Our Mission
Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association is dedicated to protecting the rights and interests of the taxpayers of Silicon Valley against the over-reaching and over-spending of government.
We invite you to join us in that mission!
In the News
Tax groups sue San Jose over gun insurance law
Election Day Voter Guide
We recommend a NO vote on the following June 7, 2022 Mail Ballot measures:
Santa Clara County
MEASURE A - Ordinance Amendment - Majority Vote
Shall the measure amending the Santa Clara Valley Water District Ordinance 11-01 to limit Board members to four successive four-year terms be adopted?
City of San Jose - MEASURE B - Charter Amendment - Majority Vote
To increase voter participation, shall the City Charter be amended to: (1) move the election for the Office of Mayor to the same year as presidential elections beginning in 2024, and (2) limit the person elected to the Office of Mayor in 2022 to a two-year term with the option to run for and serve as Mayor for two additional successive four-year terms?
Milpitas Unified School District - MEASURE E - Parcel Tax -2/3 Vote
To renew, without increasing, expiring local school funding that cannot be taken by the State; maintain core academic programs in science, technology, engineering, arts, athletics and math; attract/retain highly qualified educators, and prepare students for college and the workforce, shall Milpitas Unified School District’s measure be adopted renewing its existing $84 annual parcel tax, providing approximately $1,600,000 annually for eight years, with senior exemptions, independent oversight, no funds for administrator salaries, and all funds benefiting local students?
Fremont Union High School District - MEASURE G - School Bonds -55% Vote
To upgrade classrooms, science labs, and facilities for technology, arts, math, and career technical education; improve ventilation systems; provide essential seismic safety and accessibility upgrades; and, construct and repair sites and facilities, shall the measure authorizing $275 million in Fremont Union High School District bonds at legal rates, raising an estimated $18.2 million annually until approximately 2052, at projected rates of 1.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, with citizen's oversight and all funds staying local, be adopted?
Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District - MEASURE H - Parcel Tax -2/3 Vote
Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District Quality Education Renewal Measure. To maintain strong core academic programs, including math and science, attract/retain qualified teachers, provide current educational materials, protect art, music, reading and writing programs/access to technology training, keep libraries open, shall Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District’s measure renewing without increasing its expiring $95 annual parcel tax for seven years, be approved, raising $480,000 annually which cannot be taken by the State, with exemptions for seniors, audits, independent oversight, no funds for administrators?
Alum Rock Union School District - MEASURE I Parcel Tax 2/3 Vote
Without increasing current rates, to help protect schools from budget cuts, to continue improving local elementary/middle schools by protecting reading, writing, math, science, technology and arts/music, recruiting/retaining qualified teachers and counselors, extending student support, shall Alum Rock Union Elementary School District’s measure renewing its existing $214.10 parcel tax for 7 years, adjusted annually, providing $4,500,000 yearly, be adopted, with senior exemptions, independent citizens oversight, no funds for administrator salaries, and all funds staying local to benefit students?
San Mateo County
San Mateo Republican Party County Central Committee endorsed a unanimous NO vote on all six measures below:
Hillsborough City School District - Measure H - Bond 55% Vote to pass
- $140,000,000 debt – plus 30-40 years of interest expenses
- Enrollment down 1,290 since 2016
- Spending per student = $25,510 (189% above statewide average)
Millbrae Elementary School District - Measure E - Bond 55% Vote <<DEFEATED>>
- $90,000,000 debt - plus 30-40 years of interest expenses
- Enrollment down 9.4%
- Bond money to be spent on technology to be obsolete in 4-6 years
Belmont-Redwood Shores School District - Measure C - Parcel tax 2/3 Vote
- $292 “temporary” per year parcel tax for 10 years
- 80.19% met academic standards for English
- 74.65% met academic standards for math
- Two bonds totaling $60,000,000 already on the books
- Parcel taxes rise each year – adjusted for inflation 3% annually
Jefferson Elementary School District - Measure J - Bond 55% Vote
- $45,000,000 debt – plus 30-40 years of interest expenses
- Enrollment down 374 students, but they want to build new classrooms
- 2012 & 2018 bonds totaling $107,500,000 already passed
- 52.21% behind grade level in English, 62.16% behind grade level in math
Brisbane School District - Measure G - Parcel tax 2/3 Vote
- $131 “temporary” parcel tax for 6 years – total cost = $786
- Spending = $19,879 per student per year – 151% of statewide average
- 36.16% behind grade level in English, 46.12% behind in math
Ravenswood City School District - Measure I - Bond 55% Vote
- $110,000,000 debt – plus 30-40 years of interest expenses
- Bond money to be spent on technology to be obsolete in 4-6 years
- Enrollment down 789 students, but they want to build new classrooms
The California State Government budget surplus may be as high as $97.5 billion. Thus, there is no reason for a tax increase for any school district in the state.
We are pleased to report...
...In 2020 the SVTA defeated 9 of 17 ballot measures that were tax increase measures.
...in savings to Santa Clara County taxpayers--and counting!
...thanks to our legal victory over the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, taxpayers saved $65,000,000.
+
$900,000,000
...in savings to Santa Clara taxpayers!
...thanks to the defeat of Measure I, the $900,000,000 bond measure in the city of Morgan Hill (March 3, 2020)
+
$45,000,000
... in savings to San Mateo taxpayers!
...thanks to the defeat of Measure V, the $45,000,000 bond measure in the city of San Carlos (Nov. 3, 2015)
+
$ 2,000,000*
...in savings to San Mateo County taxpayers!
...thanks to our defeat of Measure G, the five-year-long parcel tax, in San Mateo County (Nov. 6, 2012).
* Figure approximated by the authors of Measure G.