According to a government code, the Moraga School District (MSD) board of directors is required to conduct a public hearing before its final vote on whether to approve an education parcel tax for the June ballot.  That Special Meeting was held on Feb. 24 at the Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School’s library.

    In addition to several audience members who spoke in agreement with the proposed tax, board members mentioned receiving scores of emails from concerned parents to the same effect. One audience member noted that the upcoming year is expected have two other  tax measures on the ballot in addition to the MSD’s Resolution 26-30. 

    MSD’s website states that without the proposed measure the district would be severely impacted. “Up to 100% of classroom instructional assistant positions could be eliminated, removing vital support for students. Teacher layoffs are not planned for the coming school year but could be on the horizon if an additional funding source is not identified.” Additionally, “50% of student counseling positions are at risk, significantly reducing the district’s capacity to support student academic guidance.” Up to this point, MSD has made as many budget cuts as possible.

    Jeremy Hauser of TeamCivX (an election strategist and communications company for public agencies) presented an updated resolution for the board’s consideration, while Superintendent Julie Parks noted, “We received a draft of this at our previous board meeting and had some discussions and some feedback.”

    “This action is really the culmination of a process that you all have undertaken as a district over the last few months to really dig in on the details to help make a small but meaningful dent in your budget crisis,” stated Hauser. “We started with good voter opinion research to understand if a parcel tax measure was even feasible, and if so, at what dollar rate and what duration. We saw polling that was right at the two-thirds level of support needed, which is why we recommend moving forward into the next phases of the process, which has been alluded to tonight.  We involved a lot of community and stakeholder engagement to really stress test and vet this potential proposal.”

    The measure as written would be a $295 per parcel, per year tax with a cost-of-living adjustment up to 3% annually.  It would be in place for seven years, beginning July 1, 2026.  The measure includes an exemption for seniors 65 years and older, as well as residents who receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income) or SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance). If successful the measure is expected to generate approximately $1.7 million annually of locally controlled funds going to Camino Pablo Elementary, Donald L. Rheem Elementary, Los Perales Elementary, and Joaquin Moraga Intermediate schools and could not be taken away by the state. The funds would be used to attract and retain highly qualified educators and counselors, in addition to continued funding for effective science, technology, engineering, arts, music, math, and reading programs, not to mention manageable class sizes.

     Some findings noted by TeamCivX were presented by Hauser. “Despite the District’s continued academic successes, the District is actually one of the lowest funded school districts in the Bay Area, receiving some of the lowest levels of state funding in all of California. Teacher compensation lags behind that of neighboring districts, and pupil funding ranks near the bottom of all California school districts.”

    MSD’s website adds, “Even for residents without children in school, the quality of local schools is a major driver of property values. By preventing deep cuts and maintaining the high academic standards Moraga is known for, this measure impacts the investment you have made in your home.”

    Parks mentioned that she had received “dozens” of emails from families asking the board to pass the resolution and put the parcel tax on the June ballot.  She appreciated the fact that there will be other tax measures on upcoming ballots, “and we had a bond measure earlier, for which we are grateful, that was dedicated to improve infrastructure. It is not necessarily easy to ask, especially in uncertain and variable economic times.”  (Measure D passed in 2024 and is legally restricted to be used only for school facility upgrades, such as repairing aging buildings. The funds cannot be used for operating costs, salaries, or academic programs).

    “We know that our students right now receive $4,600 less than California elementary school students,” Parks continued. “We know that MEF (Moraga Education Foundation) funds are not guaranteed, and while we appreciate the commitment of individuals to give to MEF year after year, of course that can change any time, and it doesn’t close the gap.”

    With a unanimous vote by the MSD board of directors, Moraga’s residents can expect to see a new parcel tax measure on the June ballot.