Parcel Tax to Support Schools Fails at Polls

Measure K, the proposed $95-a-year parcel tax on homeowners within the aimed at raising revenue for the schools, fell short of winning a required two-thirds majority vote for approval in Tuesday's election.

The ballot measure earned 3,747 votes in its favor, or 56.27 percent, but needed more than 67 percent to pass, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar. Just under 3,000 people voted in opposition, according to the registrar.

If it had been approved, the parcel tax for eight years for the school district, which has seen its budget cut by $10 million in the past four years, said Chief Business Official Karen Kimmel.

said funds generated by the parcel tax would have remained untaxed by state government, prevented future teacher and counselor layoffs and helped maintain property values.

"The Board [of Education] had the responsibility to 'ask' the community if they wished to pursue a parcel tax rather than face additional cuts and the majority of the community responded 'yes!' Said Superintendent Donald Zimring.  "Unfortunately, the state of the economy and low voter turnout kept the necessary two-thirds majority out of reach."

Opponents argued that they already citing a $98-a-year parcel tax passed in 2004 that has since been renewed.

"We are very pleased that voters turned out in this off-year election to defeat this unjustified tax," said Barbara Murphy, co-founder of Citizens Against New Local Taxes. "Now LVUSD will be forced to do what it should have done long ago, and that is to stop its excessive spending and start managing better, rather than keep asking taxpayers to pay even more taxes."