Castro Valley School Board Unanimously Votes Against Parcel Tax

You won't be seeing a parcel tax election this May or June.

The board members voted unanimously at to accept a survey consultant's recommendation that now is not the best time to put the tax measure on the ballot.

The combination of cost, a troubled economy, quick turnaround of a ballot resolution without having much time to campaign and a lack of two-thirds voter support for the parcel tax led the board members to their decision.

Brad Senden of the Center for Community Opinion . Around 400 voters in the school district were interviewed over the telephone.

Prior to asking any questions regarding the tax measure, more than 53 percent of voters said they were in favor of it, 30 percent opposed it and 17 percent were undecided. Senden recommended that there needs to be at least 67 percent voter approval of a parcel tax in order for it to likely pass on the ballot.

The survey results show that most voters wanted the funds to go toward attracting qualified teachers, keeping computers and technology up-to-date and maintaining small class sizes.

Different demographics of voters were looked at — from age and gender to political party affiliation and voter activity. Most seemed to support the measure until it came down to cost.

"The only thing that's suppressing [the voters'] support level is the economic condition," said board member George Granger.

Even if the community's 12,000 to 14,000 parcels paid the minimum flat fee of $50, board president Kunio Okui said that overall funding would just be "a drop in the bucket" due to the major cutbacks expected from Gov. Jerry Brown's upcoming budget. 

"You have one bite of the apple to have a parcel tax make a good impression," said superintendent Jim Negri. "We're dealing with the governor's budget, which is uncertain at this point."

Though the board previously passed bond measures in 1998, 2002 and 2005, the parcel tax would have been a first for Castro Valley voters.

However, the school board said this is not the end of a possible parcel tax all together.

"We'll work with staff and the community in the next few months to help better understand where we need to go," Granger said.

Senden stressed that campaigning to would require time and money — between $50,000 and $100,000.

According to Negri, if the board wanted to get the measure on the May ballot, they would have to submit a resolution to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters by Feb. 8. To make it on the June ballot, they'd have to turn in the resolution by early March.

The board seemed hopeful in bringing a parcel tax election back sometime in the future when "the timing's right." They also discussed other programs that currently donate directly to the schools such as Save Our Schools Castro Valley! (SOSCV!) and Donorschoose.org.

Carey Sanchez Para, a parent of a CVUSD student, was one of a few parents who attended the meeting. She said the board's decision on the parcel tax came as a surprise to her.

"It's a little disappointing that there's not more support in the community," she said. "I think [the board] had to make a tough decision."

Voters Grade the School District

During the survey, voters were also asked about their opinions about CVUSD — from the quality of education it provides its students to the way it spends its tax dollars.

Despite the less-than-expected support on the parcel tax, board members were pleased with the community's overall feelings towards the school district.

About 22 percent gave its schools an "A" average while 44 percent gave them a "B" average.

"I feel like you're reading our report cards," joked board member Jo Loss as Senden presented his findings.