The City Council approved the proposed progressive parcel tax at the July 13, 2026 meeting, to support the schools by a unanimous vote, allowing voters to consider it on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot.
The petition, first proposed to the city on Feb. 22, 2026 and then presented for verification on June 5 had 4,253 signatures filed. Of that, 3,860 signatures were verified, of which 2,950 signatures were found to be sufficient; the volunteers had purposefully collected more than the required amount to make sure they met the standard.
Ji Young Denick, one of the organizers who spoke from the podium, said that while gathering 4,000 signatures had initially seemed daunting, “…it became clear that having a phenomenal school district wasn’t just [the dream of parents with children attending the schools] but the dream of the wider community in Culver City.” She also thanked “the over 60 volunteers” and the signers of the petition for their support.
The city attorney Heather Baker will write the required ‘impartial analysis’ for the ballot. It has yet to be decided if it will be identified on the ballot as Measure A or Measure S.
The financial benefit is estimated at $18 million dollars annually for the Culver City Unified School District.
As with previous Culver City parcel taxes, the measure includes an exemption for seniors, so that older residents who can’t afford to add more to their property tax bill can still support, but be excused from payment.
The vote requires a simple majority of the voters to pass.
Should voters approve the the measure, it will go into effect on Dec. 14, 2026.
Judith Martin-Straw
