Voters Approve Extension of SMUSD Parcel Tax

Voters in San Marino Tuesday approved an extension of its parcel tax to increase education funding.

Measure R in the San Marino Unified School District was approved 2,107 - 832 (71.69 percent to 28.31 percent), surpassing the two-thirds majority needed for approval. It will extend the existing $330 annual parcel tax for another six years.

The tax was first implemented in 1991, and it has been renewed four times. It was set to expire June 30.

The district's resolution calling for the election stated that "future funding for the district from the state of California and other sources is projected to be inadequate to provide the level of support to the district's education programs which the citizens of the district expect."

San Marino Unified Assistant Supt. Julie Boucher chimed in on the importance of schools in the area. 

“The community knows how much we work for our students,” Boucher told the Pasadena Sun. “Our schools are a major part of our community.”

Boucher told the newspaper the tax will help fund 18 positions, including high school counselors, library workers and the district’s technology staff.

Of 9,922 registered San Marino voters, only 2,939 sent in their mail-in ballots, or about 29%, according to Los Angeles County registrar records.

- City News Service contributed to this report.