Ross Valley School District
Shall the measure to continue local funding that preserves excellent education for Ross Valley School District students, including: maintaining core academic programs in science, technology, engineering, math, reading and writing; maintaining manageable class sizes; and attracting/ retaining highly qualified teachers; by renewing the expiring current $742 parcel tax, while adding $540 per parcel, providing $8,600,000 annually for 10 years, with senior exemptions, 3% annual adjustments, independent oversight, no funds for administrators, and all funds staying local, be adopted?
YES NO
Votes required to pass: 2/3 voter approval.
Arguments and Rebuttals in "support of" or in "opposition to" the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors.
Impartial analysis by County Counsel of Measure H
Ross Valley School District Special Parcel Tax Measure
Measure H
This Measure was placed on the ballot by the Board of Trustees of the Ross Valley School District.
The existing Ross Valley School District parcel tax is set to expire on June 30, 2028. If this Measure is approved by two-thirds of the votes cast on this special tax proposal, the existing Ross Valley School District parcel tax will be replaced. Instead, an annual levy upon all parcels shall be $1,282 per parcel. The replacement tax will begin on July 1, 2026, and expire on June 30, 2036. The Ross Valley School District Board of Trustees estimates revenue from this Measure will be approximately $8.6 million dollars annually. Beginning on July 1, 2027, the rate of the special tax shall be increased by three percent (3%) each year.
Should this measure not be approved by two-thirds of the votes cast on this special tax proposal, the existing Ross Valley School District parcel tax on improved parcels will continue, as scheduled, through June 30, 2028, 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; 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 H
Vote YES on Measure H to continue critical local funding for Ross Valley public schools.
For 33 years Ross Valley School District has relied on a local parcel tax to supplement inadequate state funding. This voter approved tax provides 16% of the district’s budget. Measure H is a renewal of the soon expiring parcel tax with a supplemental increase. There has been no increase to this parcel tax since 2012, outside of small inflation adjustments, while the costs of operating the schools have continued to rise above the rate of inflation.
There is a lot at stake. If Measure H does not pass, the Ross Valley School District will be required to decrease its annual budget by at least $5 million dollars, which will result in:
- The likely closure of two of our four elementary schools;
- Significant cuts to academic programs and teacher layoffs;
- The state taking control of our school district.
Ross Valley School District receives the lowest per pupil state funding in Marin County — ranking in the bottom 4% statewide (959th out of 995 districts) — yet its schools are among the highest performing in California, thanks to community support of the parcel tax.
Measure H will provide locally controlled funding that is essential to sustain strong core academic programs, maintain manageable class sizes, and attract and retain excellent teachers. Measure H funds cannot be taken by the state, and cannot be used for administrative salaries or pensions. Exemptions remain available for senior citizens and people with disabilities receiving SSI or SSDI.
Excellent public schools strengthen our neighborhoods and help protect property values. Whether you have children in school or not, supporting Measure H is an investment in our community.
Keep Our Schools Open. Protect Our Community. Support Our Children.
Please Vote YES on Measure H.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MARIN COUNTY
President, Becky Bingea
STEPHEN BURDO
Mayor, Town of San Anselmo
FRANK GOMEZ
Local Small Business Owner
PETE SANTUCCI
RVSD Lead Music Teacher and Fairfax Resident
MICHAEL ROSENTHAL
Longtime Fairfax Resident and Homeowner
Rebuttal to argument in favor of Measure H
Excessive Tax Demand = Self-Created Crisis
Polling, community surveys, and voters’ rejection of Ross Valley School District’s 2025 Measure E sent a clear message: voters don’t have the financial appetite for a tax that’s so big.
Concerned about a temporary revenue contraction when RVSD’s current parcel tax expires in June, we urged placing a “certain to pass” renewal measure on the June ballot, i.e., one with a moderate increase. Trustees instead bid each other up to a very high “ask” (a $540 increase to nearly $1,300 per parcel) while threatening school closures if voters refuse.
A Compromise Should Include Belt-Tightening that Doesn’t Hurt Students:
- Stop awarding high paid administrators “Me too” increases. Ross Valley School District says no parcel tax revenue will go to administrators. That’s misleading. A tax increase awarding teachers much higher pay frees up general fund money for the usual identical percentage increases for all administrators.
- Implement cost cuts not directly impacting students, several of which are already listed on Ross Valley School District’s plan for what they’ll do if Measure H fails.
- Monetize RVSD’s District Office Building, just like Kentfield School District did. Closing it never makes the list of ways to improve Ross Valley School District’s finances. There’s ample room for management in the below-capacity schools RVSD threatens to close.
The Road Not Taken is Still There
The NOVEMBER 2026 election provides another opportunity for Ross Valley School District to do the right thing: propose a reasonable parcel tax renewal measure and fiscal adjustments that appropriately address both educational needs and residents’ ability to pay.
VOTE NO.
Learn More: CST4U.org
GEORGE JACKSON
School Fundraising
DENYCE VOLGER-CODONI
Retired VP Marsh McLennan Insurance
A. SEAN AGUILAR
Real Estate Asset Manager
JEFF WELLS
31-year San Anselmo Resident
RICHARD BARHAM
25-Year San Anselmo Resident
Argument against Measure H
TOO MUCH!
Measure H is a nearly $1,300 tax – adding $540 (+73%).
Marin County voters face an accelerating tax tsunami against an uncertain economic backdrop. Taxpayers AND districts will ultimately need to prioritize. We recommend being selective. Vote YES on 1-2 tax measures that are truly necessary, can’t be lowered by reasonable economies, and are as affordable as possible.
Measure H doesn’t meet that standard.
The owner of a typical-sized home will pay considerably MORE for Measure H than for the Measure E parcel tax hike that voters rejected in May 2025.
RVSD isn’t listening.
Ross Valley School District’s board CHOSE a highly risky path. Instead of prudently trimming their tax proposal after voters rejected Measure E, they’re asking for MUCH MORE on this retry.
Accelerating Unaffordability Hurts Everyone: Young adults who grew up in Fairfax can’t afford to live here. Others can’t afford to stay. RENTS increase as higher taxes are passed through to renters. SENIORS lose friends and family to outmigration.
Besides Measure H, Ross Valley School District residents face 4-5 2026 local tax measures:
- MarinHealth 30-year measure raising a typical Ross Valley property tax bill $280
- Marin County Childcare tax proposal similar to MarinHealth’s
- Tamalpais Union High School District parcel tax
- Fairfax’s Measure J FOREVER sales tax hike - adds an estimated $100 per household
- SMART – 30-year sales tax
Responsible alternative ignored - To ensure voter support for its parcel tax renewal, RVSD should have proposed a more moderate tax increase and pledged not to award highly paid administrators the large compensation increases planned for teaching staff. Monetizing nonessential properties – e.g., district headquarters -- could reduce the need to raise taxes.
This prudent, affordable proposal remains an option if Ross Valley School District returns in November with a proposal better suited to the WHOLE community.
We encourage you to reject Measure H.
Learn more: CST4U.org
COALITION OF SENSIBLE TAXPAYERS
VALERIE HOOD
Retired Teacher
PASCAL SISICH
Former Planning Commissioner; Tax Oversight Committee Member
DEBORAH BENSON
Accounting Professional
MARK BELL
+40-year resident
Rebuttal to argument against Measure H
The opposition’s argument relies on misleading framing and ignores the real consequences of voting No.
If Measure H doesn’t pass, Ross Valley School District will face devastating cuts — potentially closing two of our four elementary schools — and state takeover of the district.
This is not a surprise $1,300 tax. The parcel tax has been in place for 33 years. Measure H is a renewal of the parcel tax ($742), with the first significant increase in 13 years ($540). The rate was carefully calculated to meet the needs of our schools. It is a flat per-parcel rate, unlike Measure E. Exemptions remain available for seniors 65 and over and people with disabilities receiving SSI or SSDI.
State funding alone cannot sustain our schools. RVSD ranks in the bottom 4% of funding statewide — 959th out of 995 districts — and receives the lowest per-pupil state funding in Marin County. The current parcel tax provides 16% of the budget, essential to teacher salaries and core programs. That is not a rounding error that administrative belt-tightening can fix, and closing the district office is not a substitute for sustainable funding.
Lumping Measure H with county-wide and regional measures is a distortion. Measure H is local — controlled entirely by our community. Its funds cannot be taken by the state and cannot be used for administrative salaries or pensions.
Our opponents are right, voters must be selective — so choose wisely. Measure H ensures our neighborhood schools stay open, locally funded, and locally run.
Don’t be misled. Vote YES on Measure H.
GENE T. NG
Retired Teacher and Coach
YOAV SCHLESINGER
Council Member, San Anselmo
ERIN MIWA
Small Business Owner
SARAH PUCKETT
Brookside Teacher and San Anselmo Homeowner
CHARLES CORNWELL
Former Fairfax Open Space Committee Member / 25+ year Fairfax Resident