Voters should decide whether to lower parcel tax threshold

The Santa Clara Unified and Fremont Union school districts failed to pass parcel taxes last week, even though their measures won 60 percent or more of the vote. When candidates win 60 percent, they celebrate landslides. But school parcel taxes require two-thirds approval. [...]

Since 2004, state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, has been trying to get the Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to lower the threshold for parcel tax passage to 55 percent. Bond measures can pass with 55 percent in some cases, but they are only for construction. Parcel taxes are one of the few ways schools can fund local priorities for educational programs.

Read the full editorial on the Mercury News website

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