FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Menlo Park (CA), April 28, 2026—The League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County supports Measure C, the Parcel Tax initiative by the Redwood City School District, to provide sustainable long-term funding.

The ballot initiative by the Trustees of the Redwood City Elementary School District (District) proposes to adopt a special parcel tax to support various educational purposes, as outlined below. If this Measure is approved by voters, it would authorize a tax of 17.5¢ per building square foot per year on improved parcels and $25 per year on unimproved parcels within the District, subject to a maximum annual tax amount per parcel. The tax would be imposed for eight years, starting on July 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2034, and is estimated to raise approximately $12,200,000 each year. 

How revenue is allocated

The measure includes an allocation structure written into the ballot text:

• 50% of available revenues allocated to District-wide programs and services (District-directed), to support increased educational staff salaries

• 50% allocated to school sites (site-directed “School Funds”)

The School Funds are distributed to each school site (including eligible charter schools) using a transparent formula:

1. $50,000 base allocation per school site

2. Remaining School Funds allocated:

• 55% by total student enrollment

• 45% by Unduplicated Pupil enrollment (UPP) (English Learners, Socioeconomically disadvantaged, Foster/Unhoused, Special needs)

Our support of Measure C is consistent with our League's Education Position. 

Education Position in Brief:

The League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County supports policies and procedures that ensure communication between each school board and its community, inter-district cooperation, citizen involvement in the formulation of school goals and curriculum, the maintenance or improvement of education quality and efficiency, and the establishment of consistent, adequate, and equitable funding.

Links: 

League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County - Position on Education

Redwood City School District Parcel Tax Initiative - Measure C full text

RCSD Board of Trustees Places Parcel Tax Measure on June 2026 Ballot