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San Marino voters poised to renew school funding measure
San Marino voters appear to have renewed a school-funding measure for the sixth time since 1991.
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Erin Hauer
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Topline:
San Marino Unified voters are poised to renew a long-standing school funding measure that raises $1.6 million a year for district schools.
Election results: Returns from Tuesday night show Measure R currently has the two-thirds of votes needed to pass, but the results still need to be certified. San Marino Unified voters have renewed the parcel tax six times since it was first passed in 1991.
Why it matters: The annual $415 parcel tax will expire June 30 without voter approval. In San Marino Unified, the money from the tax supports 11 full-time positions including teachers, librarians and counselors. The measure had the support of local parent-teacher organizations and educator labor unions. There was no opposition campaign. Parcel taxes are one of two avenues for school districts to raise public money outside of the state’s funding formula, and they are most often passed in wealthier school districts.
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The reaction: “This resounding victory is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our community to preserve and advance educational excellence in the San Marino Unified School District,” said Superintendent Linda de la Torre in a statement.
Turnout: So far, one-quarter of registered voters, 2,653, participated in the election, and the vast majority voted by mail. That’s on track with the 2019 Measure R election where voter turnout was 27.31%.
What's next: The L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk will release the next set of results Friday and is tentatively scheduled to certify the election on June 13.
Go deeper: Voter Guide to Measure R, a San Marino schools parcel tax
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