Parcel tax consulting
New parcel taxes, renewals, and other property-based measures for schools, libraries, parks, and public safety. Our in-house team handles the research, polling, measure development, community engagement, and campaign.
Parcel taxes and property-based measures we work on
Names, structures, and vote thresholds differ by state. Your counsel confirms what applies to your agency.
- School parcel taxesFunding for teachers, class sizes, programs, and student support.
- Community college parcel taxesSupport for instruction, student services, and workforce programs.
- Parcel tax renewals and extensionsContinuing funding before it expires, with a record of what it delivered.
- Library parcel taxesBranch hours, collections, and programs residents use every week.
- Parks and open space parcel taxesMaintenance, safety, trails, and land conservation.
- Fire and emergency services parcel taxesStaffing, response times, equipment, and wildfire prevention.
- Public safety parcel taxesPolice, paramedics, and 911 services.
- Water, flood control, and stormwater measuresInfrastructure that protects homes and clean water.
- Operating levies and levy overridesThe property-based equivalents many states use for schools and local services.
- Special district assessmentsFunding for districts that need a stable local source.
- Parcel taxes after a lossA second attempt shaped by what held voters back the first time.
- Any other property-based measureIf it needs voter approval, we can help.
What makes a parcel tax work
Parcel taxes ask voters to fund ongoing services, not buildings, so voters want to know exactly what the money keeps running and how long it lasts. The details matter: the rate and how it's structured, the term, any exemptions, and the accountability provisions that show where the money goes.
Each of those choices affects how voters respond, and each can be tested before the board votes. That's what our feasibility research is for. Tell us what your agency is considering, and we'll tell you how we'd approach it.
How we help with a parcel tax
Feasibility
Interviews with community leaders and public opinion research from our in-house, award-winning polling team. We test priorities, the rate, the term, exemptions, and election timing.
Measure development
We work with your staff and counsel on the expenditure plan, oversight and reporting, and the ballot question, with presentations to the board along the way.
Community engagement
Fact sheets, FAQs, mailers, web pages, and presentations to community groups, all written and produced in house. We also handle media relations and brief staff on what they can and can't say.
Campaign
When a committee forms to support the measure, we can run that campaign: fundraising, endorsements, ballot arguments, mail, digital, yard signs, door knocking, and texting.
Is a parcel tax right for your agency?
Research can tell you before the board spends time on one. Start with a conversation.
Questions about parcel taxes
What is a parcel tax?
In states that allow them, a parcel tax is a tax on each parcel of property, often a set amount rather than a percentage of the property's value. Agencies use them to fund ongoing services like teachers, libraries, and fire protection. Names and rules vary by state, and your counsel confirms what applies.
What's the difference between a parcel tax and a bond?
Bonds generally pay for buildings and other capital projects. Parcel taxes generally pay for programs, staff, and services. Some agencies need both, and research helps decide which fits your needs.
Should our parcel tax include exemptions?
It depends on your community and what state law allows. Research shows how voters respond to different options, and your counsel confirms what's permitted.
When should we start planning a renewal?
Well before the current measure expires. Voters want to see what the last one delivered, and that story takes time to tell. Starting early also leaves room to choose the right election.
Do you do the polling yourselves?
Yes. Our public opinion research comes from our in-house, award-winning polling team, so the people who design your survey also help you act on the results.
What's your track record?
We've helped local communities raise more than $8.5 billion. On measures where we handle both the public and the private campaign, our win rate is 97.8 percent. We've worked with more than 250 clients in 26 states.
Planning a parcel tax or renewal?
Tell us where your agency is in the process. We reply within 24 hours on weekdays.