The Borikas vs Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) case that played a major role in the flat tax design of Piedmont’s recently approved school parcel tax has been concluded in the Court of Appeal.

Upon rehearing, the three-judge First Appellate District court panel ruled that state law didn’t allow AUSD to tax a few commercial property owners 15 cents per square foot up to a $9,500 cap while all residential properties and most commercial properties were taxed $120 per parcel. The court had vacated its December 11, 2012 decision at the school district’s request, after granting a rehearing. The Appellate Court found that state law requires school districts’ special taxes to be applied uniformly and that the only exception the law permits is an exemption for seniors and low-income disabled people.  > Click to read more…

Dear Piedmont Community,

Over the last few months, an extraordinary effort has been made to engage our community in a public discourse concerning the funding of a quality education for our district.

Measure A was passed as a result of those conversations. > Click to read more…

Piedmont’s Election Day was quiet at 6 polling sites as most casting a ballot did so by mail –

Children waved “Vote for Measure A” signs at major intersections to encourage Piedmonters to go to the six polling places that were open from 7am to 8pm on Tuesday, March 5.  Less than two hours after the polls closed the Alameda County Registrar of Voters reported the unofficial resulting vote.  The 52.79% of registered Piedmont voters participating cast 3414 “Yes” votes (76.50%) and only 1049 “No” (23.50%) votes.  In addition, there were nine “under votes”—meaning the voter did not precisely follow the directions for indicating their choice. The majority of votes were mailed in prior to Election Day with only 1,233 voting in person. > Click to read more…

Opponents Support Progressive Tax and Senior Exemption to produce the same budget for the schools-

Piedmont’s Measure A election is unique in that both proponents and opponents want the same full funding for our schools. Opponents believe that the most expensive California school tax requires both a progressive structure and compassion for needy seniors. > Click to read more…

Kids play online games designed to teach civics –

In 2009, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor founded iCivics to help children become “knowledgeable, engaged 21st century citizens”.  O’Connor was concerned about research showing Americans’ declining civic knowledge and participation. Securing our democracy, she realized, requires teaching the next generation to understand and respect our system of governance. iCivics is committed to passing along our legacy of democracy to the next generation.  Playing the games, children learn about the structure, function, and powers of the legislative branch of government. They will explore the legislative process, as well as the influence of citizens and political parties. > Click to read more…

“E Day”  Tuesday –

Tuesday, March 5, is ELECTION DAY in Piedmont.  Voting will be quick and easy, as there is only one measure on the ballot:  Measure A, the Piedmont School Support Tax, which will annually assess all Piedmont property owners $2,406 per parcel, plus a potential 2% per year escalator, for the next 8 years.

A two-thirds majority of Yes votes is required to pass the measure. If you haven’t already mailed your absentee ballot, you will need to deliver it to your polling location in person on Tuesday. Polls will open at 7 am and close at 8 pm.

After the polls close, election results will be available through the Alameda County Registrar of Voters website at http://www.acgov.org/rov/current.htm .

Resident Asserts: The Piedmont School Budget could have survived a low income senior optional exemption –

How School Districts are funded in California is both arcane and extremely complex. Comparing districts is helpful and #1 academically ranked San Marino is probably the best comparable we have with its 13,161 population, similar affluence and limited but larger commercial tax base than Piedmont. Despite Proponent’s Feb. 7 LWV false comparisons necessitating an unusual School District correcting memorandum, Proponents continue to use this comparison in recent comments here at PCA.  > Click to read more…

Opponent of Measure A responds to proponent  –  

The Borikas decision has been vacated by the Court of Appeal.  The lower court decision stands, which does allow a size-based parcel tax.  Mr. Elliott misstates the claim that Borikas needs to be settled before an equitable school parcel tax can be passed in Piedmont.  It does not.  Currently, existing law allows tax based on parcel size.  Furthermore, Borikas did not challenge the per-square-foot tax, it challenged the differing tax rates levied on different types of property (residential, commercial, etc.).  Piedmont could pass a tax that is fair and equitable, based on parcel size, without violating the law.  And we could do so in June, 2013 and still meet the deadlines outlined in Jon Elliott’s opinion article. > Click to read more…