Intero Real Estate Blog

Our efforts here in San Carlos paid off! The San Jose Mercury New recently had an article on Measure B passing, here were some of the highlights:

It took six months, but the ailing San Carlos School District finally got its parcel tax.

The ballot initiative for the $78 per parcel tax passed convincingly.

According to semi-official results posted by the San Mateo County Elections Office, 71.2% of voters voted YES on Measure B, with all 24 precincts reporting. The parcel tax needed support from two-thirds of voters to pass.

The measure taxes San Carlos property owners $78 more annually for six years. Seniors ages 65 and older can seek exemption. The district’s current $110 parcel tax will sunset in 2011.

Measure B will generate $800,000 per year for the district, which is facing $2 million in budget cuts next school year. In March the district issued pink slips to about two dozen certificated employees, including teachers, and warned about 16 to 20 part-time and full-time personnel would likely be laid off if the measure failed.

Superintendent Steve Mitrovich said budget cuts, including the possibility of some layoffs, will still be necessary even with the new revenue.

The district’s board of education will meet Thursday to discuss next school year’s budget and decide whether to lay off any certificated employees.

"It doesn’t put me completely at ease," said Brittan Acres teacher Jessica Melton, who got her pink slip in March. "But I think that with this money it can help just regular programs like literacy and counseling and things like that."

"Honestly I thought given the current economy that it would have been a struggle to pass," said Chris Mahoney, director of the district’s Charter Learning Center. "It just makes the city more desirable; people want to move to San Carlos because we take care of our kids."

Thanks to all who voted for this very important measure – keeping the quality of schools up in San Carlos will continue to help with our property values in the long run!