San Marino School Tax Back on Ballot

A special school tax that failed to get the required two-thirds vote in the Nov. 5 election will appear again on the April ballot.

Three new Board of Education members--David Destino, Debby Giesler Bowes and Nancy Bartlett--took office Tuesday and joined Mary Snaer and Selma Sax to unanimously approve putting the tax measure on the April ballot. Several residents at the board meeting opposed the action and said they will continue their fight against a special levy.

Measure H on the November ballot proposed that property owners pay a parcel tax of $145 a year for four years to raise $700,000 for school programs that officials say will otherwise be cut. In a 60% voter turnout, 2,894 voted for the measure and 1,889 opposed it. It needed 66.7% voter approval but got only 60.5%.