Congratulations to supporters of Measure A on their narrow victory on Tuesday, May 3. The No on Measure A campaign thanks the 5,403 voters who voted no on the school parcel tax.

I reiterate that the opposition to Measure A was based primarily on the concern regarding the potential negative economic impacts that will be the result of an ever-increasing and excessive tax burden on the under-65 middle-income property owners residing in the school district.

The campaign also was concerned that this burden especially impacts people who have school-age children and who could be economically excluded from residing in the district due to an excessively high parcel tax burden. Hence, their children would be excluded from attending the fine schools in Davis as well.

Measure A, like Measures Q and W, also has a provision allowing the school board to lower the rates that these special taxes levy per year to a lower rate that the maximum authorized rate. I recommend a 10 to 25 percent overall reduction or an eventual discontinuation of the taxes altogether for the 2011-12 tax year. This would spare property owners in the district from the potential negative economic effects of over-taxation imposed by these Measures A, Q and W.

Property owners who are 65 years and older before July 1 of this year are eligible to file for an exemption to all three of these tax levies, as well as a half-exemption of the Community Facilities District No. 1 levy as well. I encourage them to do so.

Measures A, Q and W did have some positive provisions and let’s hope the Davis school board will consider a compromise to minimize such negative economic impacts on property owners. Will the school board use common sense in this regard and respect the economic interests to taxpayers in the district? Such action remains to be seen.

Thomas Randall Jr.

Davis

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