Measure D — Larkspur-Corte Madera School District — Bond Measure
Measure D — Larkspur-Corte Madera School District — Bond Issue.To maintain safe, modern elementary and middle schools without increasing current tax rates, by upgrading emergency, safety and security systems; repairing deteriorating roofs, HVAC, plumbing/electrical; updating science, technology, engineering, art, music, and math classrooms/labs; and improving water and drainage systems; shall Larkspur-Corte Madera School District’s measure be adopted, authorizing $44,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, levying approximately $24/$100,000 assessed value ($3,400,000 annually), while bonds are outstanding, with independent audits, oversight, and all funds spent locally?.Passage Requirement: 55%IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS BY COUNTY COUNSELLARKSPUR-CORTE MADERA SCHOOL DISTRICTSPECIAL PARCEL TAX MEASUREMEASURE DThis Measure was placed on the ballot by the Board of Trustees of the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District.Pursuant to Article XIIIA (1)(b)(3) of the California Constitution, if this measure is approved by 55% of the votes cast, the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District will be authorized to incur bonded indebtedness in multiple series of up to a total of forty-four million dollars ($44,000,000).Money raised by bond sales may only be used for the purposes and projects stated in the bond Project List set forth in Measure D. These purposes and projects include upgrading sports facilities, repairing building systems, updating classroom technology, implementing sustainability and resilience projects, and improving safety systems. As required by law, Measure D prohibits using bond proceeds for teacher and administrator salaries or other operating expenses.The District estimates the average projected tax rate necessary to fund the bonds will be $24 per $100,000 of assessed value of property while the bonds are outstanding. This estimate is a projection, and could go up or down, depending on a number of factors including the timing and amount of bond sales, as well as changes in assessed property values in the District. The District estimates the average annual debt service (including the principal and interest) will be approximately $3,400,000.The interest rates on bonds must not exceed the limit of 12% and the bonds must mature within 40 years, as set by state law. The actual interest rates at which the bonds are sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale.The Measure requires annual independent financial audits and spending review by an independent citizens’ oversight committee.s/BRIAN E. WASHINGTON County CounselARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE DVote Yes on D: Repair Larkspur-Corte Madera’s award winning schools to protect quality education and keep local students safe – WITHOUT INCREASING TAX RATES.Larkspur-Corte Madera School District classrooms and schools need repairs to sustain strong academic programs and meet today’s education and safety standards. Our local students need safe, modern classrooms and science labs to be prepared to compete and be successful in high school, college, and careers.That’s why we need Measure D.Vote Yes on D: Repair and Update Larkspur-Corte Madera Schools• Improve student and school safety with upgraded emergency and security systems, perimeter fencing, and more• Repair or replace deteriorating roofs, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems• Update classroom technology systems and labs for science, technology, engineering, art, music, and math• Implement sustainability and resilience projects, including improving water and drainage systems• Repair and upgrade sports and athletic facilities, ensuring accessibility for students with disabilitiesMeasure D is Transparent and Accountable• Funds must stay local and cannot be taken by the State or Federal governments• No funds can be used for administrators’ salaries or pensions• A Citizens’ Oversight Committee, independent audits, and annual public reports of all spending to ensure that funds are spent as promisedYes on D qualifies our local schools for $8 million in State matching funds that would otherwise go to other school districts.Supporting Larkspur-Corte Madera’s schools is a wise investment for all of us and will not increase existing tax rates. Our great local schools improve the quality of life in our community and protect the value of our homes.Join local parents, teachers, businesses, and community leaders and vote YES on D – ensure local elementary and middle schools can maintain the excellent education our community expects and our students deserve!ROSA THOMAS Corte Madera MayorSPARK EDUCATION FOUNDATION Jaime Heaps, Executive DirectorDANA SWISHER Local Elementary School Teacher; 32-Year Larkspur ResidentDAMON STAINBROOK Small Business Owner; 28-Year Corte Madera ResidentSARA RYBA Measure E Citizens’ Oversight Committee Member; ParentREBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE DLCMSD Doesn’t NEED this Much MoneyMeasure D creates a costly 30-year piggybank used primarily for maintenance. They plan to borrow $44 million, costing current and the next two generations of taxpayers nearly $100 million with interest. Almost 2/3 of the money doesn’t go to anything specific. The one compelling part of LCMSD’s proposal is $3 million of security fencing, which we all agree SHOULD be an important priority. That relatively modest amount should be funded from existing revenues. Alternatively, a much smaller bond, $10-15 million max, might be justified.Taxpayers Aren’t Getting the Break They DeserveOld LCMSD bonds that funded major projects are maturing. That should lower your tax bill. Instead of letting that amount of tax “get away”, LCMSD conceived Measure D: it borrows exactly the amount of money that keeps your tax bill from falling. Measure D lacks the detailed project list common for school bonds, specifying needs and associated costs. In fact, their amorphous list of uses totals only $15,000,000. This contrasts with LCMSD’s previous bond measure, featuring a $40 million project list including construction of Cove School.Using Bonds to Fund Maintenance is Bad PolicyDefunding maintenance and using bonds to fund repairs and upkeep is an unfortunate development. Bonds are meant to fund long-lived assets, like buildings, that last longer than the 30-year borrowing period. Maintenance SHOULD be funded with your basic property taxes and parcel taxes so the costs of current upkeep aren’t shifted to future generations via 30 year debt.Vote NO.Learn more: CST4U.orgCOALITION OF SENSIBLE TAXPAYERS Mimi Willard, PresidentARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE DPrioritize!Marin faces a tax tsunami, with about TWENTY local measures on 2026 ballots. Spiking insurance, utilities, rent and living costs mean many people can’t afford this. Voters should prioritize. We recommend you be selective: Vote YES on 1-2 tax measures that are truly necessary, as affordable as possible, and can’t be lowered by reasonable economies.Measure D doesn’t meet the necessity standard. There’s no designated purpose for nearly 2/3 of the money. Vote NO.Measure D is a 30-year piggy bank. Only a bit over 1/3 of the borrowing goes to identified needs. The rest goes to maintaining facilities. Using long-term debt for upkeep passes the bill – with interest – to future generations. And it’s expensive: With interest, LCMSD taxpayers will pay $95,558,124 to fund $44,000,000 of work.Marin’s Accelerating Affordability Crisis Hurts Everyone: Young adults who grew up locally can’t afford to live here. Lifelong residents are forced to move. We’re all losing friends and family to outmigration. Indiscriminately approving additional taxes makes matters worse for everyone – INCLUDING RENTERS who will see higher rent AND HOMEOWNERS, whose property values have stalled as home ownership costs surge.There are NO Senior Exemptions.Before you decide, consider BOTH June and likely November tax measures facing Larkspur Corte Madera School District residents:• Larkspur Corte Madera School District: 30-year bond measure raising $44 million (costing $95.6 million with interest).• Marin Healthcare District: NEW 30-year Parcel Tax• Countywide Childcare Services: NEW Long-Term Parcel Tax per square foot• Tamalpais Union High School District: Parcel Tax renewal• SMART: 0.25% Sales Tax. Unusually long 30-Year termLarkspur Corte Madera School District hasn’t shown it needs this much money.VOTE NO on Measure DLearn more: CST4U.orgCOALTION OF SENSIBLE TAXPAYERSREBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE DWhile we agree that times are tough for taxpayers, we also know that times are tough for local schools. Measure D’s opponents file similar arguments against nearly every measure on the ballot.Measure D is designed with both taxpayers and students in mind — it meets the most urgent school repair needs without increasing taxes.What our opponents fail to see is that local elementary and middle schools are in desperate need of repair. Roofs leak, classrooms flood, and AC systems fail on hot days. These are not optional upgrades; they are critical to maintaining the quality of education in local classrooms and ensuring the health and safety of local students. Delaying repairs only increases costs over time.Measure D is a 100% locally controlled funding source dedicated only to Larkspur-Corte Madera schools. Every dollar stays in our community, and not one penny can be taken by the state or federal government. Strict accountability provisions, independent citizen oversight, and annual audits ensure funds are spent as promised.Voting Yes on D brings in desperately needed school funding without increasing taxes, and qualifies our local schools for $8 million in State matching funds that will otherwise go to other school districts.Measure D is based on assessed value, meaning seniors and longtime homeowners will pay significantly lower rates than their current market value.Don’t let a few voices overshadow the real needs of our local schools. Vote Yes on D to protect excellent schools, excellent property values, and an excellent community — WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES.Learn more: SafeModernLCMSchools.orgBARBARA SOLOMON 32-Year Corte Madera ResidentGLEN ROTH Corte Madera Finance Advisory Committee MemberPAT RAVASIO Corte Madera Councilmember; Local RealtorHALL MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) Amanda Dickerman, Co-PresidentJESSICA DINDAY Larkspur-Corte Madera School District TrusteeFULL TEXT OF MEASURE D:https://www.marincounty.gov/departments/elections/june-2-2026-statewide-direct-primary-election/information-about-measures-060226/list-measures-060226/measure-d-060226/measure-d-060226-full-text.More Information:https://www.marincounty.gov/departments/elections/june-2-2026-statewide-direct-primary-election/information-about-measures-060226/list-measures-060226/measure-d-060226https://www.marincounty.gov/departments/elections/june-2-2026-statewide-direct-primary-election/news-releases-060226/notice-ballot-measures-and-argument-deadlines-060226
