The Dublin City Council and School Board recently held a meeting that included a discussion about the possibility of partnering for a joint revenue measure in Dublin, CA. Catherine Lew of the Lew Edwards Group, a firm that helps government agencies campaign for tax measures like Measure L, facilitated a discussion about the potential joint tax measure. The City of Dublin and Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) had considered launching separate campaigns to levy new local taxes on residents in 2010. Both later decided against placing the tax measures on the November 2010 ballot, once the lack of public support for any tax hike became apparent.

Lew provided a timing framework for Dublin City Council and School Board should they choose to explore a joint tax measure. The benefits of a joint tax measure for Dublin City Hall and the DUSD are clear. Competing tax measures on the ballot could alienate potential supporters who feel they are being taxed enough already. Working in tandem would allow City Hall and the DUSD to unify supporters and increase their chances for success. “It was decided that additional conversation was necessary between the appropriate school district and city staff and that any updates from those meetings would be brought back to the (joint City Council and School Board committee) for further discussion,” said Dublin’s Public Information Officer Linda Maurer.

Voters are much more likely to approve one tax measure rather than two separate tax measures, even if the tax burden for one is equal to the sum of two tax bills. Given the fact that many Dublin residents are still reeling from the economic downturn and paying two DUSD parcel taxes, the prospect of two independent tax measures may hurt the prospect of both and lead to the failure of both proposals.

Dublin’s City Council has generously supported Dublin’s school district through the years. Recent examples include the City’s paying for crossing guards and sidewalk repairs near schools. The City of Dublin and DUSD also have a special arrangement to share the Stager Gymnasium at Valley High School and the cost of groundskeeping.

Given the pledge of $6M in community benefit payments from property owner BJP-ROF Jordan Ranch, LLC (of which $2M has actually been received to date), the City of Dublin has even less incentive to increase the tax burden on residents now than it did back in November 2010. If the City moves forward with a joint tax measure, it will be doing so to help DUSD rally public support.

Potential conflicts of interest on the City Council may also complicate the City’s decision to move forward with joint tax measure. Mayor Tim Sbranti is a teacher at Dublin High School, Councilmember Eric Swalwell founded and serves as President for Dublin High School’s alumni association, Councilmember Don Biddle is on the Board of Directors for Dublin Partners in Education (DPIE), and Councilmember Kasie Hildenbrand is an employee of DUSD.

Given the current political and economic climate, the City of Dublin and DUSD may decide to follow Pleasanton Unified School District’s lead and place its joint tax proposal on a special mail-in ballot. Indeed, if there is a will, taxpayers will pay.