Measure G sparks questions over financial stability in Novato schools

On June 2, 2026, Novato residents will be voting on Measure G, a parcel tax that, if passed, will increase Novato Unified School District’s (NUSD) yearly budget.  

According to the California State Controller’s Office, a parcel tax is a type of tax imposed on a property owned by a private business or a home. It is collected with the annual property tax bill and can be charged at a flat rate over the years or a variable rate depending on interest, land size, building size or type. 

Currently, NUSD gets the majority of its funding from the state of California. In the past few years, the forecasted state budget given to NUSD has fallen short by about $4 million annually. California is preparing for more budget cuts, which will affect the amount of money NUSD receives. 

NUSD currently has a parcel tax in effect within the city limits of Novato. Measure A, passed in 2023, requires property owners to pay $251 annually for eight years. This new parcel tax, Measure G, will add $249 to the current tax, for a total of $500. This will amount to an estimated $4 million in additional income per year for the next eight years. This parcel tax will come with an exemption for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. 

The funds collected from the tax will go straight to student programs, including core subjects like reading, writing, math and science. Teachers will be impacted the most without the additional money that NUSD could earn.

Board of trustees member Diane Gasson is on the Parcel Tax Committee and oversees the process by which Measure G will appear on the ballot. 

“By Measure G passing, the school district will have some financial stability to alleviate massive cuts to specialized programs,” Gasson said. “80 [to] 85% of the school district budget is for employees [and] staff, so cuts will now directly impact people, which we are trying to avoid at all costs.” 

Decreasing the annual budget to keep up with the money the school district receives will be a priority for the district. If the budget is not supplemented with the extra income Measure G will provide, some financial stability will not be achieved for specialized programs and those who run them. 

“Parcel taxes ultimately go towards paying for people who run programs and support our schools in so many amazing ways, “Gasson said. 

Social Studies teacher, lacrosse coach and San Marin parent Travis Brackett is one of the community members who will be voting on Measure G in June.

“I feel it is extremely fair and long overdue,” Brackett said. “When passed we will still have the lowest parcel tax in Marin.” 

San Marin will be relying heavily on sports boosters for funding future athletic programs due to the increased budget cuts.

“Thankfully we have an extremely supportive boosters’ program and a large number of volunteer coaches who make sure the student athletes always have what they need,” Brackett said. “I’m sure with budget cuts coming, we are going to have to lean more and more on the boosters, parents and community.” 

Brackett’s main concern is to lessen the impact on student athletes. 

“Whenever there are budget cuts, we as teachers and coaches feel it,” Brackett said. “Our job is to insulate the students from feeling the impact and provide them with the best experience possible.”

Measure G will guide NUSD’s budget over the next few years. State budget cuts may not impact the district’s budget as predicted, since money will go directly to the staff who run essential school programs.  As June 2, 2026 approaches, the voters will decide if this $400 million boost is the right move to keep Novato’s schools on track.