Editorial: Tam district’s scaled-down Measure B worthy of support

The Tamalpais Union High School District is back on the ballot with a new bond measure, trimmed down from its March proposal that won a majority of the vote, but narrowly short of the 55% supermajority required to pass.

On the Nov. 5 ballot, the district is seeking voter support for Measure B, a $289 million bond measure and a 44% reduction from Measure A’s $517 million ask.

Measure B focuses on what district officials say are necessary capital improvements at the district’s campuses of Archie Williams, Redwood and Tamalpais, and San Andreas and Tamiscal.

In their ballot statement, backers of Measure B said the bond focuses on “the most urgent and essential needs.”

Opponents say they would rather see the district invest in improving students’ academic achievement.

But having campus facilities that are safe, secure and up to date shouldn’t be ignored. Besides, Tam district schools are among the top-scoring high schools in the state.

Critics of Measure B also say they would rather pay a five-year parcel tax because unlike bond measures, it allows for senior exemptions.

Measure B also responds to criticism that the March measure short-changed Archie Williams while spending considerably more on improvements at Redwood and Tam. That criticism ignores the district’s conclusion that the need for capital repairs and improvements are greater at Tam and Redwood.

“We believe we have met the threshold to get community support,” Tam trustee Emily Uhlhorn told the IJ editorial board.

Among the Measure B projects are a new STEAM building at Tam, a new fine arts and music building at Redwood, replacing roofs and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at the three main campuses. In addition, the worklist includes new turf for ballfields and resurfacing schools’ tracks.

Improvements to Redwood and Tam’s cafeteria have been scaled back to essential repairs and improvements, including those needed to meet the state’s “universal meals” requirement that provides two free daily meals to every student.

Measure B would tax property owners $17.60 per $100,000 of assessed value. The assessed value is usually less than a property’s market value.

According to the district, the average assessed value of homes is $1.1 million and the average tax increase would be $193 per year, $137 less than was requested in Measure A.

Two things should be clear to voters. Tam trustees learned from the March results and have responded with a scaled-down bond measure. Some projects and improvements have been deferred. Some were pared back in scope and cost.

Measure A faced organized opposition from the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, a local government watchdog. On Measure B, the group has reviewed the revised measure and is taking a “neutral” stand.

“The $289 million bond shows we really did our homework and got it down to the most critical must-dos,” trustee Karen Loebbaka said before voting to put Measure B on the ballot.

Loebbaka is right. The school board did its homework, responding to March’s defeat with a measure reduced in cost and scope.

Keeping our school campuses safe, in good repair and well-equipped and well-suited for educating our youth is a community priority. That’s what Measure B is about.

The IJ editorial board recommends that Tam district voters support Measure B.