Property Owners Reject Levy for Recreation Facilities

Property owners in a mail-in election have narrowly rejected the continuation of annual assessments to pay for the upkeep of Claremont school recreation facilities.

The election was held in the wake of Proposition 218, passed statewide last year, which requires property owners to approve local levies for public services. The levy was first implemented four years ago when only a school board vote was required to approve it.

Asked whether they wish to continue to raise $1.1 million annually through a Recreation Assessment District, 52.2% of landowners in the Claremont Unified School District opposed the levy.

“This is the first time in a long time the taxpayers have won,” said Richard Bunck, of the Claremont Assn. for Better Government, which opposed the assessment. He said the measure was defeated because only property owners were allowed to vote and that many pro-tax votes in regular elections are cast by retirement home residents.