Measure G passes in narrow election

PHOTO: Davis Joint Unified School District thanks Davis residents for the passage of Measure G, intended to support education.

By Lyah Fitzpatrick,

BlueDevilHUB.com Editor–

In a contested election, Davis’ Measure G supporters narrowly pulled off the two-thirds majority vote required for the bill to pass.

March 3, commonly referred to as “Super Tuesday,” sealed the fate of the newly drafted educational tax. According to the Yolo County Elections Office, 19,230 of 28,257 voters (68.05 percent) supported the measure.

The bill describes a parcel tax of $198 per year, with some exemptions for seniors, disabled individuals and certain employees. 

The tax will largely fund Davis teachers and school staff to encourage competitive compensation. Consequently, the bill is intended to “preserve outstanding instruction, […] support arts, music, […] limit class sizes; and […] support student health and safety,” according to the Davis Public Schools Teaching Excellence Act of 2020.

Joe DiNunzio, Davis School Board Vice President and board liaison of the Citizens’ Committee in Support of Measure G, comments that the bill was drafted through a city-wide collaboration.

“The board’s approach to the situation was to engage in an open and transparent dialogue with the community, teachers and staff,” DiNunzio said.

However, as suggested by the ballot results, the measure was not universally supported. Dave Plaut, Cesar Chavez teacher and member of the Citizens’ Committee in Support of Measure G, remarked on the tight victory.

“We were surprised when the initial tally came in below 66.7%, but […] heartened as the numbers improved every couple weeks,” Plaut said. “Every person who participated on this campaign made a difference.”

Efforts by the Measure G campaign committee included writing letters to the Enterprise, staking lawn signs and conducting house visits. Although the group only consisted of 13 members, over 100 volunteers contributed by knocking on doors and distributing flyers. 

“That is democracy in action,” Plaut said.

Davis School Board Vice President Joe DiNunzio agreed, commenting that the movement was “a true grass-roots campaign.”

Despite the supporting ballot majority, there remained 9,027 Davis voters (31.95 percent) who opposed the bill. Impossible Acres owner and farmer Katherine Kelly is one of the bill’s opposers.

As a full time farmer, Kelly makes less than half the salary of a Davis Joint Unified School District teacher and finds her financial treatment unfair. Furthermore, the tax increases based on parcels of settled property. Apartment complexes divide the tax among its residents, but large landowners are heavily charged.

“Measure G benefits employees of the school district at the expense of small, family farmers like myself,” Kelly said.

Despite the arguments against it, Measure G is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2020.

“We want to extend our wholehearted thanks to the Davis community for once again showing the value that our community places on education,” the school district shared on their website.