June 2, 2026 Election · Marin County, CA

San Anselmo & Fairfax Measure H

Measure H renews the Ross Valley School District parcel tax that funds five neighborhood schools in San Anselmo and Fairfax, with an increase to close the funding gap. Get the facts to help you decide.

We recommend voting Yes — a balanced measure to keep five schools open.

Why we're voting Yes Read the case for No

36 days until June 2

$1,282 per parcel / year

10 year term

66% vote needed to pass

What is Measure H?

The Ross Valley School District (RVSD) has had a local parcel tax since 1987. The current rate is $742 per parcel per year and it expires on June 30, 2028. Measure H asks voters to renew that tax and increase it by $540, for a new rate of $1,282 per parcel per year for ten years, with a 3% annual cost-of-living adjustment.^[1]

The mechanics, at a glance

Rate: $1,282 per parcel per year (renewal $742 + new $540)
Term: 10 years, with a 3% annual cost-of-living adjustment
Revenue: ~$8.6 million per year (~16% of the district budget)
Threshold: Two-thirds (66.67%) voter approval required
Senior exemption: Homeowners 65+, plus residents on SSI or SSDI; existing exemptees do not need to reapply
Guardrails: No funds for administrator salaries or pensions; independent oversight committee; all funds stay in RVSD
Election: June 2, 2026 — a regular statewide primary, not a special election

Are you 65 or older? You can apply once for a permanent senior exemption. Download the form from the RVSD parcel tax page and mail it with a copy of your ID to: Ross Valley School District, Attn: Senior Exemption, 100 Shaw Drive, San Anselmo, CA 94960.^[2]

Why we support Yes

1. Our schools are funded near the bottom of the state

RVSD ranks 959th out of 995 California school districts in per-pupil state funding — the bottom 4%.^[3] Despite that, RVSD students outperform county and state averages across every subject. The reason is the parcel tax: it supplements what Sacramento doesn't send. Without it, "average outcomes on a bottom-4% budget" stops being possible.

2. The cost of a "no" is not theoretical

The Marin County Office of Education has already required RVSD to file a budget contingency plan if no new parcel tax revenue is approved. That plan includes $4.3 million in cuts over three years, the potential closure of two elementary schools, and possible state receivership — meaning Sacramento, not our community, would run the district.^[4]

3. The increase is the first real raise since 2012

The current $742 figure is mostly the same parcel tax voters approved over a decade ago, adjusted for inflation. The $540 increase is the first structural increase in 14 years.^[1] Teachers received no raise this year, not even a cost-of-living adjustment. RVSD is one of the lowest-paying districts in Marin County, which directly affects who we can hire and keep.^[4]

4. The structure is fair and well-guarded

Measure H is a flat per-parcel tax (the failed 2025 attempt used a per-square-foot formula that confused voters and hit some property owners disproportionately).^[5] Funds cannot pay administrator salaries or pensions. An independent oversight committee reports annually. Seniors and residents on SSI/SSDI can opt out. And it sits on a regular statewide ballot — no special-election cost to taxpayers.

5. Schools are infrastructure, even if you don't have kids in them

Strong public schools support property values and community cohesion. Two of our five RVSD campuses are in Fairfax (Manor Elementary, White Hill Middle); three are in San Anselmo (Brookside, Hidden Valley, Wade Thomas). They're walkable from most of our neighborhoods. We'd rather pay $45 a month than watch one close.

Read our full case for Yes →

The honest counterargument

The opposition is not unreasonable, and we want to represent it fairly. The Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers and other Measure H opponents argue:^[6]

Marin voters face a "tax tsunami" in 2026 — up to 18 local tax measures across the county, including SMART, the Marin Healthcare District, Tamalpais Union, a countywide childcare tax, and Fairfax Measure J. Measure H lands on top of all of that.
The $540 increase is larger than the May 2025 ask voters rejected. Opponents read that rejection as a clear signal the community can't absorb a hike this size.
They suggest a smaller increase ($149–$350) would be more likely to pass and ask the district to come back in November with operating economies and a more moderate proposal.

Yes on H

The full case

The funding gap, what's already been cut, why renewal alone isn't enough, and the endorsements behind it.

No on H

The opposition's argument

Affordability concerns, the 2025 rejection, the "tax tsunami," and what opponents say the district should do instead.

Voting

Measure H is on the regular June 2, 2026 statewide primary ballot. Marin County mails ballots to every registered voter around May 4, 2026. Return your ballot by mail (postmarked by June 2) or drop it at any official drop-off location, or vote in person on election day.

For registration, drop-box locations, and accessible voting, see the official Marin County Elections Department site.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly does $1,282 per parcel mean?

It's a flat annual amount per taxable parcel of property, not a percentage of value or square footage. Most single-family homes are one parcel. The amount adjusts upward by 3% each year for the 10-year term.

I'm a renter — does this affect me?

You don't pay the parcel tax directly. In theory landlords can pass costs through over time, but in practice rental pricing in Marin is set by the market, not by per-parcel line items. The bigger effect on renters is the same as on homeowners: whether RVSD schools stay open and stable.

I'm 65 or older. How does the senior exemption work?

Apply once. Submit the RVSD senior exemption form with a copy of your driver's license or California ID by mail or fax to RVSD. Once approved, it auto-renews; you don't reapply each year. If you're already exempt under the current parcel tax, you stay exempt under Measure H.

Why didn't the 2025 measure pass?

Measure E in May 2025 used a per-square-foot structure that taxed larger properties at a much higher rate, and the ballot language didn't make clear it was an increase as well as a renewal. It was also placed on a special election ballot, which added cost and confusion. Measure H corrects all three: flat-per-parcel, plain ballot language, and the regular June statewide ballot.

What happens if Measure H fails?

The current parcel tax keeps running until June 30, 2028. After that, ~16% of district revenue disappears. The county has already required RVSD to file a contingency plan with $4.3M in cuts, the potential closure of two elementary schools, and the possibility of state receivership — a takeover by Sacramento that would end local control of the district.

Why two-thirds, not a simple majority?

California requires a 66.67% supermajority for local special parcel taxes. That's a high bar — Measure E got 62% in 2025 and still failed. It's also why measures like this need broad community support to pass.

How is Measure H different from Fairfax's Measure J?

They're separate. Measure H is the RVSD school parcel tax (covers all of San Anselmo, Fairfax, Sleepy Hollow, and part of Woodacre). Measure J is a Fairfax-only sales tax extension (0.75% to 1%) for general town services. You'll see both on your June 2 ballot if you live in Fairfax.