| Background The Governing Board, at its meeting on August 26, 2019 received and discussed the results of a voter survey conducted by True North Research and TBWB. This survey related to the Governing Board’s on-going planning efforts regarding the renewal and/or extension of a parcel tax election to support the District’s instructional program. Current Considerations The purpose of this resolution is to authorize the La Cañada Unified School District (the “District”) to place a measure before local voters on the March 3, 2020 ballot to renew the expiring education parcel tax to offset the local impact of inadequate State education funding for the District and provide the funding needed to sustain the outstanding quality of local public instruction offered in the District’s schools by generating a source of local revenue that can be used exclusively by the District. The District believes that all local students deserve a high-quality, well-rounded education and is committed to remaining one of the top districts in the nation in student achievement. As our strong local schools continue to improve, they contribute to the quality of life that make La Cañada a desirable place to live and help protect property values. Although the District relies on the State for the vast majority of its operating budget, the District receives one of the lowest allocations of funding for school districts in the State. The District has implemented a number of measures to maximize funding and reduce expenses, including extensive local fundraising, active management of its properties, and significant reductions to administration costs and expenses. In 2009, over 74% of local voters supported a parcel tax to provide stable, local funding for our schools. In 2014, over 68% of local voters supported Measure LC, which renewed the 2009 parcel tax measure for the purposes of protecting the District’s high performing schools and continuing to provide adequate funding to the District. Measure LC continues to provide reliable funding to protect the most essential instructional programs for our students, including advanced programs in science, technology, engineering, math, robotics as well as reading, writing and the arts. The locally controlled funding from the current parcel tax expires in 2021. The District wishes to renew the current parcel tax with a new parcel tax measure whose purpose is to continue to provide adequate funding to the District. If allowed to expire, the loss of this funding will jeopardize the District’s ability to attract and retain highly qualified teachers, maintain manageable class sizes, and continue funding advanced academic programs, including math, science, technology, engineering, arts and robotics, and other academic programs to prepare students for college and careers. Based on the discussion and direction received at the August 2019 meeting, staff, in conjunction with a sub-committee of the Governing Board, TBWB and legal counsel F3, has prepared for Resolution No. 6-19-20. This resolution provides for an election on March 3, 2020, calling for voter approval of a measure to renew the existing parcel tax rate, with annual adjustments for inflation to support the District’s instructional program into the future. Funding generated by the parcel tax assessment would help mitigate the negative effects of inadequate state funding on the District and preserve the excellence of our schools. A draft of Resolution No. 6-19-20 is attached for reference. Financial Implications According to County records, the boundaries of the La Cañada Unified School include approximately 6872 parcels (6,479 residential and 393 non-residential.) After controlling for vacant parcels, approximately 437, and an estimate of 898 for senior exemptions, there would be an approximate net of 5970 assessable parcels. A $450 per parcel assessment would generate approximately $2,686,500 per year. The rate would be adjusted annually by CPI, not to exceed 3% per year.
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