Point Reyes Light - November 8, 2001

West Marin voters pass all tax measures on ballot

By Francis Pisani

Bad economic news in other parts of the Bay Area did not prevent all tax measures on Tuesday’s West Marin ballots from passing overwhelmingly – even though all but one measure needed a two thirds majority.

Measure B, which renewed a $197 parcel tax that helps finance Lagunitas School District’s science, music, and language programs, as well as environmental and technology classes, carried 726 (71.88%) to 284 (28.12%). The tax will rise 6.5 percent annually.

Measure J, which renewed for four years a parcel tax on properties in Muir Beach Community Services District, will be spent improving the town’s aging water system. Although the tax will jump to $300 per year from $180 per year, it won with 85 votes (75.89%) to 27 votes (24.11%). District officials before the election said the money is needed because Muir Beach has sometimes been short of water or had to put up with dirty water recently. In addition, the improvements are necessary to guarantee state approval of its water rights.

Measure K, which renews a surcharge of up to 25 percent on Muir Beach residents’ water bills, picked up 82 votes (73.21%) while the opposition collected only 30 votes (26.79%). The money will be spent keeping the district’s improvement plan on schedule.

Measure L was simply a bookkeeping measure that will allow Muir Beach Community Services District to keep tax revenues it collects, rather than have them redirected to other communities. It passed by 87 votes (79.09%) to 23 votes (20.91%).

Measure M was advisory only. It was intended to let Bolinas Public Utility District directors know if townspeople want a key element of a draft downtown-parking plan implemented. The element, which would have reserved 20 percent of the parking places downtown for use by townspeople with permits, failed 175 (42.07%) to 241 (57.93%).

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