Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Measure E?

A. Since 1987, the San Anselmo and Fairfax communities have voted to pass local funding measures to support our schools. This support has allowed our elementary and middle schools to provide students with an exceptional education emphasizing reading, writing, math, science and the arts, preparing our children to succeed in life. Measure E would enhance the funding established by voters in 2018, and change the format to a per square foot calculation, while keeping the annual adjustment at 3%. Measure E would extend the local funding of our schools for nine years to 2034. Without Measure E, our children will face class size increases, significant cuts to educational programs, teacher layoffs and the erosion of the excellent education our community expects. Renewing Measure E will provide stable education funding for many years—funding that our schools currently depend on—to preserve the academic excellence our community supports and expects from our schools.

Q. Specifically, how will Measure E support education in our schools?

A. Measure E will provide locally controlled funds to:

Attract and retain highly qualified teachers by enabling RVSD to pay a competitive wage in Marin County for educators
Preserve outstanding core academic programs in reading, writing, math and science
Maintain smaller class sizes
Maintain school libraries and library services paid for by RVSD

Q. Can Measure E funding be taken away by the State?

A. No. The State cannot take away any funds generated by Measure E.

Q. Is Measure E necessary?

A. Yes. The Ross Valley School District has relied on these local funds as an essential part of its budget for over three decades. The current parcel tax funding that we are seeking to renew through Measure E reflects 17% of RVSD’s revenue. Ross Valley School District receives the lowest amount of funding of ALL school districts in Marin County and we are falling behind other school districts each year.

We know we cannot rely on the State to keep our local schools among the best. In fact, while our schools are recognized by the State as being well within the top 10% of school district performance in math and language arts, our State funding remains within the lowest the lowest 10% of such funding. For these reasons, Measure E is even more critical for our schools as the District must make up the shortfall between State funding and the actual cost of providing a top quality education for local children. Without Measure E, our children will face class size increases, teacher layoffs and the erosion of the excellent education our community expects. Renewing Measure E will ensure that our schools continue to receive stable education funding in order to preserve the academic excellence our community supports and expects from our schools.

Q. Why now and not next year?

A. RVSD is deficit spending and needs money right now to retain exceptional teachers, and maintain the high-quality student programs which have won 3 of our schools State-wide and National academic awards just this school year. Waiting for an even year election would delay funding and teacher raises at least 2 years, and our schools and teachers do not have the luxury of waiting. Teachers in Ross Valley are already some of the lowest paid in all of Marin County, and if this measure doesn’t pass NOW, our school board will be forced to immediately cut programs. Losing high quality and experienced teachers, when Ross Valley expects to see increasing enrollment in the coming years, would lead to larger class sizes, more strain on the remaining teachers, and a decline in the quality of education our students receive. That’s a disaster for a district that, despite being underfunded, consistently performs above expectations, produces well prepared and adjusted students and contributes to our vibrant community (and increased property values).

Q. Is Measure E fiscally accountable?

A. Yes. Measure E includes strict fiscal accountability provisions:

All funds stay in our local schools and cannot be taken away by the State
No funds will be used to pay administrators’ salaries, pension costs or other administrative or maintenance costs.
Measure E requires an annual, third-party audit
Measure E expires after 9 years and cannot be renewed without voter approval
Senior citizens can receive an exemption and those seniors who have filed an exemption need not reapply
A Citizen's Oversight Committee is a required element of this measure to ensure funds are spent as taxpayers intended. If Measure E passes and you would like to learn more about this committee, please contact Ross Valley School District at (415) 454-2162 after the election is certified.

Q. How much will Measure E cost?

A. Measure E will renew vital and expiring funding for our San Anselmo and Fairfax schools. It will renew the existing parcel tax funding that was passed by voters in 2018. Measure E would take effect in July 2025 and would expire 9 years thereafter and could not be renewed without voter approval. The amount it costs each parcel owner depends on the square footage of the buildings on the property. The tax is assessed at $0.52 per square foot.

Q. What is the current parcel tax amount for Ross Valley School District?

A. It is $699.66 flat rate per parcel. Next year it will increase to $720 if Measure E doesn't pass on May 6th. If Measure E passes, it will replace this flat rate tax, it will NOT be in addition to it.

Q. Why was the measure structured based on square footage?

A. By law, parcel tax measures must be uniformly applied to all parcels in the district. Traditionally, this has meant that every property owner — whether they are a small, single-family homeowner or large commercial property owner — would pay the exact same amount, regardless of the size of their property. In order to more equitably distribute this measure across the entire community, Measure E applies a uniform square footage rate, meaning that smaller properties will pay significant less than larger ones. It is important to note that this rate applies only to building square footage and not overall parcel size. Parcels without any buildings on them would pay a flat $95 rate.

The fact of the matter is that Ross Valley School District is the lowest funded in the County and our teachers are at the bottom of the pay scale. Structuring Measure E based on square footage was the only means of generating the locally controlled funding needed to help local schools keep pace and ensure that local teachers don’t leave for better paying districts, without overburdening single-family homeowners.

Q. How do you determine the square footage of my building for the $0.52 cent/sq foot calculation?

A. We rely on the county recorder's office to provide this figure for the calculation. If you disagree with the amount the county lists as your building square footage there is a process with the county with which to correct it.

Q. Why does Measure E increase the amount of funding for our schools—why is it needed?

A. Since 2018—the last time local voters renewed our 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 Measure E 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 Measure E, we can help continue to restore and enhance some of the critical educational programs that have been threatened by State funding.

Q. What will happen if Measure E doesn’t pass?

A. If Measure E does not pass, San Anselmo and Fairfax schools will lose over $3 million in annual funding, forcing additional programs to be eliminated, teachers to be laid off and further increases to class size. Measure E provides local funding and local control so that our schools can protect top-quality educational programs in our community.

Q. Can senior citizens receive an exemption?

A. Yes. Through a simple application process, senior citizen homeowners age 65 and older may receive an exemption for their primary residence. Seniors who have already applied for an exemption will not need to re-apply. Whether or not you choose to take the exemption, you can still vote YES on Measure E to help support local schools. To find out more about the exemption process, please contact the Ross Valley School District at (415) 454-2162.

Q. Can citizens on SSI and SDI receive an exemption?

A. Yes. Through a simple application process, these citizens may receive an exemption for their primary residence. Those who have already applied for an exemption will not need to re-apply. Whether or not you choose to take the exemption, you can still vote YES on Measure E to help support local schools. To find out more about the exemption process, please contact the Ross Valley School District at (415) 454-2162.

Q. I don’t have children in school, how does Measure E benefit me?

A. 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 voting YES on Measure E, 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.

Q. Who is eligible to vote on Measure E?

A. All registered voters in the Ross Valley School District will be eligible to vote on Measure E. This includes renters and property owners.

Q. When will I receive my ballot to vote for Measure E?

A. The May 6th Special Election mail-in ballots get mailed out to registered voters starting on April 7th.

Q. What level of support is required for Measure E to pass?

A. We need at least 67% of voters to vote YES on Measure E —every single vote will matter. That is why we need your YES vote on Measure E for our local schools.

Q. How can I obtain more information about voting in this election or registering to vote?

A. For more information, please visit the Marin County Registrar of Voter website here or by calling the Marin County Elections Department at (415) 473-6456.

Q. What are the key dates for this election?

A. Key dates are below and additional election information can be obtained on the Marin County elections website here.

Q: Which schools in the Ross Valley will receive these parcel tax dollars?

A: All of the 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).

However, Measure E will benefit students of other elementary schools who matriculate into White Hill Middle school in 6th grade.

LCFF funding all Marin SD showing RVSD at the bottom

key dates for election May 6th Marin County

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