Squeaker: School Parcel Tax Ahead by Less Than 2% in Semifinal Vote Count, While $900 Million School Bond Scores Win

[UPDATED]  A school parcel tax measure squeaked ahead with a razor-thin margin above the required two-thirds majority, while voters backed a $900 million school bond measure by a comfortable margin in Pasadena Unified School District’s special election, according to semifinal returns early Wednesday morning by the County Registrar.

Measure EE, which requires 66.67% approval to pass, secured 67.83% of the votes in the semifinal returns. 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 measure garnered 45,603 yes votes against 21,624 no votes in the semifinal returns.

Meanwhile, Measure R, a $900 million general obligation bond requiring 55% approval, passed with 63.92% support, receiving 42,544 yes votes and 24,012 no votes. The bond will fund classroom expansions, infrastructure repairs and facility improvements across the District, with property owners paying average levies below $59 per $100,000 of assessed valuation while bonds are outstanding. The measure is expected to raise $57 million annually and makes the District eligible for state matching funds.

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, and housing for District employees.

The bond measure targets specific infrastructure needs, including replacing leaky roofs and updating deteriorating electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning systems. It also provides funding for Career Education labs and STEAM classroom expansions.

Both measures include provisions for citizen oversight and regular audits to ensure transparency in spending. The funds cannot be diverted by the state for other purposes.

Election results are available to view and download at LAVOTE.GOV.

After Election Day, many outstanding ballots will still be 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 first post-Election Day ballot count update is scheduled for Wednesday, November 6. The full schedule of ballot counting updates is available on the Canvass Update Schedule.