For over 20 years, the Bolinas-Stinson Union School District has turned to a parcel tax to offset inadequate state funding, particularly to sustain its visual and performing arts programs. This November, voters in the district will once again be asked to approve Measure C, a property tax levy requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. For the first time, the measure will include a yearly increase, incorporating a 3 percent annual “escalator” adjustment to account for rising costs, a common practice among Marin school districts. The current tax, set at $318 per parcel, was last approved by voters in 2018 for a five-year term and is set to expire on June 30, 2025. This new five-year measure would start at $390 per parcel, reflecting inflation adjustments, according to Leo Kostelnik, the district superintendent. “We’ve added an inflationary adjustment to ensure the tax remains aligned with rising costs,” Mr. Kostelnik explained. “Our goal is to make it more responsive and responsible to the actual expenses it needs to cover.” The district has sought to keep the increase modest, and homeowners over 65 will continue to be eligible for an exemption from the tax. “We intentionally kept the escalator low to avoid shocking people’s systems,” said Nicolette Hahn, a board member and parent in the district. “We’re well aware of the concerns everyone has about rising costs right now, so our aim was to strike a balance, ensuring it closely matches our current needs while staying in line with previous levels.” Parcel taxes are one of few funding sources available to school districts to supplement state or local funding. Because Proposition 13 bans tax increases based on a property’s value, parcel taxes must be a uniform amount per property, regardless of whether it’s a cottage or a 10-bedroom house. The levy is expected to generate $682,500 annually, and it will primarily support the district’s arts programs. Bo-Stin, which serves around 120 students, has a budget of $6.2 million for the 2024-25 school year. “The Bolinas-Stinson district is renowned for its robust arts program, and that will be the continued primary focus for this funding,” Ms. Hahn said. Hands-on experiences in painting, textiles, wood and metal work, 3D printing, and ceramics are offered through the school’s Art Shops Program. “They don’t just learn a skill—they develop a deep appreciation and understanding of various art forms,” Ms. Hahn told the Light. “We see that positive impact in tangible ways.” It is difficult to pinpoint which ingredients contribute to the approval of a parcel tax. Of the 734 parcel tax elections in California between 1983 and 2023, 472, or about 64 percent, passed, according to Ballotpedia, the online elections database. Recent polling conducted by the Bolinas firm The Yes Collective showed strong community support for the tax, with 91 percent of respondents favoring the per-parcel increase and 81 percent supporting the 3 percent annual escalator. Of the 122 respondents, 47 percent were 65 or older, and thus eligible for an exemption, and just 10 percent resided outside Bolinas. The upcoming vote will gauge the whole community’s commitment to continuing its support for the arts, while balancing financial considerations. “The Bolinas-Stinson community has consistently shown strong support for parcel taxes over the past 20 years,” Mr. Kostelnik said. “While each measure is carefully scrutinized, our community recognizes the value of these programs and has consistently voted to renew them for us.”