Three West Marin villages hit the polls on Tuesday to vote on two parcel taxes and three board seats for a coastal community services district. Election results are preliminary, but so far Bolinas residents voted in sweeping numbers to approve Measure F, a continuation of a parcel tax that provides support for two town parks, and residents living in the Lagunitas School District more narrowly approved Measure A, a renewal of a parcel tax that provides critical funds for the district’s three schools.
In Bolinas, 329 total votes tallied so far for Measure F include 261 votes, or 81 percent, in favor of the tax. In the San Geronimo Valley, Measure A had received 799, or 69 percent, of the votes tallied by Wednesday evening.
The measure requires two-thirds, or 66 percent, of votes to pass. Last time the parcel tax came up for renewal, in 2010, the measure squeaked by with just a handful of votes.
John Carroll, the school district’s superintendent, was cautious to claim any victory on Wednesday but praised the efforts of the “Yea on A” campaign committee, whose members stood at the bottom of White’s Hill on election day to encourage residents to vote. “We’re extremely grateful for the voters who came out,” Mr. Carroll said.
The tax, which has been active for three decades, provides a large chunk of the district’s budget and goes toward salaries and vital programs.
In Muir Beach, where three of the five seats on the community services district board were up for grabs, the likely winners are Leighton Hills, Steve Shaffer and incumbent Peter Lambert. Of the 469 votes counted by Wednesday, Mr. Hills had 145, Mr. Shaffer received 132 and Mr. Lambert collected 71. Incumbent, Lynda Grose drew 60 votes and newcomer Frank Schoenfeld had 59 votes.
Mr. Hills, who runs the internet service Muir Beach LAN, and Mr. Shaffer, a former longtime board director and jazz musician, campaigned as a pair. The two had previously served as board members and campaigned for tighter fiscal management.
They also criticized a proposal to double water rates, calling it an overreach. “I’ve run through the math. If I were district manager, I’d do a 20 or 25-percent rate increase. You can keep that level for a few years to manage the rest of your costs,” Mr. Hills told the Light last month.