Another year, another parcel tax. It's always amusing how proponents disingenuously proclaim that the tax will sunset (knowing that they will, naturally, seek to renew it)...or how this time cost cutting measures will be put in place. The argument is akin to a spouse buying items on sale and telling everyone what a good deal they got - versus the savings of simply not shopping! Sorry, this is an easy pass as it was last time. Say NO to never ending taxes in CA!

In '98 voters approved a 30-yr bond, with buildings done in '02. In HALF the promised lifetime of those buildings, we were told they were in disrepair and needed $48m upgrades and new construction…that the schools were in poor shape when our eyes told a different story. So either the district can't construct schools well OR they can't maintain them OR they skewed the picture to present a crisis that didn't exist. (It's #3)

Here's your property tax bill for the next decade:
- $17m bond from '98
- $7m '02 bond for budget overages
- $50m '18 bond
- Unbudgeted Phase 2 of '18 bond
- Interest on the above. Original forecast for 2018 interest was $47m
- PLUS annual budget dramatically in excess of state & national levels

That's about $140m of construction for 25 years across two major projects that each promised to be 30-year solutions. $280k/student.

US average cost of a new school is under $50k/student. Average lifetime is 42 years. Most school districts can build buildings that exceed the promises and the bonds they put to voters. Portola Valley does not.

The parcel tax is from the same taxing authority, the same people who told you in 2015 that our schools were crumbling. Now they're telling your our classrooms will fail without this tax.

Average CA spend per student is $12-18k per year. Here it's nearly $30k. Somehow, that's not enough.

Enrollment
2009 741
2010 711
2011 709
2012 671
2013 652
2014 628
2015 628
2016 626
2017 608
2018 574
2019 548
2020 495

We have lost 30% of our students but the budget (and buildings) only get bigger

A NOTE TO SENIORS, SEQUOIAS AND PRIORY RESIDENTS
There's an exemption for seniors. It's cynical economic gerrymandering to get your vote. It literally costs you nothing. Same for renters and Sequoias/Priory. When you vote, please think of ALL OF US. Look at the numbers above. Think of the millions and millions of spending ON THE MERITS.

You can love our community, schools and kids and also say "enough." Vote NO.