FULL TEXT OF MEASURE E
LARKSPUR-CORTE MADERA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Larkspur-Corte Madera School District Local Funding for Quality Education Renewal Measure
To continue attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers/ staff; keeping school facilities safe/ clean/ well-maintained; supporting programs in math, science, technology, engineering, reading and writing; and maintaining small class sizes, shall Larkspur-Corte Madera School District's measure renewing the expiring school parcel tax at the existing rate of $910 per parcel for 10 years be adopted, with annual adjustments, senior exemptions, independent oversight, and continuing $4,000,000 in annual school funding that cannot be taken away by the State?
A. Findings
Larkspur-Corte Madera School District (the "District") provides rigorous and innovative education for local elementary and middle school students, ranking among the top 10% of school districts in the State.
The District is committed to continuing to provide a rigorous, well-rounded education for our students that includes high-quality math, science, reading and writing programs, art and music instruction and more.
Since 1988, funding from a voter-approved local school parcel tax has supported high-quality academic programs and retaining highly qualified teachers for our students.
The District's local school parcel tax provides approximately $4 million annually, accounting for 17% of the school district budget, in locally controlled funding that cannot be taken away by the State.
Unless renewed by two-thirds of local voters, the District's school parcel tax is set to expire in 2024.
Losing approximately $4 million in annual funding would likely mean Larkspur and Corte Madera schools would have to cut approximately 28 teacher positions, eliminate many academic programs, reduce school library hours and increase class sizes.
The Board of Trustees (the "Board") proposes to extend, but not increase, the local school parcel tax at the existing 2022-2023 annual tax rate of $910 per parcel for 10 years with annual cost of living adjustments.
The Board proposes to continue offering exemptions for senior citizens age 65 and over and low income people with disabilities.
Local school parcel tax funding would continue to be used to retain highly qualified teachers, keep class sizes as small as possible and maintain library hours and staffing.
By law, 100% of parcel tax funding remains under the local control of the District to benefit Neil Cummins Elementary School, Hall Middle School and The Cove School and cannot be taken or redirected by the State or used for administrator salaries.
B. Amount and Basis of Tax
This qualified special tax shall authorize the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District ("District") to levy a special tax of approximately $910 per Parcel of Taxable Real Property beginning July 1, 2022, and continuing for a period often (10) years. After the first year of this qualified special tax, the rate of the qualified special tax shall be increased each year by 5% of the previous year's levy.
This qualified special tax is estimated to raise $4 million in annual local funding for District schools based on the assumption that the tax will be levied on approximately 4,037 Parcels of Taxable Real Property throughout the District. The amount of annual local funding raised by this qualified special tax will vary from year-to-year due to a number of factors, including annual increases, and changes in the number of parcels exempt from the levy.
To the extent allowed by law, "Parcel of Taxable Real Property" shall be defined as:
- Any unit of real property in the District that receives a separate tax bill for ad valorem property taxes from the County Tax Collector.
- All property that is otherwise exempt from or upon which are levied no ad valorem property taxes in any year shall not be considered a Parcel of Taxable Real Property for purposes of the special tax in such year.
- Multiple parcels which are contiguous, under common ownership, and that constitute one economic unit, meaning that they have the same primary purpose as the principal parcel and are not separate and distinct properties that may be independently developed or sold, shall comprise a single Parcel of Taxable Real Property for purposes of the special tax.
If any portion of this definition is deemed contrary to law, the District's Board of Trustees (the "Board") declares and the voters by approving the Measure concur, that every other section and part of this definition has independent value, and the Board and voters would have adopted each other section and part hereof regardless of every other section or part hereof. If all sections or parts of this definition are deemed contrary to law, "Parcel of Taxable Real Property" shall be defined as any real property in the District assigned an assessor's parcel number.
If approved by two-thirds of the voters casting ballots on this measure, this qualified special tax will replace the qualified special tax authorized by voters as "Measure A" in May 2016 and the tax authorized by Measure A shall cease to be levied on June 30, 2022. If this qualified special tax is not so approved, the qualified special tax authorized by voters as "Measure A" in May 2016 shall continue in effect, in accordance with its terms.
C. Exemptions
Under procedures adopted by the District, upon application or confirmation of a continuing exemption, an exemption from payment of the special tax may be granted on any parcel owned by one or more persons who is/are:
- Persons in the District who will attain 65 years of age on or prior to June 15 of the current tax year, file an application for exemption, own a beneficial interest in the parcel, and use that parcel as his or her principal place of residence shall receive a full year's credit ("Full-Year Senior Citizen Exemption"); effective July 1 of the following tax year (i.e. applications filed prior to June 15, 2022 will receive full parcel tax exemption effective July 1, 2022 for the 2022-2023 tax year); or,
- Persons in the District who will attain 65 years of age after June 15, file an application for exemption after June 15 and on or prior to December 15 of the current tax year, own a beneficial interest in the parcel, and use that parcel as his or her principal place of residence shall receive a half year's credit ("Half-Year Senior Citizen Exemption") for the current year (i.e. applications filed between June 16, 2022 and December 15, 2022 will receive a 50% parcel tax exemption for the 2022-2023 tax year and full parcel tax exemption effective July 1, 2023 for the 2023-2024 tax year); or,
- Receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age, and occupying said parcel as a principal residence ("SSI Exemption"); or
- Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, regardless of age, whose yearly income does not exceed 250 percent of the 2012 federal poverty guidelines issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services ("SSDI Exemption"), pursuant to California Government Code Section 50079(b)(l)(C).
Applications for all exemptions shall be made to the District in accordance with District policies and on or before July 1 of any tax year. Any one application from a qualified applicant will provide an exemption for the parcel for the remaining term of the tax so long as such applicant continues to own and use the parcel as his or her principal residence. Approved exemptions in effect for a prior parcel tax measure will not require re-approval. The District shall annually provide to the Marin County Tax Collector ("County Tax Collector") or other appropriate County officials a list of parcels that the District has approved for an exemption.
D. Claims / Exemption Procedures
With respect to all general property tax matters within its jurisdiction, the County Tax Collector or other appropriate County tax official shall make all final determinations of tax exemption or relief for any reason, and that decision shall be final and binding. With respect to matters specific to the levy of the special tax, including any exemptions, the application of the definition of "Parcel of Taxable Real Property" to any parcel(s), the legality or validity of the special tax, or any other disputed matter specific to the application of the special tax, the decisions of the District shall be final and binding. The procedures described herein, and any additional procedures established by the Board shall be the exclusive claims procedure for claimants seeking an exemption, refund, reduction, or re-computation of the special tax. Whether any particular claim is to be resolved by the District or by the County shall be determined by the District, in coordination with the County as necessary.
E. Appropriations Limit
Pursuant to California Constitution Article XIIIB and applicable laws, the appropriations limit for the District will be adjusted periodically by the aggregate sum collected by levy of this qualified special tax.
F. Mandatory Accountability Protections
- Specific Purposes. The proceeds of the special tax shall be applied only to the specific purposes identified above and shall not be used for administrator salaries. The proceeds of the special tax shall be deposited into a fund, which shall be kept separate and apart from other funds of the District.
- Annual Reports. No later than December 31 of each year while the tax is in effect, the District shall prepare and file with the Board a report detailing the amount of funds collected and expended, and the status of any project authorized to be funded by this measure. The report may relate to the calendar year, fiscal year, or other appropriate annual period, as said officer shall determine, and may be incorporated into or filed with the annual budget, audit, or other appropriate routine report to the Board.
- Community Committee. In accordance with District policy, a committee including local community members shall be appointed or designated by the Board to ensure that the special tax proceeds are spent for their authorized purposes.
G. Protection of Funding
Current law forbids any decrease in State or federal funding to the District resulting from the adoption of qualified special tax. However, if any such funding is reduced or affected because of the adoption of this local funding measure, then the Board may reduce the amount of the special taxes levied as necessary in order to restore such State or federal funding and/or maximize the District's fiscal position for the benefit of the educational program. As a result, whether directly or indirectly, no funding from this measure may be taken away by the State or federal governments.
H. Severability
The Board hereby declares, and the voters by approving this Measure concur, that every section and part of this Measure has independent value, and the Board and the voters would have adopted each provision hereof regardless of every other provision hereof. Upon approval of this Measure by the voters, should any part of the Measure or taxing formula be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, all remaining parts of the Measure or taxing formula hereof shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent allowed by law.