Ross Valley School District counters tax proposal critics

Proponents of Measure E, the property tax proposal in the Ross Valley School District, are defending the plan against critics who say it would be too costly for some owners.

The measure calls for switching the flat parcel tax to one based on buildable square footage. Opponents say that would place an unfair burden on the owners of larger properties.

Tyler Graff, the school district superintendent, said Measure E is needed to continue top-quality education and keep teachers from leaving for better paying jobs.

“Since I’ve been here, our only conversation has been around setting a goal of $3 million of increased revenue, which would help us be more competitive with the bottom quartile of Marin school districts in terms of teacher salary,” said Graff, who started in the job last July. “Our goal is to settle with our union partners on a two-year deal that would help us get to that goal.”

If approved by two-thirds of voters in the special mail-in election on May 6, Measure E would levy a tax of 52 cents per square foot on the buildable area of a property.

Of that amount, 32 cents per square foot would replace and renew the flat parcel tax of $699.69 per property this year, or $720.68 next year, for a term of nine years. The other 20 cents would go toward the extra $3 million the district says it needs to pay teachers more and close a $2.6 million budget deficit.

If the district stays with a flat tax, the rate to generate the same amount of revenue next year would be a $1,165 per parcel.

Measure E would raise $7.8 million annually and impose 3% annual increases. Exemptions would be offered for seniors. Owners of vacant lots would pay a flat $95 per year.

Proponents said the square-footage tax plan would be more equitable to owners of smaller homes and businesses who might be struggling. An average home of 1,900 square feet would have an increase of about $268 a year, while a home of 1,384 square feet or less would have no increase or a decrease.

The problem, according to critics, is that the taxes would double for homes of 2,770 square feet or more.

“I would have to raise all my rents by $44 a month,” said Michael Mackintosh, a member of the “No on E” group. He owns a large property with apartments on it.

Mackintosh said he supports teachers, but he wonders if the entire $3 million increase in revenue is necessary to offer them raises for the next two years.

Mimi Willard, president of the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, a Marin tax watchdog group, said the increase would be too large and not all of it is necessary to give teachers reasonable wage hikes. Also, she said the Measure E ballot language is deceptive.

“The ballot language just says renewal and doesn’t say increase,” Willard said. “Many people may not know what they’re voting for.”

Willard had initially supported the per-square-foot model as being more equitable for small-property owners, and she worked with the district to help create Measure E. However, she has come out in opposition because of the size of the increase, the ballot language and the timing, which she said is designed for a low turnout in an off-year election.

She said she would support Measure E with a smaller increase if it went to the voters during the primary election next spring.

Graff said the reason for the May measure is that the district needs the money as soon as possible.

“It’s so urgent,” he said. “That’s why we went with the special election.”

Graff said if the measure fails, the district would need to increase class sizes, slash elective courses at White Hill Middle School and cut counseling services.

In addition, the district would need to forgo raises for teachers in 2025-26 or beyond. Teachers accepted smaller wage increases last year on the promise that a successful parcel tax measure would allow them to at least be competitive with the lowest quartile of teacher salaries in Marin.

“As a school board member, it was a heart-wrenching experience sitting through two years of board meetings hearing about our teachers struggling financially,” said Rachel LItwack, the president of the district board. “We are doing our best to responsibly balance the needs of our kids, teachers and schools with the limited funding and options available.”

In addition, without the added revenue from Measure E, the district’s budget deficit of about $2.6 million would persist and possibly increase, risking a drop in mandated reserves, Graff said.

He added that no part of the proposed increase would go toward administrator salaries.

Graff said he uses three other TK-8 Marin school districts for comparison to the Ross Valley tax of $699.69. The rate is $1,799.70 in the Kentfield School District, $1,003.28 in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District and $561.21 in the Miller Creek School District.

Ross Valley has the lowest starting salary for teachers, $64,142, compared to Kentfield at $72,419, Larkspur-Corte Madera at $66,518 and Miller Creek at $66,498.

Ross Valley is also the lowest funded on a per-pupil basis of all Marin school districts, at $10,985 per student. The highest is Bolinas-Stinson, at $48,355.

The Ross Valley School District serves 1680 students at four elementary schools and White Hill Middle School. Enrollment is growing, Graff said.

“We have four TK classes this year,” he said, referring to transitional kindergarten, a program for 4-year-olds. “Next year we’ll have eight.”