1986 – Eight year measure approved by 77.9% of Berkeley Voters
When the devastating effects of Prop.13 had become all too evident in our schools, a group of Berkeley citizens created, and the voters of Berkeley approved the “Berkeley Public Schools Educational Enrichment Act of 1986″
This 8-year special tax funded:
- lower class sizes,
- supplementary educational materials,
- facilities and grounds improvements, and
- enrichment funding given to each school on a per pupil basis, to be spent as determined by a committee of parents and staff at the school.
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1994 – Twelve-year measure approved by 85.5% of Berkeley voters
Eight years later, the Measure was renewed by an over 83% vote, as the Berkeley Schools Excellence Project of 1994. The Elementary Instrumental Music Program, a victim of budget cuts, was added. Also added was a small amount for public information (1%). To make the addition of music possible, the percentage dedicated to facilities was reduced and its focus changed to maintenance and security. Additional support for the school buildings was later provided by another special tax, Measure BB of 2000, and later Measure H of 2010 for maintenance of school district buildings, as well as landscaping and grounds work.
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2004 – Two-year “bridge” measure approved by 72.9% of Berkeley voters
As the Dot-Com boom went bust in the early part of the 21st century, funding for all California school districts suffered. Berkeley Unified was forced to use the “fiscal crisis” clause of BSEP, which allowed higher levels of class sizes. Berkeley parents and community members responded to the crisis by working with the district to put Measure B of 2004 on the ballot. This two-year “bridge” measure was designed to expire in 2006, when BSEP also expired. Measure B added funds for Class Size Reduction, augmented the 4-8 music program, and added funding for libraries and for program evaluation. Measure B increased support for the schools by about $8 million.
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2006 – Ten year measure approved by 79.7% of Berkeley voters
By 2006, the total of BSEP and Measure B support for the schools had reached $19 million, and in November 2006, Berkeley Public Schools Educational Excellence Act of 2006 (Measure A) renewed Berkeley’s commitment to its schools with no increase in tax rates. There was some slight rearranging of the priorities, though class size reduction was still two-thirds of the measure. With Cost of Living Adjustments, increased square footage in residential and commercial properties, and other factors, BSEP generated a total of $23.9 million in 2011-12.
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2016 – Eight year measure approved by 88.9% of Berkeley voters
Despite the ruling from court case Borikas v. Alameda Unified School District, which mandated equal tax rates for commercial and residential parcels and resulted in a slightly increased residential tax rate, in November 2016 Berkeley voters resoundingly passed Berkeley Public Schools Educational Excellence Act of 2016 (Measure E1) with a record 88.86% yes vote. The purposes within the measure were realigned to allow increased flexibility while still maintaining support for core programs like smaller class sizes, music, libraries, and school site funds. In its first year, 2017-18, BSEP generated $28 million for Berkeley public schools.
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