Despite an opposition campaign from some education supporters in Malibu, Measure R received significantly more than the two-thirds voter support needed for passage. The $346-per-year school district parcel tax proposal won easily, with 72.5 percent of the votes cast on Tuesday and through absentee balloting being in favor of the measure.
Measure R received 22,309 “yes” votes and 8,446 “no” votes.
The parcel tax, expected to generate $10.4 million annually for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, is a renewal of two voter-approved parcel taxes set to expire in 2009 ($225 million Measure S) and 2011 ($121 million Measure Y). Measure R has no expiration.
Much of the opposition toward Measure R, coming from usual education supporters such as Laura Rosenthal and City Councilmember Andy Stern, was due to the Board of Education’s October decision to reduce the amount of facilities improvement bond money designated for Malibu High School from a district staff-recommended $27.5 million to $13.5 million. The reduction meant a proposed new middle school wing at the high school would have to be put on hold.
Despite pleas from Malibu residents at several recent board meetings, a majority of the district leaders have refused to reverse their decision. However, several board members said last month they support Malibu’s middle school project. On Feb. 21, the board is scheduled to discuss the distribution of an undesignated $62 million in facilities improvement bond money.