Updated numbers from the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters showed Measure E, the $193 parcel tax for the Los Altos School District, winning by a small margin as of Wednesday afternoon. Yes votes are at 67.08 percent (9,187 votes) and no votes are at 32.92 percent (4,509 votes). The measure needs at least 66.7 percent support to pass. The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters officials reported ballots returned through election day were counted. A final update from the registrar is scheduled for Friday evening. For the most recent results, visit Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters website.
If the measure passes, the district would gain $2.3 million annually for six years but failure would not improve the district’s $6.5 million budget shortfall. The tax would be in addition to the school district’s current $597 annual parcel tax.
While some program cuts are inevitable due to decreased property tax revenue and state funding cuts, supporters of the measure say it’s needed to lessen the blow.
Measure E’s opponents say teachers’ unions should make concessions before the school district asks voters for more money. Others oppose the tax because they feel it would unfairly benefit some students while leaving out others, namely at Bullis Charter School.
Read our coverage on the debate here.
The Town Crier will continue to update our website and will provide coverage in our next issue, May 11.
