Mill Valley's parcel tax is officially renewed after Marin County certified the June 2 election results for Measure E, securing ongoing funding for teachers, academic programs, and student supports at all six district schools.

The certification, confirmed by the Marin County Elections Department, means the renewed tax of $1,754 per parcel, with 5% annual increases over eight years, is now locked in, generating an estimated $14.9 million a year for the Mill Valley School District, according to the official ballot measure text.

Measure E passed with about 75% support, well above the two-thirds supermajority required for a school special tax under California law, according to the Mill Valley Briefing's reporting on county election results. The county elections page has not posted final precinct-level percentages for the measure.

What's at stake

Board President Natalie Katz and Trustee Elli Abdoli said on the district's "Inside the District" podcast that Measure E accounts for roughly 25% of the district's operating budget. Without it, Katz said, the loss would be "equivalent to closing two elementary sites."

The tax funds teacher retention and programs at Edna Maguire, Old Mill, Park, Strawberry Point, and Tamalpais Valley elementary schools, plus Mill Valley Middle School, according to the superintendent's report. The district enrolls 2,313 students, making it the largest elementary district in Marin County, according to local columnist Dick Spotswood.

Campaign and volunteers

Superintendent Elizabeth Kaufman credited a 24-member volunteer committee, chaired by Sid Vanchinathan, with driving the campaign. In her June 5 report to the community, written the day after the election while ballots were still being counted, Kaufman called the committee's "commitment was extraordinary."

Other committee members included Elli Abdoli, Zack Abrahamson, Kimberley Buss, Michele Crncich Hodge, Erica Desai, Jen Durkee, Scott Gilbert, Layne Goldston, Vanessa Justice, Natalie Katz, Lauren Katz, Ian Kenny, Deidre Lang, Sharon Nakatani, Jen Nassiri, Natalie Newhouse, Jessica Newman, Evelyn Nichols, Adrienne Powers, Aaron Sanchez, Jordan Shively, Emma Tewksbury, and Yunhee Yoo.

What's next

The Mill Valley School District Board of Trustees will hold a Special Meeting on Thursday, July 16. The board is expected to formally enter the certified election results into its minutes. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 13.