While several hundred votes were still being counted as of Thursday, Los Gatos Union School District Superintendent Paul Johnson said he believes the Measure B parcel tax would pass with 76% support.
“It was really thrilling to have the community come out in support of the school district,” he said. “This is a big deal.”
Initial vote tallies released immediately after polls closed at 8pm on Tuesday had the tax increase headed toward approval, with 75.37% of voters saying “yes.”
The parcel tax needs two-thirds voter approval to pass.
“For 30 years, Los Gatos citizens have supported our schools by renewing a local school funding measure,” said “Yes on B” co-chair Ryan Rosenberg. “Today, we are delighted that tradition will continue with the likely passage of Measure B. We would like to thank the many volunteers and endorsers who worked tirelessly to pass Measure B, and to ensure the best possible future for our children.”
Measure B would increase the parcel tax from $290 to $335 per parcel, per year for eight years, generating an estimated $3.2 million annually. It includes a 2% annual “inflation adjustment” that kicks in during year two.
The new tax would take effect in July 2022.
The tax would apply to all residential and commercial properties within the school district’s boundaries, except for properties owned by older adults.
The school district oversees five schools in Los Gatos: Blossom Hill, Daves Avenue, Lexington and Van Meter elementary schools and Fisher Middle school.
In early October, the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters sent 20,918 vote-by-mail ballots to Los Gatos voters; 6,782, or 32.42%, were returned by Oct. 31.
In addition to mailing ballots, voters could drop them off at special drop boxes that were set up at the Los Gatos Civic Center and the Redwood Estates Pavilion.
The Pavilion and Blossom Hill Elementary School were official election day in-person vote centers.
Blossom Hill poll worker Peter Schwarz said late Tuesday afternoon that “we’ve had more than 60 people vote in person and at least twice that many drop-offs.”
Election Specialist Lorenzo Castaneda was also there and explained that after people vote in person they insert their completed ballot into a machine that captures an image of the ballot and tabulates their vote.
“If it’s correct you hit ‘cast’ and there’s your proof that you voted,” Castaneda said.
First-time voter Bryce Despars turned 18 two weeks ago and said his first trip to the polls was “cool.” He registered to vote on site just minutes before casting a “Yes on B” vote.
Registrar of Voters Public and Legislative Affairs Manager Evelyn Mendez originally expected final results by Nov. 3, because tallying in-person votes is time-consuming.
“There are a lot of steps before we start counting,” Mendez said. “We have to open and flatten the ballot, scan it and check the signature,” Mendez said.
The initial election night results that were posted at sccvote.sccgov.org were comprised of mail-in ballots that the Registrar of Voters had already tabulated.
“The vote-by-mail ballots are tabulated as they come in but the results aren’t reported until election night,” Mendez said. “The vote-by-mail ballots are locked in a secure area with cameras and only certain staff members are authorized to enter that room.”
The vote-by-mail drop boxes are secured with a steel cable and they’re cleared out every night by a team of two, Mendez said.
“The boxes only open enough to put a ballot in and only limited staff can pick up ballots,” Mendez said. “There’s also a tamper seal on the box, it’s like a serial number that changes daily, so we can tell if the box has been tampered with.”
Going into the voting on Tuesday, Kim Richman, a business endorser for Measure B, wasn’t sure the parcel tax hike would succeed, although the mood amongst boosters soon turned festive as returns appeared in their favor.
“It was awesome,” she said, explaining five of six music teachers stood to lose their jobs if it didn’t pass. “It was a big campaign party.”
To ensure the election count is valid, the Registrar of Voters will manually tally 1% of the ballots cast on Nov. 15 at 1555 Berger Drive, San Jose. Call 669-287-5399 in advance or email [email protected] to observe the manual tally in person.
**With files from Drew Penner
