Seniors may file for tax exemption Seniors may file for tax exemption (May 11, 2005)

Seniors, ages 65 and up, who live on property they own in the Menlo Park City School District may file now for senior exemptions from school parcel taxes for the 2005 tax year.

Deadline for filing is Friday, June 3. Completed applications should be mailed to the Menlo Park City School District office, 125 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025, and marked to the attention of Carol Metzler. Applications for exemptions must be filed on an annual basis.

Menlo Park district voters have passed three parcel tax measures in recent years. The April 2000 tax, now $330.62 per parcel, is used to reduce class sizes in the upper grades and expand fine arts, counseling, electives in the middle school, and remedial programs.

In 2003, voters approved Measure A, a renewal of the 1995 parcel tax for $97 to reduce class sizes; and Measure B for $73 per parcel to restore 50 percent of the funding that was subject to state budget cuts. Measure B funds are being used for remedial instruction, instructional materials, training of teachers in core academic subjects, and "challenge services" for accelerated students.

The district has mailed a letter and application for the 2005-06 exemption to seniors who have filed for an exemption in previous years or who have requested an exemption. To be eligible, applicants must be 65 years or older on July 1, 2005, and own and reside at the property for which the exemption is claimed.

For applications and more information, call Carol Metzler at the district office, 321-7140, ext. 603.

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