Before casting your vote, get informed about Measure P and its impact on our beloved Piedmont schools.
[SPONSORED VIDEO]
Insights, stories and interviews about homeownership and living in the East Bay
From a Piedmont native, Emmy award-winning television journalist-turned-home matchmaker, part-time radio anchor, UCLA graduate, wife and mother of 3.
This parcel tax is crucial for preserving and maintaining essential educational programs and services. The funds will be used to help Piedmont attract and retain exceptional teachers.
Our schools and property values are strong because of our high-quality teachers and programs. But don’t just take it from me—hear from the students themselves about why they love their teachers. And I’m thrilled to have Piedmont alum and current SNL cast member Chloe Fineman, share why she supports Measure P!
Let’s keep Piedmont schools thriving!
Lisa: You’ll probably start seeing these lawn signs popping up all over Piedmont. But what is Measure P?
Most people move to Piedmont for the schools, which are known for being among the best in the state. However, inadequate state funding, combined with the high cost of living in the Bay area, is making it difficult for PUSD to recruit and retain high-quality teachers.
Ben Spencer is a fourth-grade teacher at Beach Elementary School and has worked for PUSD for the last 13 years. He says if Piedmont residents don’t vote for Measure P, it will have a severe impact on the school district.
Ben Spencer/ 4th Grade Teacher: “We had to make many cuts last year. If this doesn’t happen, it could be devastating for our district because you might lose many of the quality teachers we already have.”
Lisa: For over 40 years, Piedmont schools have relied on a local school parcel tax to keep essential programs.
The first parcel tax was passed in 1985, and since then, Piedmonters have approved this crucial source of funding nine times.
Ben: “A lot of the programs that we have here that are funded through PUSD, and we could lose them. We’re already operating on a bottom line. So, if the measure doesn’t go through, we will have to make more cuts, which means we might lose some of the programs we have and some of the teachers we have.
Lisa: Measure P will cost property owners $0.50 per square foot of building improvements per year, with no annual increase. It will generate $5 million dollars every year for Piedmont schools.
Ben: Our school district is exceptional and amazing. But, we’ve had a challenge the last few years, retaining and attracting new teachers. Many of them have gone to other school districts that offer better health care, higher salaries, and other benefits. So, we need to find a way to generate new money.
Lisa: Even if you don’t have children in the schools, Ben says passing Measure P will help maintain property values and is an investment in our community.
CONTACT ME
Who should I interview next for Local with Lisa? If you have a suggestion I’d like to hear it! Or if you’d like to talk about real estate and want to know your home’s current market value, I’m happy to provide you a complimentary assessment. Get in touch!
For more Local with Lisa, click here.
I believe I’ve voted for every school tax measure in our 40+ year Piedmont residency. However, maybe voters should carefully consider Measure P. We all know that the 75-word maximum, ballot title on the actual ballot is the one thing that all voters see. Those 75 words are required by law to be fair, accurate and impartial. Measure P’s language fails that test. The language says it’s a measure “renewing” an existing tax at 50 cents a square foot for 8 years. But what’s not said is that it is a doubling of the existing 25 cent tax. That’s hardly a renewal of an existing tax if it’s being doubled. This language was approved by the PUSD Board after being notified that what they were doing was not consistent with State law.
So, if deceitful language is enough to offend you, you may want to send a message to the offending parties.