Measure A

San José Unified School District serves over 25,000 students at the District’s 41 neighborhood schools. San José Unified is proud to be Silicon Valley’s largest and most diverse school system and our highly qualified teachers and staff help contribute to high quality education that allows the District’s students, families, and community to thrive.

San José Unified receives less funding per pupil than many of the surrounding school districts in Santa Clara County and this funding provides for a basic education. In 2016, San José Unified voters approved a parcel tax that provides approximately $5 million in annual local funding. You can read more about the district’s budget at https://www.sjusd.org/about/fiscal.

Parcel tax funding has helped support San José Unified’s efforts to: 

• Maintain and improve core academic programming in reading, writing, math, the arts and science
• Attract and retain highly qualified teachers and educational staff
• Improve programs to prepare students for college and careers

Unless renewed by voters, this funding will expire on June 30, 2025.

If parcel tax funding expires, San José Unified would lose approximately $5 million in annual funding that currently funds the recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers and educational staff and funds academic programs.

The San José Unified Board of Education voted to place Measure A on the May 6, 2025 mail only special election ballot. Measure A would renew the existing $72 parcel tax at current rates.

If approved by San José Unified voters, Measure A would continue to fund the following programs and services:

• Attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers and educational staff
• Protecting quality reading, writing, math and science programs
• Preparing students for college and careers

Measure A would renew parcel tax funding at the current rate of $72 per parcel per year. This is the same rate that property owners currently pay – Measure A would not increase current rates.

Yes. Measure A would continue mandatory local control and fiscal accountability requirements, including:

• Spending is required to be publicly disclosed
• An independent citizens’ oversight committee and annual audits ensure funds are spent as promised
• No money raised could be used for administrators’ salaries or pensions
• Homeowners age 65 and over and low-income homeowners with disabilities would continue to be eligible for an exemption

No. Measure A would extend the existing $72 annual rate for eight years without increasing the current rate.

Yes. Each year, the San José Unified Parcel Tax Oversight Committee review the use of all parcel tax funding and has found that San José Unified utilizes funds on voter-approved programs and services. You can view the reports of the citizens’ oversight committee by visiting https://go.sjusd.org/ptoc.

Yes. Homeowners age 65 and over would continue to be eligible for an optional exemption from the cost.  Those who are currently exempt do not have to reapply.

No. This measure is a renewal of the existing $72 per parcel funding provided by the current parcel tax.

San José Unified voters approved Measure R, a school facilities improvement bond measure, in November 2024. Funding from bond measures can only be used for school buildings, technology and equipment – but cannot be used for teaching and academic purposes.

To learn more about Measure A, please view the additional resources below or email parceltax@sjusd.org.

Additional Resources:

• Fact Sheet
• Informational Mailer
• Measure Resolution