A parcel tax that could have generated $12.2 million annually for elementary schools in the Redwood City School District has fallen just short of passing.
Less than 1% of the necessary votes to pass the measure determined its failure. Of votes cast, 65.31% voted to support the parcel tax, less than two-thirds approval required, according to semiofficial elections results as of June 15.
Despite the loss, the results “tell an important story,” Superintendent John Baker said in an email to parents June 16.
“More than 15,600 voters, 65% of those who cast a ballot, voted in support of local schools and local students,” Baker said. “That level of support reflects a community that believes in public education and recognizes the important role our schools play in the lives of children and families.”
On election night, the parcel tax, or Measure C, received an initial 57.5% approval by voters and continued to creep toward the necessary threshold but the numbers ultimately didn’t bring it to fruition.
The parcel tax that would have levied a 17.5 cent tax per building square foot — or a $175 tax for a 1,000-square-foot property — for eight years. District trustees have said previously the parcel tax would have brought the district up to par with neighboring ones with higher parcel taxes.
The Redwood City School District Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing on its proposed 2026-27 budget at its meeting Wednesday evening.
The district projected general fund revenue of $150,289,231 and expenditures of $151,272,528, operating in a slight deficit but maintaining a positive $11.7 million final balance, according to a staff report.
A separate parcel tax, passed by voters in 2016, will generate approximately $1.6 million annually for the district in the upcoming fiscal year. This parcel tax is expected to sunset in 2030.
Baker reiterated his appreciation to the district’s community who worked on the parcel tax effort.
“The strong support shown for Measure C is a reminder that Redwood City values its public schools and remains committed to the success of its students,” Baker said.
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(4) comments
Congratulations to Redwood City folks for voting down the parcel tax. For those who are disappointed or are part of the 65.31% who voted to support the parcel tax, you are free to open your wallets and send as much money as you want directly to the Redwood City School District. Everyone else, continue voting NO because it is likely most, if not all, of your money will be transferred to ever-increasing school union salaries, pensions, and benefits.
The Curse of the "Gimmick Schools".
RCSD is one of the richest school districts in the county. Only SMFCSD and RCSD can afford to have that many "gimmick schools".
These districts use "mandarin immersion", "parent participation", "montessori", "enrichments", "GATE", and other nonsense to:
1) deliberately segregate their school districts and offer luxuries for the rich
2) then ask for more federal and state funding for their "underserved" Title I schools
The district makes $29,500 per student, that makes this district better funded than every single OECD country out there. Out of the $29,500, less than $6,000 per-student are going to teachers.
That is not an "underfunded" district; that is a district with failed policies and failing management.
SUHSD just shut down their $8M per year gimmick school called "TIDE Academy" - Baker is still wasting $50M per year on his 5 or 6 gimmick schools.
John Baker already told us that the money was going to "Teachers and Programs" ... which means the money was ONLY going to these gimmick schools he calls "School Choice".
"School Choice", "Choice Schools", "Schools of Choice", are different names for the same nonsense. It's how affluent and privileged "Trustees" steal public funding to run their own little private schools.
Science calls them "Gimmick Schools".
You seem uninformed. The gimmick schools are not funded under RCSD budgets. John Baker is the Superintendant of RCSD, he has nothing to do with SUHSD. And TIDE Academy is funded separately. You should probably do your homework before making such inaccurate statements.
Does "choice" involve only one subject? If it does, good job of brainwashing.
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