Moraga Voters Will Decide On Parcel Tax In Tuesday Election

Moraga voters will decide on Tuesday if they want a second parcel tax to support their schools.

Measure B would institute a $192 per parcel tax within the Moraga School District over the next six years. It would raise about $1.1 million a year. It needs a two-thirds vote for approval.

It would be in addition to the $325 annual parcel tax approved by Moraga voters in 2004. That measure raises $1.8 million a year and has no sunset clause.

In May 2012, another measure to install a $225 per parcel tax with no sunset clause fell just short of the two-thirds required vote.

Moraga Superintendent Bruce Burns said the district needs another parcel tax to prevent deeper cuts in school programs.

He said since 2007 the district has eliminated a custodial position, a district office administrator, an intermediate technology co-ordinator, a K-1 music teacher and a part-time district secretary position.

In addition, library hours have been cut from five days a week to four days a week. Class sizes have also increased.

Student supplies and teacher stipends have also been eliminated.

In addition, he said, revenue from the state has also decreased. Moraga is now getting about 78 percent of state funding it received two years ago.

Under a new formula with an optimistic outlook for California's economy, Moraga is scheduled to receive $7,822 per student from the state in 2020-2021. That's the same level of funding it received in 2007.

In the meantime, Moraga school board member Kathy Ranstrom says, the district needs to find money to keep up with expenses that rise about $200,000 every year.

"The reality is it costs more to operate the district now," she said.

The district has nearly exhausted its reserve funds and is projecting a $700,000 deficit for 2014-2015.

Ranstrom and Burns point out the parcel tax language specifically states the school programs the parcel tax money can be used for.

They also say both Lafayette and Orinda residents have two parcel taxes that raise revenue for schools.

There is no formal opposition to Measure B. However, a Walnut Creek resident who says he lived in Moraga for 40 years has created a website and put up some "No on B" signs in Moraga.

Jim Kreuger, a spokesman for the group, told news24-680.com that the organization is somewhat secretive because of the backlash it fears from Moraga officials for opposing the measure.

The website says the new tax would cost residents $1,152 over six years.

It also states the district's superintendent salary has soared from $120,000 a year in 2004 to $190,000 in 2013. It also states there are four retired Moraga school employees who receive more than $100,000 annually in pensions.

Burns said he doesn't know if there was a large increase after 2004, but his salary the past four years has stayed the same at $190,000.

He added the district contributes to employee pensions while workers are employed, but it does not pay pension benefits once a person retires. The California State Teachers Retirement System pays that bill.

Check Lamorinda Patch next Tuesday night for results of this election.