Lagunitas School District Trustees last week agreed to put a $165 parcel-tax measure before San Geronimo Valley voters March 4.
The vote was 4-to-0 with Richard Sloan absent. The five-year tax would rise 5 percent each year to $200 in the year 2002.
Valley property owners are now paying a $182 per year parcel tax, but it expires in June.
Trustees had also considered an initial tax of $158 or $160 out of concern over a separate parcel-tax measure on the same ballot planned by Tamalpais High District. Students in the Valley attend Drake High in the Tamalpais High District.
"Regardless of the Tam amount, it's going to be a challenge," countered Trustee Steve Charrier.
Voters might hesitate to approve the parcel tax because a district $2.5 million bond measure passed last year. But the bonds are restricted to building projects, including a new six-classroom junior high school, trustees noted.
Possibly adding to voter confusion is a one-year state grant for class-size reduction, trustees acknowledged. However, there is no assurance that another state grant will be forthcoming, said Superintendent Larry Enos.
There are 1,738 parcels on the tax roll this school year, and taxes on them contributed $313,000 to the district - nearly 14-percent of the budget, school officials said.
If prospects for March's parcel tax measure appear bleak in coming months, trustees said they will put another parcel-tax measure on the June ballot.
The March tax is earmarked for more classes in art, music, foreign language, and physical education, but maintenance and reserves will no longer be funded through parcel taxes.
The tax would also support a counselor, library and science aides and a technology coordinator.
In addition to enhancing the curriculum, the tax would be used to maintain district class sizes below 26 students.
Supt. Enos said that two teachers would be lost if no parcel tax is approved.
Like the Lagunitas District's tax, Tamalpais High District's expires in June.