Early election results show Measure P, a parcel tax measure for the Portola Valley School District, falling short of the votes needed to pass.
With about 40% of the votes counted by the close of election night, 63.46% of voters have said yes to the measure, which requires a two-thirds, or 67%, voter majority, county election officials reported.
Semi-official election results around 2:20 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, show Measure P with 1,285 votes of support and 740 no votes (36.54%).
Those results include vote by mail ballots received in the mail by the Monday before Election Day, vote by mail ballots returned at vote centers and drop boxes by the Sunday before Election Day, and a portion of votes cast at vote centers on Election Day according to county elections officials. The next results will be released on Thursday, March 5, at 4:30 p.m. Results will be posted at the same time each weekday following that until all ballots are counted.
Measure P would update the district's Measure O parcel tax, which expires in June 2021. It would continue the tax at its current rate of $581 per parcel in its first year, then increase it by 3% in each following year.
The current parcel tax generates about $1.2 million annually for Portola Valley School District classroom programs and teaching staff.
This amounts to an additional $17 to $21 per parcel annually, said district Chief Business Officer Connie Ngo. Voters will be asked to extend the measure by eight years.
All voters who live within the school district boundaries – which go beyond those of the town of Portola Valley – can vote on the bond measure. The district includes Woodside residents who live in the Skylonda and Skywood Acres neighborhoods and off Philips and Family Farm roads, and part of Mountain Home Road. See a map of the school district boundaries here.
The current tax, Measure O, funds advanced math, science and technology programs; reading and writing programs; art and music programs; reduced class sizes; and retention of teachers for the district's two schools, Ormondale and Corte Madera, according to the district website. District staff asserts that the measure "must be renewed" to maintain these programs.
Measure O passed in 2013 with 69% of the vote. It consolidated two expiring measures: Measure C (with an annual tax of $290 per parcel) and Measure D ($168 per parcel), and increased the rate by $123 per parcel to $581, Ngo said.
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Comments
Portola Valley: Central Portola Valley
on Mar 3, 2020 at 11:41 pm
on Mar 3, 2020 at 11:41 pm
This is exhaustion of a shrinking school system continuing to ask for more more more. The construction bond was too much. Every 10 minutes we’re told they need millions more for math science, reading, writing....what have our property taxes been paying for??
Portola Valley: other
on Mar 4, 2020 at 8:36 am
on Mar 4, 2020 at 8:36 am
Thanks voters for making the right choice.
We are already taxed out of existence.
To PV School Board:
I would spend your measure "Z" money wisely.
Menlo Park: other
on Mar 4, 2020 at 9:21 am
on Mar 4, 2020 at 9:21 am
I hope other school districts look at these results and reconsider their plans to add a parcel tax to the ballot. People are tired of getting taxed again and again when they districts can't justify needing more money. Declining enrollment and skyrocketing property tax revenue means they are already getting a huge boost in revenue every year. GREED is NOT good!
Portola Valley: Los Trancos Woods/Vista Verde
on Mar 5, 2020 at 2:26 pm
on Mar 5, 2020 at 2:26 pm
Thank you voters! The relentless attacks by the schools/liberal on propety tax grew tiresome. Especially annoying that it was initially pitched a temporary tax. So tired of the generic rally call, " keep classes small!" Yet they bus in kids from other districts...
Portola Valley: Central Portola Valley
on Mar 5, 2020 at 3:29 pm
on Mar 5, 2020 at 3:29 pm
Final results of the San Mateo Ballot will be posted @ 4:30pm March 5. Nothing is final until then.
Portola Valley: Central Portola Valley
on Mar 5, 2020 at 7:53 pm
on Mar 5, 2020 at 7:53 pm
The district will tell itself they have a "messaging problem" You don't. You have a spending problem.
In 2013 when the previous tax was passed there were 673 students. Next year will be 529. Enrollment has dropped every single year for the past decade. Property tax receipts are up 5% every year. Enrollment is down 20% over that period. We'll spend 16 million next year for those 529 students = 30,000 per student. Do a web search to see how that stacks up in California and the US.
The elephant in the room here is the district's "success" in selling Measure Z, which was based on the fiction that the buildings we bought with the LAST bond (and will STILL be paying for for several more years) are failing. We were sold the need to spend $49,000,000 for a fun project and shiny new buildings because of peeling paint and need for a new AC. No wait, the $47,000,000. No wait, it's not 47,000,000. We'll be paying $97,000,000 with interest. We'll be paying it until 2047.
See the last page: Web Link
I'm begging the board and the bond committee to not spend the Measure Z money just because you can. Enrollment will continue to drop. Maintain the buildings you have, they're fine. Improve and maintain. In 2025-30 we can take another look after we've paid off the last bond and enrollment stabilizes. Thats the responsible thing.