Pacific Grove Unified to consider extending parcel tax

Only 83 school districts in all of California passed a parcel tax between 2001 and June 2009. Pacific Grove was one of them.

Originally approved in 2003, Pacific Grove Unified's parcel tax is due to expire in the fiscal year 2013-14, and district officials want to know if it can be extended again.

Pacific Grove voters originally approved a 5-year, $35 per parcel tax in 2003. The tax generates about $267,000 per year and, in the current budget, is funding two class periods at the middle school, five class periods at the high school, one elementary teacher, supporting the elementary library manager positions and providing some funding for the music program and K-12 technology.

The fiscal year 2013-14 will be the last year that the funds will be available. To extend the tax beyond 2013-14 into 2014-15 would require an election in November 2013. Advisor Dale Scott will present results of a Parcel Tax survey conducted and will provide recommendations on how to proceed. The board meets today at 6:30 p.m. at the district office, 435 Hillcrest Avenue, Pacific Grove CA 93950.

Parcel taxes require a 2/3 majority to be approved. Only 53 percent of parcel taxes in the ballot from 1983 to 2010 were approved, according to EdSource.