Measure T Parcel Tax Election - Frequently Asked Questions

How are the schools in the Acalanes Union High School District doing?

Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) is among the highest-performing districts in California, and its Advanced Placement (AP) program is in the top 4% nationwide. The District, which includes Acalanes High School, Las Lomas High School, Campolindo High School, Miramonte High School, and the Acalanes Center for Independent Study, upholds a tradition of academic excellence, which helps to protect the quality of life and property values in Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Moraga, and Orinda.

What financial challenges does the District face?

The funding that the District receives from the State of California helps to support educational basics and falls short of what the community expects for local high schools. In fact, local high schools receive among the lowest levels of state funding in California. The State does not provide adequate funding for the extensive AP programs, small class sizes, and up-to-date technology that local high schools provide.

Additionally, the increasing cost of housing is pricing out teachers and staff. AUHSD’s high-quality teachers are facing longer commutes between work and home. Voter-approved funding sources have not increased in more than 15 years despite the costs of providing a high-quality education with excellent teachers increasing.

How has local parcel tax funding supported AUHSD schools?

Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Moraga, and Orinda have a community tradition of supporting local schools with locally controlled funding through voter-approved parcel tax measures. These sources of funding have helped AUHSD to attract and retain quality educators, maintain quality core academic programs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and offer a variety of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Funding from these measures has not increased in more than 15 years, despite inflation.

What are AUHSD’s plans to ensure a stable funding source for quality schools?

AUHSD is actively exploring local funding options to keep pace with the rising costs of providing quality education. A local school funding parcel tax measure could help offset inadequate state funding, given the State of California does not provide enough funding to meet the District’s needs.

The AUHSD Governing Board voted unanimously to place a $130 parcel tax measure on the May 6, 2025, special election mailed ballot.

How would a renewal parcel tax measure fund local AUHSD teachers and academic programs?

If approved by voters, Measure T would provide $4.5 million annually in locally controlled funding for AUHSD schools, helping them to:

• Continue advanced academic programs including math, science, engineering, and the arts
• Attract and retain highly qualified teachers
• Prepare students for college and in-demand careers
• Maintain manageable class sizes
• Provide library services, academic counseling, and career training
• Keep technology up-to-date
• Provide instructional equipment, materials, and supplies to support the District’s academic programs

What type of accountability and local control requirements are included in the proposed measure? 

Measure T would require accountability provisions, including:

• All money would stay local for use in AUHSD’s five local high schools — no funds could be taken by the State
• Senior citizens and those with certain disabilities could apply for an exemption from the cost
• Independent citizens’ oversight and mandatory annual audits would be required

What is the financial outlook without this potential measure?

Each of AUHSD’s high schools is facing potential cuts to key academic programs. The funding that sustains local high schools’ academic programs has not increased in 15 years, yet the cost of providing these programs has increased over the years. Without an additional source of locally controlled funding, the future of these programs and teachers is at risk.

What will happen if local parcel tax funding isn’t increased?

Unless Measure T is passed by voters, our schools will lose millions in annual local funding that supports academic programs and helps retain teachers. Without this special tax, our schools would need to rely heavily on our local foundations and other parent groups. This will place an even greater strain on these organizations that work hard to raise funds every year. Additionally, since many parents support both AUHSD and partner district foundations, this strain could be felt among the broader education community. A loss of funding of this magnitude would require that the District seriously reconsider its budget, make cuts to academic programs and support services and layoff teachers.

How much will this parcel tax measure cost me?

If approved by voters, Measure T would cost property owners $130 annually. It would also include annual adjustments to keep up with the rising costs of providing a quality education. Renters would not be subject to the tax. Additionally, senior citizens and certain individuals with disabilities could apply for an exemption.

Doesn’t the district already have a parcel tax?

The AUHSD community has long recognized the gap between what the State of California provides and the kind of education the community expects from the District. The District’s current local parcel tax funding has not increased in almost 15 years.

While the amount of local funding has not increased for nearly a decade and a half, the cost of providing an excellent education continues to increase.

Would senior citizen homeowners be exempt from the cost?

Yes. Senior citizen homeowners would be eligible for an exemption from the cost of the measure. Homeowners currently receiving exemptions need not reapply.

Would all funds only benefit local high schools?

Yes — by law, parcel tax funds could only support local District high schools (Acalanes High School, Las Lomas High School, Campolindo High School, Miramonte High School, and the Acalanes Center for Independent Study) only. No funds could be taken by the State or used for other purposes.

I don’t have children who attend AUHSD; how does this impact me?

Even if you do not have high-school-age children, good schools continue to help support the neighborhood’s quality of life and protect the value of local homes.

How can I learn more about the potential measure or share my feedback?

As AUHSD plans for the future of its local schools, the district would like your thoughts. If you have questions or input that you would like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out to superintendent@auhsdschools.org.

What was the result of the March 3, 2025, hearing on a Petition for Writ of Mandate regarding Measure T? 

Earlier this month, Marc Joffe and Adrian Malagon brought a lawsuit asking a judge to make a total of 16 different changes to the Measure T ballot materials; this included 10 changes to the ballot materials adopted by the District’s Governing Board at a public meeting and another 6 changes to the impartial analysis drafted by the Contra Costa County Counsel.  In a hearing this week, a superior court judge denied the large majority of these claims. 

As to the materials adopted by the Governing Board, the court’s changes were limited to adding one word, replacing one word, and moving four words from the middle of the ballot question, where they had been placed for grammatical reasons, to the beginning and end of the question.  The judge also replaced one word in the full text of the measure, which only appears in the ballot pamphlet.  (The judge did not alter a “ballot title,” as only state measures are given “ballot titles.”)  The judge did not find any of the language “highly deceptive” or “confusing” and rejected six other challenges brought against the ballot materials approved by the District. 

The remaining changes, which were similarly limited, addressed materials drafted by the Contra Costa County Counsel, not the District.

The ballot question followed the model of many other local measures, including prior District measures and, ultimately, the changes made by the judge do not impact the substance of the measure, its purpose, or uses. 

Order After Hearing - March 4, 2025

1. Strike "annual adjustments" and substitute with "annual inflation increases" [or "annual increases" or "annual inflation adjustments"] and move the revised phrase to just after "levying a $130 parcel tax".

Denied, except the phrase "annual adjustments" shall be changed to "annual inflation adjustments.

2. Strike "protect" and substitute with "support" in "To protect high quality education"

Granted.

3. Delete 'high quality" in "To protect high quality education."

Denied.

4. Delete "highly qualified" in "attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers"

Denied.

5. Strike "continuing" and substitute with "funding in "continuing advanced academic programs"

Denied.

6. Delete the phrase "cannot be taken by the State"

Denied.

7. Delete the word "Independent" In 'Independent oversight"

Denied.

8. Delete the words "manageable" and "In—demand."

Denied.

9. Delete the term "Sustaining Educational Excellence Act" from the Ballot Title.

Denied, except to delete the word "Excellence" and replace it with "Funding, i.e., to read "Sustaining Educational Funding Act."

10. Conform the text to the "shall the Measure...Be Adopted?" question format required by Elections Code section 13119(a).

Granted.