by Mark McDermott
The campaign to extend the Measure MB parcel tax originally passed by voters in 2018 kicked off last Friday when its ballot argument was filed with the LA County Registrar’s office.
The Committee for the Renewal of Measure MB – Yes on MB, made a statement even beyond the content of its ballot argument, with the names who signed it. Two of those signatures came from influential opponents of Measure A, Manhattan Beach Mayor Pro Tem Joe Franklin and parent activist Tiffany Barbara. The three other signatories were Councilperson David Lesser, former school board trustee Karen Komatinsky, and former school board trustee and Manhattan Beach Education Foundation president Tracey Windes.
“We are honored to have such esteemed individuals supporting the renewal of Measure MB,” said the committee’s co-chair Nathalie Rosen. “Their commitment to our community’s educational excellence is exemplary, and their endorsements strengthen our cause.”
Measure A, which proposed a parcel tax more than five times as large as the $225 enacted by Measure MB, lost in a landslide last year and proved divisive within the community. The proposed new parcel tax measure, which will appear on the March 5 ballot, has not yet been officially designated with a name but is identical in cost, oversight requirements, and duration — six years — to Measure MB. It would also continue to exempt homeowners 65 and over who applied for exemption to Measure MB.
The ballot argument says the $2.5 million produced by Measure MB’s renewal will help stave off employee layoffs and protect MBUSD’s tradition of academic excellence.
“MBUSD’s top-ranked schools form the heart of our community, a legacy we have worked hard to build despite MBUSD’s chronic underfunding from Sacramento,” the ballot argument says. “Our per-pupil funding ranks among the lowest in California because the current education formula redistributes our property tax dollars to other districts. To address state funding inadequacies and preserve the quality of our schools, 69% of voters approved Measure MB in 2018 to provide consistent, reliable locally controlled funding for MBUSD that cannot be reallocated to other districts. This funding will expire on June 30, 2024 unless we vote YES on MeasureMB this March.”
The only opposition argument filed was a statement filed against numerous ballot measures throughout the state by a non-local California resident, Rick Marshall of the California Taxpayer Action Network. It contains no specific arguments against the parcel tax but instead expresses opposition to all ballot measures.
Tyler Morant, the other co-chair for the Committee for the Renewal of Measure MB, said ballot measure’s passage is not only essential to maintain the quality of local schools but, also to preserve the unique character of Manhattan Beach itself, due to how central MBUSD is to the sense of community residents share.
“Our local public schools do so much more than just educate our children and grandchildren,” Morant said . “They improve all of our lives by helping us to develop lasting, genuine friendships with our neighbors. Renewing Measure MB is one step we can take to continue the locally-controlled funding we need to preserve the top ranked schools in our community.”
Another longtime, respected community member, Gary Wayland, has joined the campaign as its treasurer. The CPA is the founder of MBX, the booster club that has raised millions for MBUSD facilities. Wayland said given the recent MBUSD budget update that showed drastic impacts from the state’s declining revenues, Measure MB’s renewal has become even more critical.
“Announcements of impending State budget deficits show again the urgency of coming together as a community to reach the 66.7% vote threshold needed to renew Measure MB,” Wayland said. “Historically, educational funding from the state will ebb and flow, but renewing Measure MB gives stability to reliably maintain Manhattan Beach’s top-rated schools.” ER
