PUSD Parcel Tax A Done Deal

The parcel tax placed on the ballot by the Pasadena Unified School District will pass.

The County registrar’s office reported on Monday that Measure EE has received 69.06% of the vote.

In total 62,607 votes have been tallied in favor of the vote against 28,053 people who voted against it.

The measure needs two thirds of the vote to pass.

EE would charge $90 per parcel annually for eight years, generating approximately $5 million each year.

The victory is a major win for the District. The opposition ran a strong campaign against EE.

The group, calling itself Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre Voters for School Reform 2024 released an online calculator it claims will estimate property owners’ potential tax burden over the next three decades if the measures pass.

The opposition also sent mass text messages informing residents in Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre claiming that EE and Measure R, another initiative passed by voters would “significantly impact” voters’ financial situation.

Michael Vogler, a spokesperson for the organization, said in a press release during the election that, “Property owners will already be liable for more than $1 billion in principal and interest attributable to past PUSD Bond Measures TT and O. Measures EE and R will increase this amount by another $1.6 billion in principal and interest for a total of $2.6 billion.”

Even the District was not unified on the matter.

The Board voted 4-3 not to allow charter schools to benefit from the proceeds of the parcel tax.

Members favoring including the charter school said it would guarantee votes in favor from parents of 2,000 charter school parents.

The no voters claimed that independent charter schools should not benefit from the parcel tax.

The $90 annual parcel tax would generate $5 million yearly for eight years to fund Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math programs and mental health services in the Pasadena Unified School District.

The parcel tax includes exemptions for senior citizens aged 65 and older for their residences and mandates annual audits with public oversight. Funds will support competitive wages for teachers and staff while expanding career training and college readiness courses.

In Los Angeles County, about 187,300 votes remain to be tallied. It is not known how many will impact the parcel tax race.

Election results are available to view and download at LAVOTE.GOV. Outstanding ballots are still being processed and counted in the Official Election Canvass. During the Official Election Canvass, all Vote-by-Mail, Conditional, and Provisional ballots received on Election Day are processed and verified. Once verified, they will be counted. The next Election Day ballot count update is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6. The full schedule of ballot counting updates is available on the Canvass Update Schedule.