Parcel Tax

November 6, 2020

California voters pass most school construction bonds, parcel taxes on ballot

Fewer districts than in past presidential elections bet that voters would approve a tax increase during a pandemic and a recession.

John Fensterwald

March 6, 2020

Why bond and tax measures to bolster California schools struggled to pass at the polls

School districts have turned to parcel taxes in recent years to raise money for school programs, class-size reduction and teacher salaries.

Carolyn Jones And Diana Lambert

November 14, 2019

Pension costs feed resistance to higher school taxes in California county, study finds

An increase in mandated costs has frustrated voters in Marin County, where passing school parcel taxes had been a safe bet until 2016.

John Fensterwald

June 28, 2019

Oakland Unified board approves budget despite doubts about its accuracy

Board members also wonder whether voters would approve new tax measures next year, after grand jury report blasts district for fiscal mismanagement.

Theresa Harrington

June 11, 2019

Statewide messages in aftermath of LA parcel tax’s defeat

The failure of Measure EE underscores how hard it is to capture a two-thirds majority needed for approval of a parcel tax and the challenges ahead to pass a 'split-roll' initiative to raise businesses' property taxes.

John Fensterwald

June 7, 2019

Stunning defeat of parcel tax in L.A.; a bright idea to name California's newest college

This week: We explore reasons for the Los Angeles Unified's Measure EE defeat and talk with LASUD board member Nick Melvoin and David Tokofsky, a former board member and strategist for the district administrators' union; and we reveal the name of California's new online community college.

EdSource staff

June 3, 2019

To pass parcel tax, Los Angeles Unified will need to break with history

Only about 1 in 8 districts in California have ever passed a parcel tax. Most of those districts don't have much in common with LAUSD.

Michael Burke

May 22, 2019

Jackie Goldberg pushes parcel tax measure at LAUSD board swearing-in ceremony

Swearing-in ceremony to a seat on the Los Angeles school board becomes opportunity for Jackie Goldberg to urge support for parcel tax.

Michael Burke

April 1, 2019

With business groups allied against it, L.A. parcel tax faces big hurdle

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the Valley Industry and Commerce Association and the L.A. County Business Federation criticize the district in their ballot statement and plan a $4 million campaign to defeat Measure EE on June 4 ballot.

John Fensterwald

March 17, 2019

Push underway to lower the barrier for school districts to pass a parcel tax

If the Legislature agrees, voters in November 2020 will consider lowering the threshold for approval from two-thirds to 55 percent.

John Fensterwald

November 8, 2018

Most California school construction bonds, parcel taxes pass

Voters approved about 80 percent of 112 school facility bonds and 8 of 13 parcel but a lot of votes remain to be counted.

John Fensterwald

November 10, 2016

Districts pass $23 billion in construction bonds, most parcel taxes

By approving local bonds, districts will be eligible for matching money from $9 billion state bond under Prop 51.

John Fensterwald

March 3, 2016

District settles lawsuit, agrees to share parcel tax with charters

The California Charter Schools Association says other districts should do so, too.

John Fensterwald

March 4, 2014

Loss of supermajority in Senate could doom vote on 55 percent majority for parcel tax

John Fensterwald

October 21, 2013

Davis Unified drops parcel tax on apartments, settles lawsuit

John Fensterwald