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The Mountain View Whisman School District has put Measure AA on the November ballot, a parcel tax that would raise an estimated $5.4 million annually to fund local schools.
Measure AA would levy a tax based on the size of the buildings on each parcel of land within the school district’s boundaries. Property owners would be charged 15 cents per square foot of building area, with a cap of $1,750 per parcel. Parcels without any buildings would be charged a flat fee of $25.
The measure, which requires two-thirds support to pass, would be assessed annually and would last for eight years, starting on July 1, 2025.
It would replace the district’s existing parcel tax, which raises roughly $2.8 million annually and expires on June 30, 2025. That tax was approved by voters in 2017 and costs property owners a flat annual rate of $191 per parcel, regardless of size.
How much would you pay?
Measure AA would change the parcel tax from a flat rate to a calculation based on building size (not the total size of a parcel). At 15 cents per square foot, a 1,500 square foot home would be charged $225.
The math works out so that properties with 1,273 square feet or less of building area would save money compared to the current parcel tax. Those that are 1,274 square feet or bigger will pay more.
According to the school district, the average home in Mountain View is 1,734 square feet.
The tax would apply to both commercial and residential properties. A property would have to be over 11,666 square feet to hit the $1,750 cap, meaning that most single family homes would likely be well below that limit.
What would the measure support?
The ballot measure language states that the money would be used to “attract and retain qualified teachers; provide academic support for students struggling with reading and writing; and enhance science, technology, engineering, arts and math programs.”
Unlike bond measures, which are typically limited to spending on school facilities, parcel taxes can be used to cover a wider array of ongoing expenses. Parcel tax revenue can be spent on things like paying teachers, buying textbooks and other supplies, and hiring staff to provide support for students.
The resolution that the school board passed to put the parcel tax measure on the ballot notes that proceeds “would not be used for administrators’ salaries or pensions.” Though the same language is not included in the text of the ballot measure itself, courts have found resolution language to be legally binding as part of a measure, according to district spokesperson Shelly Hausman. The text of the measure also requires that the school board appoints an independent oversight committee to review spending of the parcel tax proceeds.
Those 65 years and older, as well as certain people with disabilities, can also apply for an exemption from paying the parcel tax.
The district has said that Measure AA would be used to fund largely the same teachers and programs as its existing parcel tax, and that budget cuts could result if the tax isn’t renewed.
The district is already facing a tough financial outlook. The budget that the school board passed in June projects a $4.1 million deficit in the current school year, even with revenue from the current parcel tax included.
The district has projected larger deficits of $7.3 million and $12.1 million in the following two school years, when parcel tax funding isn’t included in the projections because the existing tax will have expired. Superintendent Ayindé Rudolph has said those deficits would be dramatically reduced if the new $5.4 million measure passes.
The parcel tax isn’t the district’s only source of funding uncertainty. The school district and city of Mountain View are currently at odds over millions of dollars from a special tax district in the northern portion of Mountain View.
Arguments in favor of the parcel tax
Parcel tax supporters argue that the measure will provide needed funding to offer competitive pay for teachers, allowing them to live locally and making it more likely they continue to work for the school district.
The argument in favor of Measure AA that appears in the county’s official voter information guide notes that the high cost of living in the area makes it difficult for teachers to afford to live nearby and that the resulting employee turnover impacts students.
“Exceptional teachers help make sure Mountain View is a great place to live,” the ballot argument reads. “Whether or not you have school-age children, quality education is a wise investment for our community and property values.”
Among those who signed the ballot argument in favor of Measure AA are retired school board member Ellen Wheeler and teachers’ union president Michael Newman.
Supporters note that because the tax is based on building size, large companies will pay more than individual homeowners, and those with sufficiently small homes will pay less than they do under the existing parcel tax.
Arguments against the parcel tax
Parcel tax opponents argue that the measure is an unneeded tax increase, and that the district’s performance doesn’t warrant the additional money.
Some parents have raised questions about supporting the tax measure, citing concerns over district spending, including a controversy over district contracts for coaching, staff wellness and public relations work.
The ballot argument against Measure AA points to declining English and math test scores in recent years as evidence that the district hasn’t earned a tax increase. The district’s test scores have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, according to the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year. The county and state have also seen declines over the same period.
The ballot argument, which is signed by Mark Hinkle, president of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association, and Joe Dehn, chair of the county Libertarian Party, also points to the district increasing teacher pay in recent years, even as test scores have declined.
“You can be for children, for teachers, and for education — and against endless tax hikes that fail to deliver the promised results,” the ballot argument reads.
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With three board seats up for election this year, voters have a chance to weigh in not only on funding via the parcel tax, but also how the school board decides to spend it (along with all the other sources of funding). Strongly urge voters to look at this in two parts: first, fund the schools… the parcel tax covers a lot, well above the amounts that some people are debating and disputing in the district budget. Second, choose a board that will ensure these funds (as well as all the other funds that go to MVWSD) are spent wisely, with maximum efficiency and minimal waste.
It’s not spent wisely, they have already spent the money before they received it. Giving themselves 8% raises if it passes, or a $500,000 increase in compensation before it even gets to the first/highest paid teacher. Transparent California lists all the salaries and titles – pretty shocking to see the number of Chief Op roles, Directors, Principals, and support staff for the Superintendent, all far outpacing teacher salaries). You don’t have to look far to see where all the money goes and why the California school districts do so poorly academically compared to other states for the money spent. The district is only K-8 and ~4500 students, school districts in other states with this type of support staff overhead would manage 60,000+ students. With the top heavy nature of the school district admin, very little of the money will go to actual teachers.