League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Mateo County, CA March 8, 2011 Election
	Measure W Re-Authorization/Replacement of Parcel Tax Brisbane Elementary School District Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 853 / 68.5% Yes votes ...... 393 / 31.5% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure W

Brisbane Elementary, Panorama Elementary, and Lipman Middle Schools are the three schools that make up the Brisbane School District. For the past 12 years, Art, Music, and a targeted reading program for these schools has been funded by a parcel tax. That tax is now up for renewal. This ballot measure, if passed, will continue to fund these programs. In this time of drastic budget reductions by the State of California, many schools have had to cut Art and Music from their curriculum. Thanks to the support of its local communities, the Brisbane School District has been able to keep these programs, as well as give additional reading instruction to students with particular reading problems. If funds are available, Measure W will also fund classroom aides that are needed to help teachers with large classes or particularly needy students. Without Measure W, the District will be forced to cut these programs. Measure W would cost property owners $119 per year for five years. None of the money raised would be used for administration. SENIOR CITIZENS WHO OWN THE PROPERTY ON WHICH THEY RESIDE WITHIN THE DISTRICT WILL BE EXEMPTED UPON REQUEST. Seniors who have an exemption for the existing parcel tax will automatically be exempted from the renewal tax. Measure W will have a direct bearing on the quality and scope of education which our schools can provide to our communities. We ask for your continued support of our quality local education. This measure has been put on the ballot at the urging of Renew the Arts, a group of citizens from Brisbane and Southern Hills. We urge you to vote YES on Measure W. (No arguments against Measure W were submitted)

Full Text of Measure W

To maintain the exceptional public education offered by our schools, shall the Brisbane Elementary School District renew its current parcel tax of $96 with a $23 inflation increase by levying a special tax of not more than one hundred nineteen dollars ($119) per year per parcel of land as of July of each year (with exemptions for parcels owned and occupied by a person 65 years of age or older, upon application, and with a partial exemption for resident homeowners living on multiple (up to 3) parcels, and for certain property exempted by law), to facilitate (1) providing a music teacher and an art teacher, (2) providing teachers and instructional aides to assist and support students with reading and core academics; in addition, if funds allow, (3) providing additional library and instructional resources to schools; provided that none of the proceeds from this measure shall be used to pay for District administration; in connection therewith, shall the annual appropriations limit of the District be raised beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2016, in an amount equal to the levy of said tax for said year? A parcel will be defined as any unit of land which now receives a separate tax bill from the Assessor's Office. All property which would otherwise be exempt from the property tax will also be exempt from the imposition of this tax. An exemption from this special tax shall be granted annually by the District on any parcel owned by one or more persons aged sixty-five (65) or over on July 1 of the tax year who occupy said parcel as a principal residence, upon application for exemption supported by proof of age, ownership and occupancy as the principal place of residence; In addition, upon application for exemption supported by proof of ownership and occupancy, resident homeowners whose lot includes up to three contiguous parcels will be eligible for exemption from parcels additional to the one on which the residence house is situated, in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board of Trustees?