Victory For the School Budget

On November 3, 2009 Albany voters overwhelmingly passed Measures I and J, parcel tax measures designed to stabilize long-term school funding.

Measure I is a new emergency tax. It will provide approximately $1.2 million each year to restore what has been lost due to current state budget cuts. Measure I is an annual, five-year special tax of $149 per parcel.

Measure J is designed to stabilize the existing school funding without increasing current parcel taxes. Currently, Albany has three separate school taxes. Each tax has different rules and exemptions. Measure J consolidates and extends separate measures into one tax.

Board member and campaign manager Miriam Walden commented, “students will begin to see the impact of these measures at their respective schools next September. The first [property owner] bills for the new tax will go out in the spring/early summer. Students should follow the budget process both locally and at the state in order to influence the choices that must be made.”

Hopefully, the passage of Measures I and J will result in smaller classes, more choices and more resources such as counseling and aides.

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