CST-Led Campaign Defeats Special Election Tax Measure, A Victory for CST’s Sensible Tax Criteria

Ross Valley School District Measure E failed in a May 6 special election in the face of an opposition campaign led by the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers. This is an important development with future implications for Marin more broadly. We urge our supporters to donate TODAY to ensure we are prepared to respond quickly and effectively TOMORROW.

This is the first time in recent memory that Marin voters rejected a K-8 school parcel tax. CST successfully defended the core values of democratic inclusivity, fairness, transparency and affordability laid out in our Sensible Tax Criteria by sponsoring an effective, financially efficient, No on E campaign. We expect other districts and agencies will take note.

“Timing is Everything” was the premise underlying the Ross Valley School District’s misguided decision to place Measure E, a proposal intended to substantially increase its parcel tax revenue, on a May 6 special election ballot. June 2024 polling showed voters were unlikely to approve the tax if placed on the next regular statewide election ballot – November 2024. RVSD instead chose a 2025 special election, following their political consultants’ guidance about how an off-cycle low turnout election can be used to their advantage to cherry pick voters and avoid competing tax measures.

CST’s Sensible Tax Criteria provide “best practices” guidelines for agencies seeking additional taxes and fees. We have long made clear we will oppose special election tax measures. We did so vigorously this time – via ballot arguments, digital ads, text messages, op/ed submissions and a campaign website with valuable information, including a calculator for determining the tax impact for any given property.

Measure E fell over 4 percentage points short of the required 2/3 approval hurdle.

We dubbed Measure E the Sneak-E Tax because of the timing and the misleading ballot language that described the tax as “renewing parcel tax authority at 52 cents per square foot” rather than revealing that it was in fact a 62% INCREASE in RVSD parcel tax dollars AND an entirely new type of levy that would cause some property owners’ bills to increase much, much more.

The fact that Measure E failed also indicates taxpayers’ exhaustion. This was RSVD’s fourth tax measure over the last 15 years. Skyrocketing fire insurance and utility bills, plus a new Tam Union High School District bond tax, made for a tax tsunami. Enough was enough on May 6th here and everywhere in California.

Each Marin school district and public agency should now reexamine ways to live within its means — limiting administrative costs, closing surplus buildings and seeking constructive ways to raise revenue (e.g., RVSD wooing back students they have lost to private and charter schools).

CST continues to build its record of success in defeating taxes that are not consistent with our Sensible Tax Criteria; endorsing taxes that do (unlike other taxpayer groups); and working collaboratively with agencies and districts for sensible, compromise solutions to bona fide problems.  We urge entities considering new taxes and fees to reach out early to CST and the community broadly for constructive discussions for a balanced proposal.

We thank all those who supported “No on E” for their efforts, votes and monetary support.  Please consider a donation to CST today so that we are financially ready for whatever comes next – wherever it is – in Marin.