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Early results showed Redwood City School District’s parcel tax measure falling well short of the two-thirds approval needed to pass, though ballots remain to be counted.
Measure C had 58% support as of Wednesday morning, according to semi-official results from the San Mateo County elections office. The measure needs approval from two-thirds of voters.
Jessica Shade, an organizer for the Yes on C committee, remained hopeful. “I’m waiting until more votes come in before making any predictions,” she said late Tuesday.
But how the measure was faring at least early on didn’t surprise Chris Robell, an opponent who sits on the board of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association.
“I think affordability is a top issue for California residents,” he said, “so the bar is higher for new incremental taxes.”
Measure C would generate $12.2 million annually over eight years for teaching positions, educational programs and managing class sizes in the district.
It would levy 17.5 cents per square foot of building space each year, with a cap on the total amount, though parcels without structures would see a flat $25 annual charge.
Earlier this year, the district board decided to place the measure on the ballot, citing a revenue pace that’s not keeping up with rising operational costs, the expiration of state and federal pandemic-related relief funds, and declining enrollment.
Those factors prompted the district, over the past two years, to make budget cuts and savings totaling about $13 million.
The measure’s proponents argued that because of the Bay Area’s high cost of living, RCSD is at risk of losing exceptional teachers to more affordable communities or better-paying districts.
The measure would provide competitive compensation to attract and retain qualified instructors, counselors, and other school staff, proponents said, and the funds would not go toward paying administrators’ salaries or pensions.
The measure would also bolster instruction and programs in math, reading, science and other subjects while keeping class sizes manageable, they said.
Without Measure C, the district “will likely continue to see additional cuts over time: fewer teachers and classified staff; larger class sizes; fewer arts, music and hands-on science opportunities; reduced library hours; and fewer student supports overall,” Shade previously told the Pulse.
The measure would require an independent citizens’ oversight committee, mandatory annual audits and public disclosures to oversee, track, and report on how the funds are being spent.
Still, opponents raised trust and transparency issues with the district as part of their arguments against the measure.
“Citizen oversight ends when votes are cast,” Mark W.A. Hinkle, president of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association, said in his arguments filed with the county elections office. “If you could trust the board, why would you need oversight?”
Robell had told the Pulse that the measure’s “language appears broad and flexible.”
Because public funds are fungible, he said, “new revenue labeled for specific purposes can allow existing funds to be redirected elsewhere.”
Robell has also remained wary of district leadership and how it handles taxpayers’ money, he said.
