Lagunitas School District voters renew parcel tax

Voters in the Lagunitas School District overwhelmingly supported a parcel tax renewal in a special election Tuesday.

Measure A garnered 802 votes in favor, or about 75%, compared to 262 votes against, according to preliminary results. The measure needed a two-thirds majority to pass.

Kathleen Graham, the district superintendent, said the outcome is “a testament to the San Geronimo Valley community and their belief in supporting public education.”

“Lagunitas School is so grateful to those voters and to the large and dedicated group of volunteers who worked hard for almost a year to get the message and votes out,” she said.

The nine-year measure takes effect July 1. The rate starts at $850 per year and will increase 4% annually. The measure did not increase the tax rate, but it lowered the annual increase from 6.5%.

Measure A includes exemptions for residents over 65 years old.

“Today marks a momentous day for Lagunitas and the Valley,” said Katie Nason, a parent volunteer on the Measure A committee. “We are incredibly thankful to our community for stepping up in support of our local TK-8th school.”

Steve Rebscher, a district trustee, said the vote was the largest margin of victory in more than 30 years of the tax.

“At a time when there are so many divisions within many communities, the San Geronimo Valley came together this month to support our community schools,” Rebscher said. “Despite the pressure that so many people feel in their home budget, this win tallied over 75% yes votes.”

Alexa Davidson, executive director of the San Geronimo Valley Community Center, said she is “deeply grateful to the San Geronimo Valley community for showing up with a resounding yes and affirming their investment in our valley, our kids and our shared future.”

“This win reflects the incredible collective effort of so many community members who worked to make this happen,” Davidson said.

Dave Cort, who worked on the parcel tax campaign for most of the past year, said the influx of support from families with young children helped the Measure A pass.

“They pushed it out on social media and various marketing websites,” said Cort, former executive director of the San Geronimo Valley Community Center for 32 years. The center is a partner with the Lagunitas Community School.

“I started that job when my oldest child was in kindergarten in the district,” Cort said. “Now I’m helping with the parcel tax campaign when my oldest grandchild is in kindergarten.”

Lagunitas Community School serves 166 students in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade at two adjacent campuses in San Geronimo.