School Parcel Tax Exemption Deadline Approaching

The Alameda Unified School District notified the media today that the deadline for senior citizens and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients to apply for an exemption from the current school parcel tax is June 28th.

The SSI exemption is for property owners receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability, which is not the same as Social Security Disability Insurance.

Measure A, passed by voters in 2011, taxes property at a rate of $0.32 per building square foot, with a maximum rate of $7,999 per year; the maximum rate protects the largest property owners in Alameda.

Exemption forms can be downloaded from the Alameda Unified School District’s website, on the left-hand side of the page.

They may also be requested from SCI Consulting Group, which administers the tax on behalf of the school district, which can be reached at 800-273-5167. Alternatively, residents can get an exemption form in person from the school district’s offices at 2060 Challenger Drive, Alameda.

In related news, by unanimous vote, the school district board of trustees approved a recommendation to set aside $5.8 million in special reserve funds as a contingency, in the even the district is forced to refund money to commercial property owners, after Measure H, the previous parcel tax approved by voters in 2008, was ruled partially invalid by the California Court of Appeal.