Sacramento, CA: Possible tax increase to cover SPED costs

Oct 4, 2026, Hoodline: Sacramento Measure M Parcel Tax for Special Education

Property owners inside Sacramento City Unified School District boundaries will decide next month whether to add $95 a year to their tax bills to help cover the district's special education costs. Measure M, which requires a two-thirds supermajority to pass, is expected to generate roughly $10 million annually for special education and early support services across the district.

The measure would take effect July 1, 2027 if voters approve it, and the SCUSD Board of Education approved placing it on the ballot in July 2026. As reported by the Sacramento Bee, the tax starts at $95 per parcel, and starting in its second fiscal year, it includes an annual inflation adjustment that caps rate increases at either the Consumer Price Index change or a maximum of 3% per year, according to Sacramento County Voter Registration & Elections. The district covers much of Sacramento south of the American River and extends east toward Rancho Cordova, per the same account. . . .

Why Special Education Costs Keep Climbing

The parcel tax arrives as California special education costs rise rapidly and now rank among the fastest-growing expenses for school districts statewide, the Sacramento Bee's reporting notes. Federal funding covers only about 12% of special education costs in California, even though the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act establishes a 40% federal funding share target. Supporters of Measure M argue early intervention could reduce per-student costs over time, while opponents counter that property owners already face rising costs and that the district should use existing resources instead.

That funding gap is central to the district's broader crisis. As of August 15, 2026, the Sacramento County Office of Education estimated SCUSD faced a $227 million budget deficit, putting the district under threat of state takeover if financial targets are missed, according to CapRadio. California Department of Education data cited by the Sacramento Observer shows SCUSD enrolled 5,970 students with disabilities during the 2022–2023 school year, roughly 14% of total enrollment. . . .