Concerns about measures for San Rafael schools

As voters in the upcoming June election, I hope San Rafael residents will take time to question the need to approve measures B and C, which will add another $450 to the median homes' parcel tax bill every year.

My family and I have lived in San Rafael for more than 20 years. We have voted time and again to support our schools with parcel taxes. Measure A passed in 2015. It has been used to fund rebuilding most of the schools in the area — some are still undergoing construction. And, the increase in our parcel taxes from Measure A will continue through 2035.

In June, we will again be asked to agree to a parcel tax increase of $30 per $100,000 of assessed valuation annually. For the median house worth $1.5 million, that would mean an additional $450 each year added to already soaring tax rates.

In reading about both measures, the information provided by the county does not readily tell us how many years the parcel tax would be assessed. One could interpret this as a confidence the San Rafael City Schools Board of Education and county supervisors have that residents are ready to vote yes, as we have in the past.

I would like the school district to specifically identify where the “infrastructure projects — such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and the science technology — that were not available for financing in the prior bond package” are still needed, given all the new construction. I want safe and healthy classrooms for our children, but I also don't want to be an open checkbook for an undisclosed amount of time.

— Susan Gess, San Rafael