Exemptions
Los Gatos, June 11, 2024: The Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District is proud to announce that the district’s Measure A parcel tax has officially passed into law with the final vote count certified last Thursday, June 6, 2024.
This Measure A increase will go into effect July 1, 2024, and is meant to pick up where the district’s current parcel tax leaves off. Measure A, passed in 2011, authorized an annual parcel tax of $49 per parcel. It was renewed at the same amount in 2017 and is set to expire in 2025. With this most recent passage, Measure A authorizes a parcel tax increase of $79 for a total of $128/parcel annually for nine years.
This increased parcel tax will be used to attract and retain the district’s exemplary staff, and continue and develop its strong core academic programs, including high-quality science, technology, engineering, and math courses.
No proceeds of the tax would be used for administrative salaries or for capital or operational expenses, and property owners older than age 65 or receiving disability can apply for an exemption. The parcel tax will raise about $2,520,000 annually for nine years.
Exemptions Available - Property owners who are currently exempt from any qualified special tax currently levied by the District will continue to be exempt without the need to re-apply, subject to the District's right to verify continuing qualification. The following exemptions will be granted upon application annually:
Senior citizen exemption: Property owners who are over 65 years of age or older on June 30, 2024, may apply for this exemption.
Please note, the district only removes the parcel tax exemption if the district receives a returned verification letter indicating the exemption status no longer applies to the parcel or a return to sender not deliverable as addressed/unable to forward verification letter from the USPS.
Contiguous parcel exemption: This parcel tax exemption is for property owners who own parcels that are contiguous, used solely for owner occupied, single-family residential purposes, and held under identical ownership.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for a disability exemption OR the Social Security Disability (SSDI) exemption: If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for a disability, or are receiving Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), and you are the owner of a parcel within the Los Gatos – Saratoga Union High School District, and that parcel is your principal residence, you may qualify to receive this exemption. You must own and live in your home as of July 1 of the year the tax is due.
How do I apply for an exemption?
Complete and return an application form by June 15. Your Assessor's Parcel Number (APN#) can be found on your annual Tax Bill, the Notification of Assessment card, or by calling the Santa Clara County Assessor's Office, Public Services Division at (408) 299-5500.
- (if applying for SSI or SSDI exemption) Provide a Benefits Verification Letter issued by the Social Security Administration receiving Supplemental Income for a disability.
- Provide one of the following as verification of residency:
- Driver's License
- Utility Bill
- Social Security Check
- Tax Bill
- Mail the completed application form, a Benefits Verification Letter and proof of residency to:
Los Gatos – Saratoga Union High School District
17421 Farley Road West
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Attn. Parcel Tax Exemptions – Pola Michelle
VERIFICATION LETTERS
Please note the District may send a verification letter to seniors receiving the exemption in future years. However, the District will not remove the senior citizen parcel tax exemption unless we receive the verification letter returned indicating that you no longer own and live at the property or if the USPS returns the verification letter indicating the parcel was undeliverable to the addressee. The Senior Citizen Verification letter will not need to be returned unless ownership of the listed property has changed.
Seniors currently receiving the parcel tax exemption for the current parcel tax will not need to reapply for the recently passed new parcel tax exemption, Measure A.