The proposed Redwood City School District parcel tax, Measure H, is just under the two-third voter approval needed to pass, according to semi-official results released Tuesday night by the San Mateo County Election’s Office. But with votes left to be counted, the measure’s supporters remain optimistic.
The measure, a parcel tax of $149 per parcel annually for 12 years, had received 65.61 percent support from voters as of the latest results reported Tuesday night, with 8,868 voting yes and 4,648 voting no, according to the San Mateo County Elections Office.
Factored into the count are all Vote by Mail ballots received in the mail by Nov. 5 and Vote by Mail ballots returned at Vote Centers and Drop Boxes by Nov. 4. The results also include all votes cast from Vote Centers.
Still to count, however, are Vote by Mail ballots received in the mail after Nov. 5, Vote by Mail ballots dropped off at Vote Centers or Drop Boxes after Nov. 4, and provisional ballots, according to elections officials.
The Elections Office is scheduled to update the results on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 4:30 p.m.
“The votes are coming in still and there are thousands left to be counted,” according to the Yes-On-H committee, adding the results received last night “are promising and expected and we’re optimistic Measure H will pass once the votes are counted.”
If it passes, Measure H would raise an estimated $3.45 million annually for the school district that is reportedly facing a $10 million deficit.
The stated purpose of Measure H is to attract and retain highly qualified teachers, support quality reading and writing skills in schools, maintain science technology, engineering and math instruction and reduce class sizes in kindergarten and first grade.
In 2016, Redwood City School District voters approved an $85 per parcel tax that raises $1.9 million annually.
Photo credit: San Mateo County Elections Office
