Local Issues
San Diego Unified Parcel Tax-Prop J
- Details
- Category: Local Issues
Updated 11.05.10
Proposition J was defeated on November 02, 2010. The SDCAA had opposed this parcel tax. At first glance, the Association had concern with the ability of the school district to tax property owners without their ability to vote on the tax. Additionally, the school did not indicate what they will do with funds that will be supplanted with the tax revenue. Additionally, there were concerns with inequity of the tax proposal among property owners.
The District was looking to assess multi-family owners $60 per door, per year for a five year period at which time the voters would have to re-approve the tax, by vote, for it to continue beyond that point. The District hoped to raise about $60 million dollars a year from all properties taxed (i.e. commercial/industrial, multi-family residential, single-family residential, and vacant property).
In the spring of 2010, the school district presented a draft plan to the SDCAA. The District has since published a more complete proposal and the initiative has now been named the Temporary 5-year Emergency Math, Science, English Instruction and Class Size Reduction Measure of 2010.
This parcel tax would assign a flat fee per parcel to be paid with one’s property taxes. Unlike general school bond measures, a parcel tax requires two-thirds approval from voters in order to pass and, could be used to pay for teacher salaries, education programs and other items. An important fact to note is that if a property owner does not live in the school district, they would not have been able to vote on the initiative. Only registered voters in the school district wouldl be able to vote. This includes renters that are registered to vote.
In the last week, the school board has flip-flopped several times as to whether they will in fact put the tax on the November ballot. It has also been recently pitted against the City’s proposed sales tax increase. A concern from both organizations is whether one or the other proposal will cause voter fatigue for new taxes this fall.
To view the ballot language click here.