Measure K: What You Need to Know Before You Vote

As voters prepare to head to the polls on Tuesday, the supporters of Measure K will be out in force spreading the word about the educational parcel tax and the benefit it will be to Scotts Valley schools.

Before you vote, here are the basics of the tax:

• The parcel tax will last for three years and will be for $48 a parcel.
• 100 percent of the money will go to Scotts Valley schools and cannot be taken away by the state.
• The tax will be used to maintain current programs in Scotts Valley schools, minimize further increases in class sizes and prevent the layoffs of qualified teachers.
• The tax cannot be used for administrators’ salaries, construction, repair or maintenance of facilities, or any other capital or operational expenses.
• Senior citizens and those receiving SSI Disability benefits may exempt themselves from the tax.
• An independent citizen’s oversight committee will ensure that the funds are spent as promised.

Scotts Valley schools have been hurting financially for several years. According to Save Our Schools Scotts Valley, the state has cut funding to Scotts Valley schools by $2.2 million since 2007/2008. The District has had to draw down its reserves to help offset these cuts and the District “will be unable to continue operations in the 2014/2015 school year if it does not receive more funding or undertake further drastic reductions.”

The District is expecting more cuts in the fall. The parcel tax, which has been endorsed by all 26 elected officials in Scotts Valley and the Senior Coalition, will bring in approximately $350,000 annually and will help to prevent or reduce further cuts and extend the length of time before the District’s reserves are exhausted.

For more information on the parcel tax, visit http://sossv.org/