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Moraga Town Council unanimously endorses School District's Measure I parcel tax
Summary
The Moraga Town Council voted unanimously April 8 to endorse Moraga School District's Measure I, a seven-year $295-per-parcel tax intended to generate about $1.7 million annually for recurring district needs; town staff said the measure would not directly affect town finances because municipal properties are tax-exempt.
The Moraga Town Council unanimously approved a resolution April 8 endorsing Measure I, a proposed seven-year parcel tax that would charge $295 per parcel (with an application-based exemption for residents 65 and older) to provide recurring revenue for the Moraga School District.
Town staff told the council the district's proposal is expected to generate approximately $1.7 million annually and is structured as a parcel tax with an escalator. Staff emphasized the measure is directed to the school district; Moraga's municipal properties are tax-exempt and the town's budget would not be directly affected by the vote.
Supporters who spoke during public comment framed the measure as an investment in community stability and school quality. Larry Jacobs, speaking as a private citizen, said, "Providing a strong public education is a key part of that responsibility" and urged the council to endorse the measure as a signal of community support. Nancy Kinser Ski, speaking as both a Moraga resident and a member of the Acalanes Union High School Board, said her board had unanimously endorsed Measure I and stressed local funding complements long-term legislative efforts to increase state school funding.
Councilmembers framed the endorsement as a practical step to help the district avoid disruptive cuts and preserve the town's appeal to families. Councilmember Teel noted Moraga's household composition and thanked homeowners for bearing a disproportionate share of local school funding; other councilmembers cited the schools'role in community vitality.
The council voted to adopt the resolution to endorse Measure I; the motion passed on a unanimous voice/roll call vote. The endorsement is advisory; the ballot measure will ultimately be decided by district voters.
The council meeting packet includes staff attachments and district materials describing how the tax revenues would be used (capital, technology and recurring needs), and staff said more detailed documents are available in the agenda materials. The council did not take any financial action that would obligate the town beyond the advisory endorsement.
