ACA 21 Lowers Parcel Tax Approval Threshold to Fund School Districts

January 4, 2012 (SACRAMENTO) – Today Assembly Member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) introduced a constitutional amendment authorizing school districts to approve a parcel tax on property by a 55 percent vote of the voters in the district.  Currently, districts may place parcel tax proposals on ballots, but approval requires an extraordinary 2/3 majority vote.

“If voters want to invest in their local schools, they should have that opportunity. Requiring more than 66 percent of voters to approve added funding unfairly burdens parents and communities who just want to make sure their kids get a good education,” said Feuer. “As a result of the economic crisis, school districts that endured years of distressing cuts may need to cut even more. Local communities should have a fair choice to decide whether to fund their schools with their own tax dollars.”

According to EdSource, from 1983 to 2010, voters approved 289 parcel taxes in 542 elections (a 53% approval rate), but 92% of the proposals received at least a majority vote. There are approximately 980 school districts in California.

Unlike property taxes, parcel taxes are a flat rate assessed per parcel or per square foot, regardless of the property size.  Each parcel in a district where a parcel tax was approved would receive the same rate.  Depending on the proposal, the parcel tax could be for a limited period, or it could be permanent.

Assembly member Mike Feuer’s website:  http://www.assembly.ca.gov/a42

Contact:  Arianna Smith, 916-319-2042