Senior property owners living within the boundaries of the Campbell Union High School District are eligible for a Measure M parcel tax exemption, but they have to apply.

A thin majority of voters passed the school tax last November. It will assess property owners a tax of $85 per year for five years to restore education funds cut by the state. This measure promised to help reduce class size, retain qualified teachers, restore and expand courses and improve academics and safety. And the measure also assured "citizen oversight" and "exemptions for residents 65 years and older."

At the district office, administrators have been working hard to include both citizen oversight and senior exemptions while planning ways to allocate the funds.

According to Patrick Gaffney, Campbell Union High School assistant superintendent of business, hundreds of seniors have already applied for exemptions. In order to qualify for a parcel tax exemption, seniors must apply in person at the Campbell Union High School Business Office by May 31.

Any person who is 65 or older by July 1 and owns a home as a principal place of residence within the high school district can apply for the first parcel tax year, spanning from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006.

Seniors must prove both their age and residence. For residence verifications, seniors can bring in a utility bill, driver's license or property tax bill. To verify age, seniors can present a driver's license, birth certificate or passport.

All senior citizens who apply this year will automatically receive exemption renewal forms in April 2006.

In terms of citizen oversight, the district held one community meeting on Jan. 25 and will hold another meeting on Feb. 9 to discuss how the money should be spent. Campbell Union High School District Superintendent Rhonda Farber says she is already laying the groundwork to create a parcel tax oversight committee.

Parents and administrators are excited about the possibilities the parcel tax will bring to the high school district. "The benefits to the students and the community are really tremendous," Gaffney said. "But we made a conscious effort to include the seniors in our community."

The Campbell Union High School District is located at 3235 Union Ave., San Jose. For more information on the senior exemption to the parcel tax, contact Patrick Gaffney at 408.371.0960 ext. 2030, or via email at pgaffney@cuhsd.org. Exemption applications are due on May 31.