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Yes on E for RVSD
All About Measure E for RVSD
On (or before) May 6th via mail-in ballot, Ross Valley constituents will have the opportunity to vote on Measure E.
Ross Valley School District (RVSD) has outstanding, strong public schools that educate, nurture, and prepare kids for success in life. Despite consistently being one of the lowest funded districts in Marin, the Ross Valley School District ranks in the top 10% of districts in California with award winning schools. This year alone, 3 of their 5 schools have won state and national academic accolades.
This is in large part due to the educators who are engaged in their students’ growth and achievement.
Unfortunately, the funding situation for public schools is both inadequate and inequitable. To ensure RVSD can maintain outstanding student programs, retain excellent teachers, and avoid dramatic cuts that would negatively impact students, schools, and community there needs to be an increase in revenues. School districts have few ways of increasing revenues. Attendance and enrollment are two ways, but as a district that alternates between being “state funded” and “basic aid funded” relying on enrollment and attendance alone cannot make a big enough impact on the budget. While those efforts ARE being made, to ensure stable local funding, a parcel tax is the only real option for increasing revenues.
If passed, Measure E would not be in addition to the existing tax. This modified parcel tax would replace the current parcel tax that is scheduled to expire soon.
Based on community and local tax interest group feedback, RVSD shifted to a scaled funding model based on the square footage of buildings, replacing the current flat per parcel tax. Smaller homes (1384 sq ft or less) will actually see a DECREASE in taxes, while the average Ross Valley home (around 1,900 square feet) will pay about $22 more a month—a modest amount considering the value it will bring to our schools and community.
Measure E would generate an additional $3 million per year going directly to teacher salaries. Moreover, the senior exemption option will be offered for those who need it.
This parcel tax is an option of last resort for our local school district. Over the last 4 years, the Ross Valley School District has made strategic reductions to the budget, with a primary focus on keeping cuts away from the classrooms, students and teachers.
The District has streamlined and reduced administrative staff to some of the lowest levels in the county in order to be as efficient and cost conscious as possible.
Despite these efforts, the district cannot continue to meet the needs of our schools, students, and teachers without additional funding. Teachers in Ross Valley are already some of the lowest paid in all of Marin County, and if this measure doesn’t pass, the school board will be forced to cut student programs and teachers as recommended by the RVSD Budget Advisory Committee.
No money from Measure E will go to administrators, facilities or consultants. ALL funds will go directly to teacher salaries, with a third-party audit every year to ensure funds are spent properly and as intended.
With an influx of young families to the community, a Ross Valley School District demographic study projects increasing enrollment in the coming years. However, without additional funding, cuts will be needed to responsibly manage the deficit spending and schools will lose experienced teachers and high-quality student programs; which are key elements in driving academic awards and high educational outcomes for RVSD schools.
Additionally the low salaries have been negatively impacting the pool of well-qualified applicants. Over time, these factors will erode the quality of the education being provided.
I encourage voters to watch the video with RVSD's Superintendent Tyler Graff and to read the FAQs on the Yes on E website.
To be clear, (because transparency and honesty matter) Measure E does increase the amount of taxes for some homeowners. However, it REDUCES it for others. But the overall amount being requested with Measure E is not excessive, irresponsible, or being asked without deep consideration and thought for the Ross Valley community.
For more information on Measure E, please visit www.VoteYesOnE.com
