Orchard School District Measure R: Parcel Tax of 4 Cents per Building Square Foot
Orchard Elementary School District, California
My vote power
High
Election date
November 3, 2026
Orchard School District Measure R: Parcel Tax of 4 Cents per Building Square Foot is a ballot measure in Orchard Elementary School District, California on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Adds a school parcel tax in the Orchard School District of 4 cents per building square foot, capped at $89 for homes and $7,500 for businesses, for eight years starting July 2027. It raises about $1.4 million a year for teacher pay, STEAM, and arts programs; seniors can be exempt.
How do we calculate my vote power?
What determines the vote power rating for ballot measures: Representation: how much weight one vote carries here compared with a statewide vote — the smaller the district, the more each vote counts. You have more power in ballot measures because you vote directly on the policy.
Representation: High · 84 out of 100
This district is a small slice of its state, so each vote here carries much more weight than a vote in a statewide race. About 22,097 people live here.
Show the representation math
score = 50 + 50 × ln(state population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(50,000) = 50 + 50 × ln(39,287,377 ÷ 22,097) ÷ ln(50,000) = 84.58, measured against a statewide vote in CA (grades: 66+ high, 55+ above average, 33+ average, otherwise low; a statewide race is the 50 baseline)
High representation + a direct vote on the policy → My vote power: High.
What does this measure do?
Supports: Public Education Quality
Adds a school parcel tax in the Orchard School District of 4 cents per building square foot, capped at $89 for homes and $7,500 for businesses, for eight years starting July 2027. It raises about $1.4 million a year for teacher pay, STEAM, and arts programs; seniors can be exempt.
A YES vote means
Orchard schools collect about $1.4 million a year for eight years for staff pay and science, technology, engineering, arts, and math programs.
A NO vote means
No new parcel tax, and the district funds those programs from its existing budget or cuts them.
Source: vote.santaclaracounty.gov
Last updated September 24, 2026.