Ross Valley schools seek parcel tax renewal, increase
A proposed Ross Valley School District parcel tax extension and increase on the June ballot is drawing supporters and critics.
Measure H would renew the current tax rate of $742 per parcel, and add a $540 increase, resulting in a $1,282 per parcel tax per year for 10 years. The tax, which would generate about $8.6 million annually, would have a 3% annual cost-of-living increase. Seniors 65 and over and those with disabilities would be eligible for an exemption.
Becky Bingea, president of the League of Women Voters of Marin, said the tax is needed "to attract and retain highly qualified teachers, maintain manageable class size and protect core academic programs and library services."
"The Ross Valley School District receives the lowest per pupil funding in Marin County, and their teacher salaries are among the lowest," she said in an email.
The current parcel tax expires on June 30, 2028. The district, which failed to win two-thirds voter approval on its first try in May, said it will face budget insolvency, school closures and a potential state takeover if the second attempt fails. Opponents, however, said the district's current plan is a reach for district families and businesses who are already under financial duress.
"The objections we heard most frequently from district residents were along the lines of ‘RVSD's tax increase this time is even bigger than when I voted No last May,'" Mimi Willard, president of the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, said in an email. "‘Are they not listening?'"
According to the ballot argument filed in opposition, "polling, community surveys, and voters' rejection of Ross Valley School District's 2025 Measure E sent a clear message. Voters don't have the financial appetite for a tax that's so big."
Breean Brown, the top finance official at the Marin County Office of Education, said she will be sending out information analyzing each school district's latest budget plan this week.
But warning signs have already been posted. The county office last year required the Ross Valley district to submit a budget contingency plan, including program and staff reductions, school closures and eventual state receivership, in the event no new parcel tax revenue is approved.
In January, the district outlined a potential contingency plan, including $4.3 million in budget cuts over the next three years.
According to the ballot argument in support of Measure H, Ross Valley is "in the lowest 4 percent of per-pupil funding for school districts statewide - the district ranks 959 out of 995 school districts statewide."
Michael Rosenthal, a longtime Fairfax resident and homeowner, was among those who signed the ballot argument in favor of Measure H.
"If we don't adequately fund our schools, what does that say about us as a community?" Rosenthal said in an email.
"I don't have kids of my own," Rosenthal said. "Still, I believe that education is one of the most worthy destinations for my tax dollars."
Frank Gomez, owner of Wink Optics in San Anselmo, agreed.
"I support Measure H because our schools and teachers are at the heart of this community," Gomez said. "We all have a responsibility to make sure they stay strong and have what they need."
Pete Santucci, lead music teacher in the Ross Valley School District who has served in the district for 20 years, also signed the ballot argument in favor of Measure H.
"I have been part of many staff hiring committees," Santucci said in an email. "I have seen first-hand how difficult it is to hire and retain excellent teachers because of the district's low level of funding from the state."
Santucci added that "despite that funding challenge, we have been able to offer excellent educational and artistic programs for our students because of the financial support of our local community."
However, "if that local funding expires, the cuts to our programs will be catastrophic for the education of our students," Santucci said.
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He said he saw during participation in various budget advisory committees that the district has already cut its budget to the extreme.
"Teachers received no salary increase this year," he said. "Not even a cost-of-living increase."
He said the staff cuts already in place "put greater strain on the teachers, staff and administrators who are already among the lowest paid in Marin County."
In addition to Bingea, Rosenthal, Gomez and Santucci, San Anselmo Mayor Stephen Burdo also signed the ballot argument. Burdo, a parent in Ross Valley schools, has previously expressed strong support for the district's parcel tax effort.
Those signing the ballot argument opposed to Measure H include: A. Sean Aguilar, a real estate asset manager; Denyce Volger-Codoni, retired vice president of Marsh McLennan Insurance; Jeff Wells, a San Anselmo resident; Richard Barham, a 25-year San Anselmo resident; and George Jackson, a school fundraiser.
"I've proudly supported the Ross Valley School District for over 25 years as a parent, coach, and volunteer," Aguilar said.
"However, with Marin taxpayers facing growing financial pressure and frequent new tax funding requests throughout the region, Measure H feels like more than the Ross Valley community can reasonably absorb at this time," Aguilar said. "With that in mind, come back to us in November with a balanced proposal of operating economies and a more moderate tax increase."
The Ross Valley School District serves about 1,700 students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade in Fairfax, San Anselmo, Sleepy Hollow and a part of Woodacre at four elementary schools and one middle school. The district budget is about $30 million.
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