 “yes” votes and 882 “no” votes, passing with 73.26% support.
Measure G is a continuation of the existing school parcel tax that expires in 2021. A flat-rate tax of $2,763 per parcel lasting eight years, Measure G includes a possible 2% annual increase. It is expected to provide $10.6 million in revenues to the Piedmont Unified School District.
Measure H is a new eight-year tax that will be levied on all habitable parcels at a rate of 25 cents per square foot of building improvements and is projected to yield $2.6 million more for PUSD coffers. For example, a homeowner with 2,000 square feet of habitable space will pay $3,263 per year now with both measures’ passage, compared to the current $2,763 per parcel. Larger homes will pay more with Measure H. The new parcel taxes will be levied beginning July 1, 2020, and will last through June 30, 2028.
Measure G provides funding for basic budgetary needs. The school district faces deficits every year due to unexpected changes in school funding and relies on generous grants from the Piedmont Education Foundation to preserve programming, smaller class sizes and other features of the district’s high-quality education.
Measure H will go only to certificated and classified staff for compensation and other retention and recruitment strategies negotiated with their unions. Superintendent Randy Booker noted that the PUSD has lost 22 teachers over the past two years due to the high cost of living in the Bay Area. Numerous teacher candidates recruited went to other districts where the cost of living was less.
The Bay Area News Group supported Measure G but not Measure H in its endorsements. School district officials maintain that the schools need both parcel taxes to retain and attract high-quality teachers, maintain smaller class sizes, keep textbooks and technology up to date, continue STEM programs and support music and the arts.
“If we believe that educating children is a higher calling, we have to put our money where our mouths are at the local level because the state hasn’t and won’t,” school board President Amal Smith said.
Both measures will be subject to independent citizen oversight and all the money is supposed to stay local. Homeowners who are residing on their property and qualify for Supplemental Social Security Income may be exempt from the taxes. Since 1985 when the first parcel tax was passed, Piedmont residents have approved the basic tax eight consecutive times. Smith expressed her thanks to voters Wednesday morning.
“I am delighted with the results and am very grateful. It is an affirmation of the direction, the work and especially the educators in the district. Piedmont has shown again that it supports our learning community and is willing to step in and make an investment that should really be made from the state. I am also grateful to the myriad volunteers on the campaign under the leadership of Christine Wente von Metsch, Hillary Cooper and Doug Ireland.”
