In June 2012, Alameda County voters overwhelming passed Measure B, the Peralta Community College District’s Parcel Tax that directly benefited students of Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, and Laney and Merritt Colleges in Oakland. Measure B, which passed with 72 percent of the vote, had a positive impact on the 30,000 students that attend the Peralta Colleges by providing $8 million in annual funding helping make up for State-imposed budget cuts and allowing the colleges to offer additional classes.
In November 2018, Alameda County voters approved Measure E, which will continue the parcel tax for another eight years beginning with the 2020/21 Fiscal Year.
With funds from Measure E, the Peralta Colleges will be able to offer more course availability for students wanting to complete their A.A. Degrees or program certificates. For students transferring to four-year universities, it means greater access to a higher education at a time when other colleges and universities are limiting or cutting enrollment due to State budget cuts.
There are no senior or low income exemptions, as Measure B did not provide for such exemptions. Certain non-profit and religious institutions may have the tax waived. There is a “Contiguous Parcels Exemption” for parcels that meet ALL of the criteria below:
Are contiguous (i.e., the parcels share a common border); and
Have identical legal ownership; and
Make actual use of all the contiguous parcels as one residential unit.
Contiguous Parcels are mainly residential properties that are made up of more than one parcel due to division by Tax Rate Area boundary or properties that have the house on one parcel and a portion of the yard or the garage on a separate parcel. These parcels are considered one residential property, but because they consist of more than one parcel, they will be subject to the Parcel Tax multiple times.
The deadline has passed to apply. Please contact us at 800.676.7516 or email us at customercare@nbsgov.com for the upcoming 2023-2024 tax year.
