By admin 
Sacramento County voters who live in the Sacramento City Unified School District will decide this November whether to approve Measure M, a parcel tax which is expected to bring in about $10 million each year to fund special education and early support services across the district.
Read more Your guide to Sacramento County school bond measures for Natomas, Center and Galt
The measure comes as special education costs rise rapidly across California, while federal funding remains covering about 12% of those costs, well below the 40% share target established under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The measure has drawn mixed reactions, with supporters arguing that early intervention could reduce per-student costs over time and opponents saying property owners already face rising costs and the district should use existing resources.
Special education costs are among the fastest-growing expenses for school districts across California. For SCUSD, that growth adds pressure as the district grapples with a major fiscal crisis.
Where is the district?
The Sacramento City Unified School District covers much of the city of Sacramento south of the American River, and extends east from the city toward Rancho Cordova.
What is the measure asking?
Approved by the district board in July, the measure needs two-thirds voter approval and would add $95 per parcel to property tax bills, with exemptions available to some seniors and people receiving disability benefits.
Read more Builder creates detail-rich, modern retreat on river in West Sacramento
If voters pass the measure, the tax would take effect July 1, 2026.
Who is funding the measure?
The California Teachers Association contributed more than $470,800 to the committee supporting Measure M, while the Sacramento City Teachers Association contributed at least $60,000, according to the county filings.
Meanwhile, the California Association of Realtors Issues Mobilization Political Action Committee contributed at least $200,000 to the committee opposing the measure, according to the filings.
Who else supports the measure?
The National Education Association, which represents 3 million members, has endorsed the measure. NEA President Princess Moss endorsed the measure on her first day leading the union in September, pointing to the gap between what the federal government pledged to pay for special education and what it provides in reality.
“That gap doesn’t disappear,” Moss said at a news conference then. “It lands on Sacramento and in classrooms across the country.”
Read more Food product recalled in CA linked to multi-state E. coli outbreak. What to know