Question 1

How did we get here?

Accepted Answer

Our public schools are funded in large part by property taxes. Unfortunately, due to Prop 13, property taxes do not generate enough money here in the Ross Valley School District (San Anselmo and Fairfax) to properly fund our amazing elementary schools and middle school. Therefore, for the past 30 years, our community - like many other districts in Marin - has provided an additional School Parcel Tax to make up for what we lack in property tax income.

Question 2

What is a parcel tax?

Accepted Answer

A parcel tax in California is a special type of property tax levied by local governments, such as school districts, cities, or counties. Unlike standard property taxes, which are based on a property's value (ad valorem), a parcel tax is based on a characteristic of the parcel itself, such as a flat fee per parcel, square footage, or number of units. 
Local agencies use parcel taxes to fund specific services or projects, including school programs, libraries, hospitals, fire protection, and parks. Locally this includes the Ross Valley Sanitary District, the fire department, library and Ross Valley Schools.

Question 3

What is the current Ross Valley School District (RVSD) parcel tax amount?

Accepted Answer

It is $720 flat rate per parcel. Next year it will increase to $749. If an updated RVSD parcel tax doesn't pass in 2026, it will expire. If an updated RVSD parcel tax passes in 2026, it will replace this $720 flat rate tax, it will NOT be in addition to it.​

Question 4

Which schools receive these parcel tax dollars?

Accepted Answer

All funds received from the parcel tax will be used to support educators and students attending the five schools run by the Ross Valley School District (Brookside Elementary, Hidden Valley Elementary, Manor Elementary, Wade Thomas Elementary, and White Hill Middle School).

Question 5

My property taxes are astronomical! Why do our property taxes not fully fund education?

Accepted Answer

Proposition 13 was passed in 1978 and capped Property Tax increases. While it was great for homeowners at the time, it knee-capped funding for our school system. When real estate turns over, property tax is re-assessed and paid accordingly. But in communities like ours, where homeowners don’t often move and live in their homes for more than 30 years, it significantly reduces the tax base.

Question 6

What will happen if a RVSD parcel tax doesn’t pass?

Accepted Answer

If a RVSD parcel tax does not pass, Fairfax and  San Anselmo schools will lose over $5 million in annual funding, forcing additional programs to be eliminated, teachers to be laid off and further increases to class size, possible school closure, and potentially state takeover and loss of local control. An RVSD parcel tax provides local funding and local control so that our schools can protect top-quality educational programs in our community.

Question 7

What’s the urgency here? Why can’t we wait until the RVSD parcel tax expires in 2028 and renew then?

Accepted Answer

Given the community feedback on Measure E being a Special Election, we prefer a new ballot measure to be on a General Election. The Marin County Office of Education sets the election dates and in 2027 there will only be Special Elections.

Additionally, the school district's fiscal year starts in July so we need to know what funding we have by then to plan for the upcoming school year.

Question 8

I don’t have children in school, how does a school parcel tax benefit me?

Accepted Answer

Families move to our towns year after year due to the excellent schools. Ross Valley has thriving businesses and a welcoming community; providing high-quality education to our youngest members is part of that successful equation. This helps keep our property values high and our neighborhoods strong and attractive to newcomers. By supporting a school parcel tax, we will continue the tradition of academic excellence in our schools, support our vibrant community and protect property values. We are investing in the youth of our community.

Question 9

What is the impact of Prop 13 on school funding?

Accepted Answer

Our public schools are funded in large part by property taxes. Unfortunately, due to Prop 13, property taxes do not generate enough money here in the Ross Valley School District (San Anselmo and Fairfax) to properly fund our amazing elementary schools and middle school. Therefore, for the past 30 years, our community - like every other district in Marin - has provided an additional School Parcel Tax to make up for what we lack in property tax income.

Question 10

What cuts has the district made already?

Accepted Answer

We’ve had a budget committee comprised of parents and staff for many years whose purpose is to review the district budget and make decisions about how to best use our dollars. Since 2020, the budget committee has been forced to make cuts, including the following:

2020 
● 3.75 FTE Library Specialists, rehired 1.6 FTE 2020 
● 1 FTE Computer Technology Specialist II 2020 
● 0.60 FTE Custodian District Office and White Hill) 2020
2021 
● 1 FTE Director of Human Resources 2021 
● 12 month to 10 month position, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and CBO 2021
● 12 month to 10 month position, Student Services Staff Assistant, 2021
2024 
● 0.125 FTE Sub Caller 2024 
● 1.00 FTE Teacher on Special Assignment 
● 5 Guest Support Teachers
2025 
● 5 Guest Support Teachers 
● Tech platforms 
● Increasing class sizes at White Hill 
● 1⁄2 of our counseling program* 
● Kindergarten aides and Librarians*
*PTO are stepping up to fund this in the interim

Question 11

What will be cut if we don’t update the RVSD parcel tax?

Accepted Answer

If a tax isn’t renewed/increased in June 2026…

• We will need to consider deeper cuts such as the following in subsequent years ($500,000-$1,000,000): 
    • Elective programs for middle school students
    • Counseling services 
    • Certificated PE teachers in elementary school
    • Intervention support for struggling students
    • TK transitioning to ½ day

• Salary increases could further stagnate in the immediate future, making it difficult to attract and retain high quality, diverse staff members

If a tax isn’t renewed by November 2026…

• School could close resulting in portable buildings being added to campuses to house students
 • Continued salary stagnation
 • Potential state receivership if a special election in 2027 doesn’t result in a new parcel tax

Question 12

Why does a RVSD parcel tax increase the amount of funding for our schools—why is it needed?

Accepted Answer

Since 2018—the last time local voters renewed our RVSD parcel tax—our school district has struggled with tremendous uncertainty and inconsistent funding by the State, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting decline in enrollment. We are now expecting an increase in enrollment over the next 5-10 years. Meanwhile, state funding for our schools continues to be unreliable and we expect that this uncertainty will continue into the foreseeable future. This makes renewing a RVSD parcel tax more important than ever. Our schools have depended on voter-approved local funding for 30+ years to make up the shortfall between state funding and the actual cost of providing a top quality education. With a RVSD parcel tax, we can help continue to restore and enhance some of the critical educational programs that have been threatened by State funding.

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