Measure E 06/02/26

Impartial analysis by County Counsel of Measure E

MILL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIAL PARCEL TAX MEASURE

MEASURE E

This Measure was placed on the ballot by the Board of Trustees of the Mill Valley School District.

The existing Mill Valley School District parcel tax is set to expire on June 30, 2029. If this Measure is approved by two-thirds of the votes cast on this special tax proposal, the existing Mill Valley School District parcel tax will be replaced. Instead, an annual levy upon all parcels shall be $1,754 per parcel. The replacement tax will begin on July 1, 2026, and expire on June 30, 2034. The Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees estimates revenue from this Measure will be approximately $14.9 million dollars annually. Beginning on July 1, 2027, the rate of the special tax shall be increased by five percent (5%) each year.

Should this measure not be approved by two-thirds of the votes cast on this special tax proposal, the existing Mill Valley School District parcel tax will continue, as scheduled, through June 30, 2029, unless altered in future elections.

An exemption from this special tax may be granted on any parcel owned by a person who uses the parcel as a principal place of residence and: (1) is 65 years of age or older; (2) receives Supplemental Security Income for a disability regardless of age; or (3) receives Social Security Disability Insurance benefits regardless of age and meets specific income guidelines from the federal government.

The stated purposes for the funds raised by this special tax are to attract and retain highly qualified teachers; maintain science, technology, engineering, math, reading and writing programs; preserve pre-kindergarten education for four-year olds, and maintain class sizes.

Pursuant to the California Constitution Article XIII B and applicable laws, the appropriations limit for the District will be adjusted periodically by the aggregate sum collected by levy of this qualified special tax.

s/BRIAN E. WASHINGTON
County Counsel

Argument in favor of Measure E

Vote YES on E: Continue local funding to protect Mill Valley’s excellent schools.

Mill Valley School District schools are among the best in California. Our five elementary schools and one middle school are a big part of what makes Mill Valley a wonderful place to call home and raise a family. Excellent local public schools protect our property values and keep our neighborhoods strong.

Since 1987, Mill Valley School District has relied upon locally controlled funding to support its exceptional academic programs and help attract and retain highly qualified teachers. This funding, which represents nearly one-quarter of our school district’s budget, is expiring soon.

If this funding is not renewed, Mill Valley School District will lose around $12.7 million annually — which could result in teacher layoffs, increased class sizes, and cuts to academic programs. It would threaten the quality of education that our community has come to expect.

Measure E is NOT a new tax. It renews existing funding and reauthorizes recently expired funding to prevent deep budget cuts. Seniors remain exempt from the cost!

All funding from Measure E is locally controlled and cannot be touched by the State or Federal governments. Measure E ensures our stable, local school funding cannot be redirected or taken away.

Vote YES on E to:

• Retain and attract highly qualified Mill Valley teachers
• Protect high-quality academic programs in reading, writing, science, technology, engineering, and math
• Maintain outstanding academics in our elementary schools and middle school
• Maintain student academic support services
• Minimize cuts to teachers, staff, and instruction

Strict Accountability Keeps Measure E Funds Local

• All funds stay local — no money can be taken by the State or Federal governments
• Oversight committee and annual audits
• No money for administrators’ salaries or pensions
• Senior exemptions continue

Join local parents, teachers, business, and community leaders – vote Yes on E to protect Mill Valley’s excellent schools!

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Becky Bingea, President

STEPHANIE MOULTON-PETERS
Supervisor

MAX PERREY
Mill Valley Mayor

SUSAN FLINT
Kiddo! Chair

BOB CANEPA
Business owner/longtime resident

Rebuttal to argument in favor of Measure E

Boil the Frog Slowly: You End Up Cooked

Our overarching concern with Mill Valley School District’s Measure E is that this parcel tax grows 5% annually, significantly faster than most people’s income. Measure E’s 5% inflator exceeds almost every other Marin school district, most of which are at 3%. Mill Valley School District’s Measure E becomes increasingly unaffordable over time and adds up to a very large 8-year sum: $16,749.

5% vs. 3%: The Difference Adds Up

Like the proverbial boiling frog, a too-high inflator might not be painful at first. Ultimately, you’ll really feel the heat. A 5% annual escalator increases the tax MUCH faster than 3%. Over 8 years, the difference results in nearly $1,150 more per parcel.

Proponents’ Unfortunate Threat

We have generally found Mill Valley School District leadership to be very responsive and forthcoming. So we were disappointed to find that Measure E’s Argument in Favor prominently featured an alarmist threat: if the current tax is not renewed, MVSD will lose $12.7 million annually, causing teacher layoffs, program cuts, etc. Their argument failed to mention that the current tax continues through June 2029. Before then, there are FOUR major election dates, providing FOUR chances to pass a renewal. There’s negligible chance the current parcel tax will lapse.

With Mill Valley taxpayers facing SIX 2026 local tax measures, many voters need to budget their “Yes” votes.

VOTE NO on Measure E so Mill Valley School District can return with a parcel tax measure that grows a more reasonable 3% annually.

Learn more: CST4U.org

COALITION OF SENSIBLE TAXPAYERS
Mimi Willard, President

Argument against Measure E

TOO MUCH!

Voters face an accelerating tax tsunami: about TWENTY local measures on 2026 Marin ballots. With spiking insurance, utilities, rent and living costs, many people can’t afford this. Voters should prioritize. Vote YES on 1-2 tax measures that are truly necessary, as affordable as possible, and can’t be lowered by reasonable economies.

Mill Valley School District Measure E parcel tax doesn’t meet our affordability standard. Increasing 70% in just 8 years – to $2,468 from this year’s $1,448. Vote NO.

Accelerating Unaffordability Hurts Everyone: Young adults who grew up in Mill Valley can’t afford to live here. Others can’t afford to stay. Approving every tax makes matters worse for everyone – INCLUDING RENTERS to whom tax increases are passed along and SENIORS who lose precious friends and family to unaffordability.

Why Now?

• Taxes Suddenly Much Easier to pass: A new workaround lowering the passage hurdle to 50%+1 from the usual 2/3 enables MANY more – and less popular -- tax proposals to pass.
• Flattening property values (reflecting unaffordability) depress local tax revenues
• Unfunded Promises: Schools and cities keep pledging salary and pension hikes greater than they can afford – driving the “need” for more taxes.

Be Selective!

Before you decide, consider ALL SIX June and likely November tax measures Mill Valley residents face:

• Mill Valley School District: Parcel Tax starts at $1,754 (up $234). Inflating an unusually high 5%/year, Measure E becomes Marin’s most costly school parcel tax in 2034.
• Marin Healthcare District NEW 30-year Parcel Tax (November) $0.14 per building square foot
• Countywide Childcare Services (November) NEW Long-Term Parcel Tax per square foot.
• Tamalpais Union High School District Parcel Tax (November)
• Mill Valley Municipal Services Tax (November)
• SMART (June) 30-Year sales tax

Mill Valley School District should try again. Develop a balanced proposal with a more sustainable 3% inflator that the broad community will embrace.

Choose Thoughtfully. Vote NO.

Learn more: CST4U.org

COALITION OF SENSIBLE TAXPAYERS

Rebuttal to argument against Measure E

Every election, this same anti-tax group works against schools and students throughout Marin. They don’t know what’s best for Mill Valley School District and want to use fearmongering to scare a community that supports its public schools into voting against teachers and students.

Mill Valley voters are too smart for scare tactics! In an era of misinformation, focus on FACTS:

FACT: Measure E is NOT a new tax. It renews and reauthorizes expiring funding MVSD has relied on for 39 years. It protects the District’s ability to keep pace with rising costs by renewing the same 5% annual adjustment the District has had for 18 years. Measure E helps MVSD retain great teachers and stay competitive. Seniors remain exempt!

FACT: Measure E is 25% of MVSD’s budget. Without Measure E, drastic cuts – including devastating teacher layoffs, class size increases, and program reductions – will diminish our excellent Mill Valley public schools and the availability of affordable, quality education for all.

FACT: MVSD elementary enrollment is UP 8% – but MVSD doesn’t receive additional funding as enrollment rises.

FACT: Adjusted for inflation, the proposed parcel tax has increased by less than $30 since it was passed in 2012. Claiming it’s a 70% increase is dishonest!

Ignore irrelevant fearmongering like simple majority tax approvals (Measure E requires two-thirds support) and hypothetical measures that aren’t on the ballot.

Vote your values and ask yourself: what’s more important than great public schools for protecting quality of life, property values, and educating critical thinkers?

Let’s keep a good thing going. Mill Valley leaders agree: Yes on E.

EMILY UHLHORN
Trustee, Tam Union HSD and Former Trustee, MVSD

JED SMITH
Former MVSD Parent and 22 Year Mill Valley Resident

LESLIE WACHTEL
Former MVSD Trustee and 42 Year Mill Valley Resident

KENDRA POLLACK
Member, the Redwoods Board of Directors and 22 Year Mill Valley Resident

JULIE BREMER
Co-President, MVTA and 17 Year Mill Valley Resident