Voters in the Sausalito Marin City School District and the Bolinas-Stinson Union School District will be asked to approve a property tax on the Nov. 5 ballot.
To pass, both Measure G and Measure C would require the approval of two-thirds of voters in their respective constituencies.
Measure G in the Sausalito Marin City School District would impose an annual tax of 15 cents per square foot per residential or commercial building for eight years. For a 2,000-square-foot home, the tax would be $300 per year.
The tax would be capped at 23,000 square feet. Undeveloped lots would be subject to a flat tax of $25 per year. Measure G provides an exemption for lower-income seniors.
Measure G would generate about $1.3 million annually for the school district. It would be the first property tax in the district’s history. The district is the only one of 17 school districts in Marin that does not levy a property tax.
According to the justification for Measure G, which was submitted to the Nov. 5 ballot, the money would be spent on “recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers, providing additional reading and math programs, creating educational opportunities and programs that students need to succeed in high school and college, keeping class sizes manageable, improving instructional materials, and providing academic assistance to children who need additional support.”
“Our schools in Sausalito-Marin City have suffered from inadequate funding from state and local resources for many years,” the argument states. “This, coupled with the high cost of living in the Bay Area, makes it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain qualified teachers and educational staff for all subjects and grade levels.”
The petition was signed by County Board Chair Lisa Bennett and four others: Shirley Thornton, Ida Times-Green, Kirstin Thomas and Laura Diaz.
“Strong schools underpin our property value,” the argument concludes. “Whether you have children in the schools or not, Measure G is a solid investment in our community.”
Measure G is also supported by the Marin Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers (COST), said Chair Mimi Willard. Willard, who has studied the district’s budget, said she supports the district obtaining additional revenue for employee recruitment and retention and improving academic programs.
COST also supports the application of a per-square-foot property tax, she said.
“SMCSD is leading the way in implementing a fairer school property tax – the first of its kind in Marin – that is assessed per square foot rather than per lot,” Willard said. “COST has long opposed flat property taxes that require the owner of a mansion to pay the same price as the owner of a studio apartment.”
According to the district election office, no counterarguments were published.
In the Bolinas-Stinson Union School District, Measure C would impose a flat tax of $390 per parcel annually for five years, with an annual increase of 3%.
Measure C would raise approximately $682,500 annually to support the district’s arts programs and diverse learners, provide competitive salaries, fund school operations, and meet educational goals.
It is a renewal of the county’s property tax, which expires on June 30, 2025. Measure C also provides exemptions for residents ages 65 and older.
According to the county election office, no arguments were presented in support of or against Measure C.
The Marin County Elections Department is expected to begin mailing absentee ballots for the election on October 7.
