Voters pass Los Gatos parcel tax renewal
By Rebecca Ray
Voters in the Los Gatos Union School District renewed a parcel tax for the fourth time in a row, approving a $40 increase to the $290-per-parcel. Measure B, which voters originally passed in 1990, funds low class sizes in grades four through eight, certain academic programs, student support services and maintenance, which the state doesn't fund and doesn't require.
Almost 3,200 (75.3 percent) of the voters in 20 precincts voted for the parcel tax, while 1,040 (24.7 percent) voted against it.
Some residents expressed concern over the April 9 election occurring over spring break for the Los Gatos Union School District and other local school districts. Some voters said that they thought the district chose to have the election over spring break, because district officials knew that likely opponents would be gone on vacation.
Mary Ann Park, LGUSD superintendent, said that spring break was not a factor in the district's choice of the election date.
Out of 17,268 registered voters in the district, only 4,252 (24.6 percent) cast ballots--2,100 (12.2 percent) voted by absentee ballot, while 2,152 (12.5 percent) cast ballots at the polls.
The only other issue facing Santa Clara County voters on April 9 was Measure A, which called for the Los Altos School District to be able to adjust its existing special tax. Although 64.7 percent of the voters supported the measure, it needed a two-thirds vote to pass.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
