Acalanes Union parcel tax would have minimal impact on Rossmoor co-ops

If voters approve the Acalanes Union High School District’s Measure W parcel tax in the Nov. 3 election, its impact on Rossmoor’s 3,368 cooperative housing units will be much different from other properties here.

That’s because co-ops are not individually owned, as condominiums and single-family residences are. So instead of receiving separate property tax bills, co-op properties are grouped together as “master parcels” for property tax purposes, according to William Sen, property tax specialist for Rossmoor’s three co-op Mutuals (First, Second and Eight).

That means co-op owners would pay only a tiny fraction of the $168 annual parcel tax that would be assessed to each condo or single-family property. But it also means they would be ineligible to apply for a senior exemption from the tax that is available to other homeowners ages 65 or older.

For example, First Mutual’s 1,878 co-op apartments are divided into 21 master parcels by Contra Costa County, according to Sen. Under Measure W, the $168 parcel tax would be applied to each master parcel, for a total cost of $3,528 for the entire Mutual. First Mutual would be responsible for paying the entire bill out of its corporate account, splitting the cost evenly among all 1,878 manors. That comes out to an annual price-tag of $1.88 (or about 15 cents per month) for each manor.

Co-op homeowners in Second Mutual and Mutual Eight would see similar costs.

“Even though co-op seniors can’t get the exemption, they don’t need it because they are splitting a tiny group tab,” Sen explained to the News.

This is also how the current parcel taxes work for both the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) and Walnut Creek School District (WCSD), which also encompasses Rossmoor. Property owners within AUHSD are currently funding two previously approved parcel taxes: Measure G, an annual tax of $189 per parcel passed in 2009; and Measure A, an annual tax of $112 per parcel, passed in 2014.

If Measure W is approved on Nov. 3, non-co-op property owners in Rossmoor, as well as the rest of the school district, would pay a total of $469 annually for all three AUHSD parcel taxes. Measures G and A also include senior exemptions.

All Rossmoor registered voters will have an opportunity to vote on Measure W in the Nov. 3 election. If it receives “yes” votes from at least two-thirds of ballots cast, it would levy the annual tax of $168 for eight years to address instructional needs. According to a Measure W Fact Sheet produced by AUHSD, the district has absorbed over $4 million in budget cuts the past two years that have impacted student electives, library and counseling services, and enrichment programs. “Without a new and sustainable source of additional funding, further reductions and budget cuts are likely,” the fact sheet reads. “Measure W is on the ballot to address this reality.”

Measure W is expected to raise approximately $6 million annually for AUHSD if approved.

AUHSD voters failed to pass a proposed $130 annual parcel tax, Measure T, in a May 2025 special election. With 63.6% yes votes, it fell short of the twothirds threshold.

The school district serves high school students (grades 9-12) and community members in Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda and Walnut Creek.

If approved, Measure W requires a Citizens’ Oversight Committee to ensure that taxpayer funds are spent properly. In addition to seniors at least 65 years old, the exemption would also be available to persons receiving Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance, regardless of age. Those seeking the exemption can do so through an application process with the school district.

For more information on Measure W, visit www.acalanes.k12. ca.us or contact Superintendent John Nickerson at superintendent@auhsdschools.org or 1-925-280-3902.