Thursday, April 5, 2018

Marin’s Dilemma - Service Cuts or Tax Hike



Marin Coalition Presents: Wednesday April 4, 2018


“Marin’s Dilemma - Service Cuts or Tax Hikes”

Speakers:

Mimi Willard -- Founder of the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers.

Leslie Lundgren Harlander -- President of the Board of Trustees of the Tamalpais

Union High School District.

Marin taxpayer-voters face higher taxes/fees and/or threatened service cuts from almost all local agencies and districts.  Schools are squeezed by rising costs (particularly state-mandated increased pension contributions).  In 2018, voters will consider ballot measures to raise bridge toll; increase sales taxes; and increase parcel taxes in Dixie School District and Tamalpais Union High School District (serving all of southern Marin -- Redwood, Tam, and Drake).    Some districts are planning service cuts, e.g., Novato Unified and Tam Union.  School and other essential service funding could improve if commercial properties pay more, via alternative parcel tax structures and/or a 2018 ballot initiative to change proposition 13.  Mimi Willard, President of the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, will discuss how all this could play out in Marin.

The Tamalpais Union High School District Board of Trustees in March is scheduled to approve placing on the November 2018 ballot a proposed increase in the existing District’s school parcel tax. District Board President, Leslie Lundgren Harlander will provide a perspective of why this tax is important and necessary for the School District.

Mimi Willard is Founder of the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers. CO$T is a nonpartisan,
nonprofit organization advocating for the interests of Marin taxpayers. A Chartered Financial
Analyst, Ms. Willard’s professional background includes 20 years as a nationally recognized
financial analyst at prominent Wall Street firms.

Leslie Lundgren Harlander is President of the Board of Trustees of the Tamalpais Union High
School District. She has served on the Tamalpais Union School Board for two years. Leslie is
a civil engineer and has worked on a wide range of public works and environmental projects.
She has experience managing multi-million- dollar projects and programs overseeing all
aspects of the work including financial and budget management, personnel, community
outreach and quality control.

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