SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today called for the lowering of the voter-approval threshold for school parcel taxes from a two-thirds super majority to 55 percent. If that threshold had been in effect during Tuesday's parcel tax elections, 17 of the 19 ballot measures would have been successful.*

Because of the current two-thirds requirement, only nine of the 19 measures passed.

"The passage of these parcel tax measures is critical to maintaining the quality and spirit of our schools, most of which are suffering under the state's budget crisis," said O'Connell. "The clear majority of taxpayers voted to support public education in their communities. By lowering the threshold to 55 percent, the wishes of this majority will be honored."

O'Connell congratulated the school districts that were successful in their parcel tax campaigns. And he shared the disappointment with those unsuccessful districts that now must set aside plans to restore various programs and, instead, look at making cuts in such areas as employment, arts and reading programs, libraries, and class size reduction programs.

As a former state Legislator, O'Connell spearheaded the effort to reduce a similar two-thirds voter-approval threshold for the passage of local school facility bonds. Voters approved Proposition 39 in 2000 to lower the threshold to 55 percent.

"The same concept can be employed here to empower school districts to seek the desperately needed financial resources to keep our schools healthy and achieving," he said.

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*Based on final, but unofficial election results.