Question 1

Moraga School District $295 Parcel Tax

Accepted Answer

Measure I is a parcel tax of $295 annually for 7 years. Additive to existing school bond and parcel taxes. Intended for operating expenses.Why Are Some Residents Hesitant?Moraga homeowners already pay multiple overlapping school-related taxes and bond measures.The district recently pursued major facilities expansion and approximately $50 million in capital investment projects.Some residents question why a clearer long-term operational funding strategy was not presented alongside those expansion efforts.Although the measure is described as temporary, voters have seen many prior “temporary” taxes extended or replaced over time.Even supportive residents have raised questions about long-range financial planning, prioritization, and stewardship.Key Questions Voters Should ConsiderResidents understand that bond measures and parcel taxes legally fund different things.But many are still left wondering why the district pursued major facilities expansion and roughly $50 million in new capital investment without simultaneously presenting a clearer long-term operational funding plan.For many voters, the standard “these are separate funding categories” explanation no longer fully resolves the concern. The broader question — whether the district demonstrated sufficient long-range financial planning and stewardship before returning to taxpayers so quickly for additional operational funding — remains largely unanswered.Read the Full Article Moraga School District Measure I article

Question 2

Contra Costa County .625% Sales Tax Increase

Accepted Answer

Measure B - .625% Sales Tax IncreaseOur Recommendation: NO. Seeks to increase sales tax rate by .625% county-wide, which would immediately bring Moraga's tax rate to 10.375%. Should the likely November BART bailout tax pass as well, we'd see 10.875%.Candace Andersen, our County Supervisor, opposed it. East Bay Times opposes.CoCo Taxpayers Association opposes.Why Are Residents Concerned?The measure would raise the county sales tax rate to one of the highest levels in California.While messaging often emphasizes annual funding needs, the total long-term tax collection is projected in the billions of dollars over time.Sales taxes are paid broadly by residents regardless of income and continue impacting everyday purchases indefinitely.Critics argue the measure contains broad spending flexibility while offering limited voter control once revenues are collected.Several local officials and commentators have questioned whether voters are receiving a fully transparent picture of the long-term financial impact.Key Questions Voters Should ConsiderResidents should carefully consider whether the scale and structure of the proposed tax matches the way it is being presented publicly.For many voters, the central question is not whether county services matter — they clearly do — but whether taxpayers are being asked to approve an extraordinarily large long-term revenue measure without sufficient clarity, prioritization, accountability, or discussion of alternatives.Some opponents have also questioned whether current county financial challenges are being framed primarily as external political problems, rather than as issues requiring deeper local fiscal scrutiny and prioritization decisions.Read Our Full Article:SMARTMoraga Measure B analysisEast Bay Times Editoral is available:East Bay Times Measure B editorialA very thorough assessment with FAQs is available over at:Stop Measure B FAQs

Question 3

Contra Costa Community College | Bonds

Accepted Answer

Measure G - $920 Million in Bonds for Facilities

Our recommendation: NO.

Seeks ~$100-$200 per year for a typical Moraga homeowner, based on $10 per $100,000 of assessed value.

This one isn't seeing nearly as much press as local school funding measures or the countywide sales tax increase. Neverless, it's hardly pocket change:

The community college district is seeking another round of bonds (and associated property taxes to pay for them) totaling almost $1 Billion for facilities. This will essentially double the amount of bonds on which taxpayers are making on three existing and active bond measures.

Proponents cite deteriorating buildings along with the need to modernize learning facilities. That's true.

However, the district and measure proponents do not acknowelege two important facts:

Enrollment is declining and their reliance on # of students vs the more commonly applied # of FULLTIME student equivalents makes enrollment figures misleading. For example, they may cite 50,000 enrolled students BUT if most are only taking a single class or two, taxpayers end up funding facilities for part-time students who are on campus only a couple of hours per week.
The community college district - similar to local school districts, unfortunately - has a habit of relying on bonds to replace and repair buildings they have consciously neglected over time. A bond measure will fund new buildings or renovations or improvements, and then the administration won't provide funding for known, ongoing maintenance and thus requiring yet another bond measure for major improvements. Our perspective is that the practice of deferred maintenance as a budget choice must end; maintenance must be forecast and actually funded for the millions taxpayers spend on these facilities.

More info and opinion available at the following sites:
Contra Costa Taxpayers Association Articles
Antioch Herald
Danville/San Ramon News
Contra Costa Herald
The Advocate

Question 4

Bay Area Transit .5% Sales Tax Increase [November probable]

Accepted Answer

coming soon

Question 5

Acalanes Union High School District Property Tax [November probable]

Accepted Answer

Specifics TBD, but likely in November.

A recent message from the District's Superintendent - which mirrors current Moraga & Lafayette school district messaging about state funding levels and budget cuts - telegraphs likelihood of another tax measure near-term.

June 2 Primary Results

Recommendations & Considerations

Summaries

Moraga School District $295 Parcel Tax

Contra Costa County .625% Sales Tax Increase

Contra Costa Community College | Bonds

Bay Area Transit .5% Sales Tax Increase [November probable]

Acalanes Union High School District Property Tax [November probable]