City of Mill Valley
To renew funding exclusively for improved fire suppression activities including vegetation management and tree maintenance, and road repair and street maintenance, shall the Mill Valley Municipal Service Tax be renewed within the City of Mill Valley Community Facilities District Number 2026-1, at a rate of $303 for single family residential property, with a 2% annual adjustment, raising an average of $1.9 million annually over 10 years, and shall the appropriations limit be established, all as specified in Mill Valley City Council Resolution No. 26-49?
YES NO
Votes required to pass: 2/3 voter approval.
Impartial analysis by City Attorney of Measure T
City of Mill Valley imposes a municipal services tax on residential and commercial properties. This tax was first authorized in 1985. The current tax is part of a community facilities district approved by the voters in 2016 at the base rate of $266 per residence per year and expires June 30, 2027. In anticipation of this expiration, the City Council recently formed City of Mill Valley Community Facilities District No. 2026-1 (Municipal Services) (the "District") to pay for: (i) maintenance, repair and improvement of streets and roads, (ii) fire suppression activities, including vegetation removal and tree maintenance, and (iii) all property with an expected useful life of five years or longer necessary or useful for these services. The boundaries of the District are identical to the city limits of Mill Valley.
Measure T, which is placed on the ballot by the City Council, seeks voter approval to levy an annual special tax to pay for the above-described services and facilities at the following maximum rates:
- $303.00 per occupied single family residential unit and $151.50 per second unit
- $303.00 per first unit of a multiple family residential property and $151.50 per additional unit, unless no unit has more than 700 square feet, then the rate shall be $151.50 per unit
- $303.00 per occupied commercial property containing 2,071 square feet or less
- $0.15 per square foot for occupied commercial property containing more than 2,071 square feet
- $81.06 per residential or commercial property that is not occupied or issued a certificate of occupancy during the fiscal year
Exempted from the special tax are public property, property exempt from taxation, property that cannot be developed, and single family residential properties owned and occupied by low income residents over 65.
Measure T renews the municipal services tax, with the tax rates increased to the levels stated above. If approved, the special tax will be levied annually for ten years in the same manner as property taxes, commencing in fiscal year 2027-2028. Beginning with fiscal year 2028-2029, the tax rates stated above would increase by 2% annually.
Measure T establishes an appropriations limit for the District, which prevents the District from spending more money on services and facilities than the amount of special tax revenues collected.
A "Yes" vote will approve the special tax and will establish an appropriations limit for the District, all as described in City Council Resolution No. 26-49.
A "No" vote will result in the existing special tax expiring on June 30, 2027, with no new special tax replacing it.
Measure T requires a two-thirds vote to be approved.
s/Inder Khalsa
City Attorney
City of Mill Valley
The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure T. If you desire a copy of Resolution 26-49 for the details regarding the special tax and the appropriations limit, please call the City Clerk at (415) 388-4033 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.
Argument in favor of Measure T
Vote YES on Measure T to Improve Mill Valley’s Roads and Promote Wildfire Safety
Since 1987, Mill Valley residents have supported the Municipal Service Tax (MST) to fund vital road rehabilitation and fire prevention programs. The city has a proven track record of carefully managing these funds to significantly improve our roads and increase community fire safety and disaster preparedness. Measure T simply renews the existing parcel tax at the same $303 rate and 2% annual adjustment as today, maintaining a stable funding source for the next 10 years to protect our community’s safety and property values. Low-income seniors remain eligible for an exemption.
100% of Measure T funds stay in Mill Valley and are used exclusively for road maintenance and repairs and fire prevention. Measure T delivers vital community services by funding the following:
- Road Maintenance & Repair: Continually improving Mill Valley’s 61 miles of roads, to both protect gains in existing road conditions and emphasize repairing the remaining 9 miles of roads that need attention.
- Vegetation & Brush Clearance: Eliminate wildfire fuels along public rights-of-way by removing over 400 tons of flammable brush and vegetation annually (including the removal of compromised trees).
- Emergency Access & Evacuation: Clearing overgrown vegetation so emergency vehicles can access narrow roads and residents can evacuate safely during an emergency.
This sustained local funding ensures that 40 years of progress in Mill Valley’s fire and road safety continues without interruption over the next decade.
Please join every current City Council member, over one dozen former Mayors, Southern Marin Fire safety leaders, the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, and your neighbors in voting YES on Measure T to promote Mill Valley’s wildfire safety and continue to improve, repair, and maintain our roads.
YESonTforMillValley.com
JOHN MCCAULEY
Former Mayor, City of Mill Valley
STACEY LAMIRAND
Chair, Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
JOAN MURRAY
Founder, Clean Mill Valley
KENDRA POLLACK
Board Member, The Redwoods
PAULA REYNOLDS
Former President, Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees
Argument against Measure T
No argument against Measure T was filed.