Letter to Editor:  Appeared in Pleasanton Weekly on April 1st.

No on Measure E

Dear Editor,

Even though I have a grandchild attending school in Pleasanton I am going to vote No on Measure E, the Pleasanton parcel tax. Call me cynical, but I do not believe that another tax will do much, if anything, to improve the quality of education provided by the Pleasanton Unified School District. History has shown that tax increases rarely do what they are intended to do, and the additional funds just seem to mysteriously disappear into the black hole of bureaucracy.

As to the advertised "senior exemption," I hope that all seniors clearly understand that this is not an "automatic" exemption. It must be reapplied for every year. Miss the deadline, or forget to apply, and you pay the tax. I am sure that the authors of this measure are counting on many seniors forgetting to reapply. That is why the exemption is not automatic. You can get the facts and more information at www.pleasantonparceltaxinfo.com. 

Please join me in rejecting this tax increase. Vote No on Measure E.

Patrick Carroll