Dear Palo Alto Voter,

We have been home-owners in Palo Alto for 48 years. We raised two daughters who attended Palo Alto public schools. Our grandson is currently an elementary school student here in Palo Alto.

Last November, voters in Palo Alto defeated Measure I, the school funding parcel tax measure. We were among the few who voted “no” for Measure I. We were concerned about raising taxes. We were concerned about the school district misusing our money.

This time, we have had a change of heart. This June 7th, we will be voting “yes” for Measure A. This time, the “Yes on Measure A” campaign has made the case for us to switch our votes, from “no” to “yes”. In the wake of massive state cuts to education, the parcel tax is critical to maintaining at least some of the educational services that the children in Palo Alto need.

We are glad to know that an independent panel will be tracking the “Measure A” funds each year and that none of the money will go to funding central school district administration.

Measure A is only $200 more than the current parcel tax that we pay as home-owners in Palo Alto. We don’t want class sizes to go up. We don’t want teachers laid off. We don’t want to lose courses at the middle and high schools. We don’t want our property values to go down.

This time, it’s time to say “yes” to our schools and our community. Please join us in voting yes for Measure A.

Milton W. Smith  & Ruth Smith