Pass: 4,158 / 67.6% Yes votes ...... 1,993 / 32.4% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Impartial Analysis from Raymond G. Fortner, Jr., County Counsel

Approval of Measure S would authorize the Governing Board (“Board”) of the South Pasadena Unified School District (“District”) to levy a special parcel tax (“Tax”) of $95 per unit in multi-unit parcels, and $288 for other parcels, per year on taxable real property that receives a separate property tax bill located within the District. The Tax would be levied for four (4) years.

The Tax revenues, shall be applied only for the purposes of preserving and maintaining quality education and academic programs, retaining teachers, providing small class sizes, funding District library, media, visual and performing arts programs, and reducing layoffs of teachers, teacher aides, librarians, counselors and other District personnel.

An exemption from the Tax may be obtained by any owner of a single parcel owned by one or more persons aged 65 years, or by one or more persons receiving Supplemental Security Income for disability regardless of age, who occupy the parcel as a principal residence, upon annual application to the District in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the Board or its designee. If more than one adjacent parcel constitutes a single parcel under the Subdivision Map Act, then the parcel will be treated as a single parcel for purposes of the amount of tax due, and a claim for refund may be made in accordance with procedures in the measure and as established by the Board. The decisions of the District relating to the specific levy of the Tax, including the senior citizen exemption and the classification of property for purposes of calculation of the tax, shall be final and binding. All property that is exempt from ad valorem property taxes in any year shall be exempt from the Tax.

The proceeds of the Tax shall only be applied to the specific purposes identified and shall be deposited into a special account. An annual written report prepared by the District and filed with the Board shall be made detailing the amount of funds collected and expended, and the status of any projects authorized to be funded from the Tax. If any state, or federal revenues are reduced because of the Tax, the amount of the Tax shall be reduced annually to restore the funding. An independent Citizen’s Oversight Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Education to ensure that the Tax proceeds are collected and expended according to the measure and to report annually to the Board of Trustees and the public regarding the Tax expenditures. An annual expenditure plan shall be developed by the District in consultation with the Oversight Committee.

The Taxes levied under this Measure shall be collected by the Treasurer and Tax Collector at the same time and manner, and subject to the same penalties, as general ad valorem property taxes. Unpaid Taxes shall bear interest at the same rate as the rate for unpaid ad valorem property taxes.

This Measure requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote for passage.

South Pasadena Unified School District

Sample Ballot (24 page pdf)