Measure ES, the proposed funding measure on our November 2026 ballots, has been the subject of countless conversations among school parents, homeowners, and candidates for political office. As officers of the Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs (SMMPTA), we would like to share our reasoning for supporting the measure.
PTA’s mission is to support students, and reliable funding is critical to protecting the educational opportunities our students deserve.
Let’s go back in time. Since 2002, the City of Santa Monica has contracted with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) through a Master Facilities Use Agreement (MFUA). This agreement, set to expire in June 2027, currently provides approximately $12 million annually to SMMUSD's General Fund, allowing the District to pay teachers and staff competitive salaries, offer best-in-class programming, and maintain its facilities.
But the City isn’t in the same economic position it was 20 years ago. It’s in a budget crisis, which could be partially alleviated by reducing this annual payment to the school district.
For years, the SMMPTA community has advocated to the Santa Monica City Council to preserve the MFUA. We realize, however, that the City is at a crossroads with its budget. The MFUA provides a significant portion of the District's unrestricted operating revenue—even if it comes with an unpredictable renewal schedule. The SMMPTA believes that we cannot afford to lose that money, or the flexibility that comes with having $12 million in our general fund to support the operations of all our schools.
As PTA leaders and advocates for students, we think it’s critical to avoid staff and programmatic reductions by replacing this potential loss of District funding with stable and reliable funds from Measure ES.
Under the MFUA, the City pays for the use of the District's green spaces and recreational facilities outside of school hours. You’ve probably seen the results: families, sports teams, and community members get to play on school fields, and playgrounds. This June, the Board of Education reaffirmed its intention to keep facilities open to all Santa Monicans regardless of the agreement—and the City and District have long had a close partnership serving school families and the greater public. We understand that the City, through its Realignment Plan, needs to prioritize balancing its budget, which may necessitate ending this longstanding agreement.
The SMMPTA recognizes the City's financial challenges and wants it to succeed in its efforts to strengthen our community. At the same time, our students and schools cannot afford the uncertainty of losing such a significant source of funding.
The answer, we believe, lies in replacing that funding with revenue from Measure ES. California's school funding structure is challenging. Due to restrictions from Proposition 13, a parcel tax is one of the few ways that a school can raise money for operating expenses. Many communities rely on such taxes to support their public schools.
Measure ES would establish a parcel tax of $495 annually, subject to inflation adjustments, with exemptions for qualifying property owners such as senior citizens, non-profit organizations, affordable housing, and schools. The revenue is intended to replace funding the District already receives—not to provide an additional $12 million on top of its existing operating budget. Our concern is not about expanding the District's budget. It is about protecting the teachers, staff, programs, and services our students already depend upon.
There are fair criticisms of the measure. Transparency and responsible stewardship of public funds by both the City and the District are essential to maintaining the community's trust in its schools. In adopting its position in support of Measure ES, the PTA Council also adopted a recommendation that, in the interest of minimizing cumulative tax burdens, the City prioritize a later repeal of the parcel tax, and offer a replacement with a permanent contribution to SMMUSD when the City's financial circumstances are stronger.
We recognize that asking property owners to take on this responsibility raises reasonable concerns about affordability, accountability, and the future of the City's financial relationship with our schools.
Those concerns were part of our Council's comprehensive analysis of Measure ES. In recommending support, our legislative study committee acknowledged the importance of maintaining public access to school facilities and continued collaboration between the City and District.
We believe that recommendation acknowledges both the City's present financial challenges, and the value of its long-standing partnership with our public schools.
Our decision to support Measure ES does not mean that every question about public spending has been answered, or that those concerns should be set aside. It reflects the conclusion we reached after studying the measure and considering what the potential loss of this funding would mean for our schools.
Ultimately, our priority is the students and families of Santa Monica and Malibu. We have one of the best and most accomplished districts in the country. Our high schools are among the best in the country. Our goal is to continue delivering that world-class education to our students, without the constant uncertainty of losing essential operating revenue.
That is why the Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs supports Measure ES. We believe protecting stable school funding today is an important investment in our students, our families, and the future of our public schools.
The Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs