A $98 a Year Bargain

A $98 a Year Bargain

By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

For $98 per year per tax parcel, the majority of voters within the Fremont Union High School District supported Measure G, which extended support of a previous measure at the current level.

However, it required 2/3 approval to pass.

For anyone in a low-performing school district, that $98 per year is a bargain. Property values for single family homes have historically performed at ~104% over the last ten years in Cupertino 95014. (You can request a copy of this data by sending an email to lynbrookhomes1@hotmail.com). That figure includes the dot-com bust years of 2000-2002.

Whether you live in Cupertino, San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale or Los Altos, your property's value benefits from being in the Fremont Union High School District (commonly referred to as "Cupertino Schools"). http://www.fuhsd.org

Here is the text of the Measure:

NOVEMBER 3, 2009: MEASURE G
To provide stable, local funds needed to protect teaching positions, and assure that Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista High School students are prepared to successfully compete for college admission, shall the Fremont Union High School District replace its existing, expiring parcel tax with a tax at the same annual rate of $98 per parcel to be adjusted annually for inflation, with all funds benefitting local high schools, and offering an exemption to seniors and the disabled?

According to information for the 2007-2008 Fiscal Year from the California Dept of Education, following is some basic information on district funding dollars per student as compared to all of California as well as other nearby districts with high-performing academic scores.

Fremont Union High School District $9,255

Statewide Average for all High Schools $9,433

San Jose Unified $9,818
Los Gatos-Saratoga HS $11,264
Mountain View- Los Altos HS $12,699
Palo Alto Unified - $13,509

Thank you to the teachers leading and helping our students. Thank you to the students who volunteered to cold-call people they didn't know and ask them to vote Yes on Measure G. Thank you to the voters for making your voices heard.