UNDERSTANDING THE

2016 PARCEL TAX

MEASURE TO FUND
ALAMEDA UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT
(AUSD)

PREPARED BY THE
ALAMEDA PTA COUNCIL (PTAC)

Basic Information
A parcel tax is a local property tax paid by
home and business owners to fund K-12
education.
In 2011, Alameda voters passed Measure A, a
parcel tax that provides $12 million in annual
funding for core academic, athletic, and arts
programs in AUSD.
In November 2016, a renewal parcel tax will
be on the ballot that, if approved, will continue
Measure A for a set amount of time.

How is the parcel tax

structured?

The AUSD Board has not yet voted on the

final measure, but the plan is to renew the
existing tax, changing nothing about its
structure.
Under Measure A, residential and
commercial property owners pay .
32/square foot of their buildings, with a
maximum of $7900.
This is planned as a renewal of the
current tax, so property owners will

What will the funds be

used for?

Funds raised by the replacement tax will help:

Maintain current class sizes
Keep neighborhood schools open
Fund music, media and PE teachers in the
elementary schools and fine arts classes at the
secondary schools
Innovative programs
Provide salaries for teachers and counselors
Support programs to close the achievement gap
Pay for technology in schools across the district
Pay for AP classes and other specialized curricula
Pay for High School Sports

Didnt we just pass a bond

measure?
By law, bond measures like Measure I only
cover non-recurring expenditures related to
facilities, like modernization, new construction,
and purchases of equipment.
Bond money cannot be used to pay teacher
salaries and benefits, which represent the
majority of the district's ongoing expenditures.
A parcel tax is the only legal way for the
district to raise revenue to cover general fund
expenses such as salaries and programs.

Hasnt the state increased

funding for public education?
While the state has increased funding for
schools, much of this new LCFF funding is
tied to new mandates to support lowincome, English Language Learners, and
foster youth.
In addition, AUSD has new financial
obligations, including a greater share of
employee pensions (by state mandate)
and full-day kindergarten.

How will charter schools benefit

from the parcel tax?
AUSD is one of a few districts in the state to
include charter schools in its parcel taxes.
The tax provides funding to charters in a way
that lets them spend their money flexibly.
Charter schools receive slightly less than
mainstream schools because charter schools:
Receive more funding from the state and are
allowed more flexibility in how they spend that
money than regular schools; and
Have lower overhead than regular schools,
because, for instance, AUSD pays their facilities
costs.

What PTAs Can

Do

Passing a parcel tax is not easy.

We need your help!
Parcel taxes require a 2/3 majority to
vote.
Novembers general election will likely
have high turnout.

We need volunteersand
fundingto support our
campaign.

What your PTA can do between

now and August:
Identify one or two school captains
by mid-June
School captains will lead outreach and
coordination of parents at each school site.

Vote to pledge to provide $1999 to the

campaign with your 2016-2017 budget.
Communicate to your school
community about the parcel tax as we
need each school to endorse the tax

What your PTA can do at the start of the next

school year:

Provide up to $1999 to the

campaign
Vote to endorse the parcel tax
Enlist your community in:
Fundraising
Door-to-door canvassing/street captains
Phone banking
Disseminating yard signs, posters, etc.
Educating neighbors and community
members

Thank you!
Questions?