May 6 is the final day to mail in votes on Measure T, which would add an annual $130 parcel tax to property tax bills in the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD). Two-thirds of voters must approve Measure T for it to pass.
Only mail-in ballots will be accepted, as the district opted not to spend the extra money for opening and staffing polling places. Nonetheless, the special election will cost AUHSD approximately $1 million – though the tax is expected to generate approximately $35 million during its eight-year run.
The parcel tax, however, will not remain at $130, as it will be adjusted for inflation each year, so if inflation increases 3% annually, the tax would rise to more than $160 by July 2033. (Note that senior citizens can opt out of paying the tax.)
The last voter-approved funding measure for the district was in 2014, and the district is facing financial pressures that it says will result in staffing and curriculum cuts if Measure T is not passed.
“Public education is grossly underfunded,” said Jennifer Chen, president of the AUHSD board. “We want to preserve the high-quality education we’re known for.”
The measure would allow the district’s high schools – Miramonte, Acalanes, Campolindo, Las Lomas and the Acalanes School for Independent Study – to keep certain academic programs going, help limit class sizes and attract and retain teachers.
Opponents argue that the district’s declining enrollment justifies staff and curriculum cuts, and that the timing of the special election is designed to take advantage of low voter turnout. In addition, the original ballot measure did not mention the annual increases for inflation, and taxpayer groups had to go to court to get that information included.
The issue is further complicated by the impact of AUSHD on housing prices. Supporters claim that property values might drop if the schools suffer a drop in quality.
The Yes on T campaign has raised more than $125,000, with the two biggest donations of $49,999 coming from the Orinda Network for Education (ONE) and the Acalanes’ Parents Club. By staying below the $50,000 mark in donations, both groups avoid being named in any Yes on T advertising.
Ballots must be postmarked on or before May 6, or may be dropped off at Orinda’s City Hall, 22 Orinda Way.
