Politics & Government
Los Gatos' Tiny School Election in the Mountains
Measure H was put forth by the Loma Prieta Joint Union School District and would authorize a $164 parcel tax for the next seven years, beginning July 1, 2014.
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There's only one measure in the Nov. 5 election ballot that affects a small group of voters in the Los Gatos/Santa Cruz Mountains.
That's Measure H, which requires a two-thirds vote to pass and was put forth by the Loma Prieta Joint Union School District, which includes 500 K-8 students in Loma Prieta Elementary School (K-5), and C.T. English Middle School.
Measure H states:
"To support high academic achievement for local students and provide stable local funding to maintain outstanding core academic programs in reading, writing, math, and science, retain highly qualified and experienced teachers, and prepare students for an excellent high school shall the Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District authorize an annual school parcel tax of $164 per parcel for seven years with independent citizens’ oversight, an exemption for seniors, no funds for administrator’s salaries and every dollar staying in our schools?"
According to Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters' clerk Ingrid Ruiz, only one polling place for county voters will be open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. in the Los Gatos Mountains to allow about 700 registered voters in the Santa Clara County side of the Mountain to participate in the election.
There are two other polling places in Santa Cruz County, with about 3,000 voters on that side.
There are eight Santa Clara County precincts involved and the polling place is located at Christ Child Catholic Church, 23230 Summit Rd.
According to district officials, the measure's passage is crucial as the state has drastically reduced the amount of funding it's received since 2006.
The tax would be imposed for seven years beginning July 1, 2014.
One of the arguments in favor of the measure in the voter's pamphlet states that the cost of Measure H is less than $14 a month for property owners and that seniors are exempt.
No argument against the proposal has been filed.
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