Citizens’ School Funding Initiative (Measure A) on June 2022 Ballot

Earlier this year a group of Manhattan Beach citizens gathered more than 4,000 signatures to qualify an initiative for the City of Manhattan Beach June 2022 election, titled "An Initiative Ordinance to Provide Supplemental Funding for Manhattan Beach Unified School District.” If approved by a majority vote, it would provide the Manhattan Beach Unified School District with an estimated $12 million per year in annual revenues by authorizing the City of Manhattan Beach to collect an annual parcel tax of $1,095.00 per parcel in the City beginning on July 1 after the measure becomes effective and expiring 12 years thereafter. The amount of the tax would be adjusted annually to account for inflation. The initiative requires the City to transfer all of the parcel tax revenue to MBUSD and requires that the funds may only be used to:

• Protect quality academic, arts and education programs including, math, science, reading, writing, social studies, language, technology, engineering, music, arts and physical education;
• Maintain manageable class sizes in the school district;
• Invest in 21st century technology, learning tools, instructional materials and supplies to support students, educators and families:
• Increase staffing and program funding in the school district;
• Increase salaries of teachers so the School District can compete with other school districts in recruiting and retaining qualified and prepared teachers to support student achievement;
• Provide additional professional development to all teachers;
• Provide more competitive compensation to other School District staff; and
• Provide oversight to monitor how the School District is spending the parcel tax revenue and make sure the proceeds from the parcel tax are only spent for the purposes approved by the voters.

Measure A provides an exemption for homeowners 65 years of age or older. It also provides exemptions for individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income for a disability, regardless of age, or receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, regardless of age, and have an annual income not exceeding 250% of the 2012 federal poverty guidelines.

If Measure A is approved by a majority of voters, MBUSD will collect and administer exemptions for Measure A using a process consistent with exemptions for the current Measure MB parcel tax. Approved exemption applications will remain in effect for the full term of Measure A or until the applicant becomes ineligible. Annual reapplications are not required. When completing the Measure A exemption application, taxpayers already receiving an exemption for the current Measure MB parcel tax can elect to automatically carry forward their Measure MB exemption information to apply to Measure A. Click here to download the Measure A Senior Exemption Application. 

Under Measure A, the City would be required to prepare an annual public report on the use of the funds. It would also require an independent oversight committee be established to review expenditures to ensure parcel tax revenue is used only for the purposes set forth in the initiative.

The City Staff Report on Measure A

Text of the Citizens' School Funding Initiative (Measure A)

Memorandum of Understanding Between the City and School District regarding Parcel Tax Administration 

Election & Voting Information

The initiative will be on June 7, 2022 ballot. All registered voters will receive a ballot in the mail in early May. Ballots must be delivered or post-marked no later than June 7, 2022.

To register to vote, visit www.RegisterToVote.ca.gov]

Check your voter registration status: https://lavote.gov/vrstatus/

Information about voting by mail: https://lavote.gov/home/voting-elections/voting-options/vote-by-mail/how-to-vote-by-mail]

Find your Vote Center: https://lavote.gov/home/voting-elections/voting-options/voting-in-person