Measure A Ballot Deadline Fast Approaching

Residents in the will have a chance to say whether they should be assessed a $49 parcel tax on their properties to help make up for lost funding from Sacramento in Tuesday's special all mail-in election.

Measure A , the official designation for the parcel tax, is the only item on the ballot for district residents.

If passed, the measure would be in effect for six consecutive years and would go into effect July 1.

According to the Yes on A website, the district has lost nearly $4.2 million the last two years to state budget cuts, with an additional $1 million expected for the next school year.

The measure needs 66.6 percent voter approval to pass. If approved, it would raise $800,000 a year, or a total of $4.6 million. 

District officials have said they need the funds to plug a $942,000 budget deficit during fiscal year 2011-12 and an estimated $1.3-$1.9 million financial hole during fiscal year 2012-13. 

The money would go to toward protecting core academic programs, acquiring modern classroom materials and attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers, according to the website.

Other mandates from the measure, if successful, would be to establish an oversight committee made up of Los Gatos-Saratoga community members to follow the parcel tax funds, and funds could not go to administrators’ salaries.

Though the idea of implementing a parcel tax during a time of economic hardship could be challenging, there has been a strong show of support for passage of the measure from the Los Gatos community, district officials said.

More than 30 local organizations have endorsed the measure, including the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District Teachers Association, the League of Women Voters of Southwest Santa Clara County and the Los Gatos Education Foundation.

LezLi Logan, a member of the Communities United for Excellent High Schools, the group lobbying for passage of Measure A, said the tax is "absolutely crucial to protect the excellent education that we have come to expect from our local high schools."

If the measure fails, Logan, who's also president of the Raymond J. Fisher Middle Home and School Club, feared there would be no choice for the district but to cut core academic programs such as math, English, science and foreign language. 

Muhammed Chaudhry, CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, another organization that has endorsed the measure, said the best investment the Los Gatos community can make is to support the measure and help fund education projects for the district.

“State budget cuts have been significant to education,” said Chaudhry. “The challenge to get budget funding has been more competitive for school districts, and it is imperative for our local communities to get involved and help. There’s no better way to help your community as a local citizen, then to invest in to local education.”

There is no prominent local organization opposing the measure.

According to Elma Rosas, Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters office spokeswoman, Measure A is expected to have large voter participation. 

Rosas said more than 12,000 ballots had turned in by noon Thursday, out of the 31,131 mailed out on April 4 to district residents.

If you are still holding onto your ballot and would like to turn it in, you could drop it off at Los Gatos Town Hall, 110 E. Main St.

District residents older than 65 can file for exemption to the tax.

Vote by Mail Drop-Off Locations

• Santa Clara County Government Center, first floor, 70 W. Hedding St., in San Jose.

• Los Gatos Town Hall, 110 E. Main St.

• Monte Sereno City Hall, 18041 Saratoga/Los Gatos Rd., Monte Sereno.

• Saratoga City Hall, 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga.

Election Day Drop-Off Locations, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Loma Prieta/CT English School, 23800 Summit Rd., Los Gatos.

• Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos, 16575 Shannon Rd., Los Gatos.

• Saratoga Federated Church, 20390 Park Place, Saratoga.

Details: sccvote.org