> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Seeking help for schools Voters to see parcel tax renewal on ballot - URL: https://www.smdp.com/seeking-help-for-schools-voters-to-see-parcel-tax-renewal-on-ballot/ - Published: 2007-10-27T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T03:40:39.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Government & Politics, Malibu, #archive-import *Survey: Most residents would support parcel tax* SMMUSD HDQTRS Santa Monica and Malibu voters will be asked to continue their financial support for the public schools in February — a decision that could determine the job security of more than 50 teachers and extend programs that have made the district one of the top-rated in the county. Along with determining which presidential candidates should represent the Democratic and Republican tickets on Super Tuesday, the presidential primary scheduled for Feb. 5, voters will be faced with the question of whether they collectively are willing to sustain an annual payment of more than $10 million to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Two of the district’s largest funding sources, Measures “S” and “Y” together bring in an estimated $10.4 million to the 2007-08 fiscal year, keeping at least 53 teachers in the classroom, maintaining a fit physical education program, nourishing the school libraries with new materials and librarians and keeping the arts alive through the elementary school music program. Measures S and Y — both set to expire by 2011 — will be combined when it’s brought before voters for renewal. If approved, the measure will take effect at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1 and supersede the existing individual funding sources. The consolidated measure will charge property owners $346 per parcel — the same amount they currently pay for the total of Measure S ($225 per parcel) and Measure Y ($121 per parcel). The renewed parcel tax combines elements of both existing measures — the senior tax exemption built into Measure S and the annual Consumer Price Index increase of Measure Y. Measure S passed in June 2003 and is set to expire in 2009, while Measure Y, which passed in November 2000, will not expire until 2011. On Thursday, the Board of Education decided to place the measure on the ballot after receiving a recommendation from the Parcel Tax Renewal Feasibility Committee, an advisory group formed in the summer to explore the possibility of a funding measure passing in one of the three upcoming elections in February, June and November 2008. If the measure does not pass in February, the district will then have the opportunity to place it on the ballot on the subsequent polling days. “It’s critical to our continued achievement in the district and directly impacts the well-being and accomplishment of our students,” said board member Kelly Pye. The revenue from both measures currently contribute about $1.2 million annually to the library programs, at least $1.1 million to the elementary music program and about $2.1 million to maintain small class sizes in the middle and high schools. The committee predicts that the district could suffer a decline in revenue of about $5,000 over the next two years when qualified senior citizens can apply for an exemption on a larger pool of money — the entire $346, rather than just the amount in Measure S. Senior citizens must reapply for the exemption every year. In formulating its recommendation, the advisory group members divided into four subcommittees that explored public opinion, legality, financial implications and election dates. Denny Zane studied the pros and cons of placing the measure on each of the three upcoming elections and found that Super Tuesday would be the safest bet, drawing a favorable electorate. Though the presidential election would pull the most pro-education group of voters, if the measure failed, it would not have any future elections on which to fall back, Zane said. “You would be facing a do-or-die situation,” Zane said. RESIDENTS STILL SUPPORT SCHOOLS The advisory committee contracted a research firm that conducted a public opinion survey to gauge whether voters are willing to renew a funding measure. The survey found that approximately 70 percent of voters will cast their ballots in favor of the parcel tax. The results indicate that residents are still willing to write a check to the district despite a showing of public outcry earlier this year over a perceived lack of accountability and transparency among school officials, stemming from the resignation of Winston Braham, the former chief financial officer. Among the voters that didn’t pledge their vote for the district, approximately 40 percent stated their primary reason was because they were concerned about accountability, while 21 percent said they oppose taxes. Goodwin Simon Victoria Research conducted three surveys from Oct. 4-8, each of which had a sample size of 400 residents. The majority of voters gave the district a positive job rating and recognized that additional funding is needed in order to maintain not only good public schools, but high property values as a result, the study found. The study had a margin of error of 5 percent. “There are very few voters out there who appeared to be voting no because the district is not doing a good job,” said Paul Goodwin. The research firm has worked with the Santa Monica-Malibu district on two other ballot measures that ultimately passed. “Let’s hope that is a very good omen of a possible third measure you’re looking at,” Goodwin told the school board. The results of the survey are typically a good indicator for the outcome of the election. A study for a parcel tax in the Berkeley public school district in 2006 found that 78 percent of residents were willing to approve the measure, which ended up passing by 80 percent. In the Santa Cruz public school district, approximately 81 percent of voters said they would support a parcel tax in 2005\. That measure passed by 80 percent of the vote. Goodwin stressed the importance of educating the electorate about the implications of not passing a parcel tax and finds it key to the success of the ballot measure. “The more that voters know about why these measures are being put on the ballot, the more likely they are to support it,” he said. “A vigorous citizen-funded education campaign can and will make a difference.” *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 27, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/102707.pdf?ref=smdp.com)