Parcel tax proposal approved in LVUSD

Measure E, the parcel tax designed to offset state budget cutbacks, readily passed on Tuesday with 72 percent of voters in Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) casting a yes vote. It passed with a total of 11,852 votes in favor and 4,802 against.

Measure E required a two-thirds majority to pass.

The district serves the cities of Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, unincorporated L.A. County and parts of Bell Canyon.

LVUSD Superintendent John Fitzpatrick said, "A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this campaign and I’m very proud of our community. We all pulled together to achieve this great success for the children of our community."

The tax will generate about $1.9 million per year for four years in the district. Every homeowner will pay the $98 per year flat tax regardless of their home’s value. The assessments will expire at the end of four years and cannot be extended without being approved again by voters. Homeowners over the age of 65 can qualify for an exemption.

Supporters gathered at the district office on Tuesday evening after checking voting sheets at precincts throughout LVUSD to determine who hadn’t yet voted. If a registered voter had previously promised a yes vote on the parcel tax and hadn’t voted, they received a reminder call—up to 7:45 p.m., just 15 minutes before the polls closed.

The Measure E campaign was launched by residents Red Godfrey and Dave Moorman. Godfrey and Moorman both have children enrolled in district schools. They formed Citizens for Preserving Quality Education (CPQE), and championed the cause throughout the district. They found parent power at every school, they said.

The parcel tax campaign evolved from the state budget crisis, which threatened massive cuts to education. For LVUSD, school administrators estimated that $3 million would have to be cut from an already lean budget starting next fall.

Earlier Tuesday night (when the count was too close to call), Moorman said, "All I can say is that we’ve done our best. I’m sure it’s going to be a nail biter either way."

Students from Agoura High School attended the district "nail biting" event. Elex Michaelson, associated student body president, said, "Seniors really got behind it. Measure E gave a lot of kids a reason to vote."

Parent volunteers chatted about the state budget. "We can’t wait around for Sacramento to fund our schools the way we believe they should be funded," said Sharon Kennan.

Godfrey said that all was left of the campaign was to dismantle CPQE’s Calabasas office. The experience, she said, was worth the time and effort, and that the unforeseen consequences of her work were meeting so many wonderful people throughout the campaign.

"I genuinely have friends at every school," Godfrey said. Now that the campaign is over, she added that she’ll "sleep, then sleep again," except for the fact that she volunteered to work on A.C. Stelle Middle School’s first culmination.

Moorman said he expects to get back to work at his post production business. He added, "I have kids who look forward to seeing me at home."

The vote results were close throughout the evening, but the final (yet unofficial) count finally came in at about 2:30 a.m.