Voter Guide
Measure W: what Walnut Creek voters should know
A $168-per-year parcel tax for eight years, on the November 3, 2026 ballot for the high school district Walnut Creek shares with Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda.
- Page status
- Published
- Last updated
- 2026-09-02
- Sources
The question I started with
“What is Measure W, what would it cost me, and what would it pay for?”
Measure W in four numbers
Measure W is a parcel tax placed on the November 3, 2026 ballot by the Acalanes Union High School District board. It is the district that runs Las Lomas, Acalanes, Campolindo, and Miramonte high schools.
- Amount
- $168
- per parcel, per year, flat
- Duration
- 8 years
- no inflation escalator
- Election
- Nov. 3, 2026
- two-thirds vote required
- District
- AUHSD
- grades 9-12, not WCSD
At roughly 33,000 parcels, the Yes on W campaign estimates the measure would raise about $5.5 to $6 million a year for the district. The official AUHSD ballot text is the source of record; where numbers here come from campaign material, they are labeled as such.
Who pays, and who can be exempt
A parcel tax is a flat charge per parcel of property. It does not scale with home value, so a small condo and a large house on separate parcels pay the same $168.
Senior exemption
Homeowners 65 and older who occupy their property would be eligible to apply for an exemption. Exemptions are not automatic. Eligible owners have to file an application with the district, and most districts require it once, with periodic reverification.
Disability exemption
Recipients of Supplemental Security Income for a disability, and certain SSDI recipients under income limits, would also be eligible to apply. Renters do not pay the tax directly; property owners do.
What the campaign says it would fund
This list comes from the Yes on W campaign one-pager (FPPC #1478885). It is advocacy material, attributed as such, not an independent finding.
- Advanced programs in math, science, engineering, technology, and the arts
- Career and technical education in biotech, medical and health sciences, and skilled trades
- Classroom technology, science lab equipment, and instructional materials
- Attracting and retaining qualified teachers
- Counseling and student mental health support
- Independent citizens' oversight and annual audits of the funds
What happens if Measure W fails
A failed measure does not cut anything by itself. It means the new money never arrives.
If Measure W does not clear two-thirds, the $168 charge never takes effect, current district funding continues as it is, and the exemption never opens. The Yes on W campaign argues that AUHSD is operating with a structural deficit and that further reductions would follow. That is the campaign's characterization.
The board could also return to voters with a revised measure, which is what happened after Measure T fell short of two-thirds in May 2025.
What could change
- The official AUHSD ballot text and tax rate statement, once published, supersede any campaign figure on this page.
- Parcel counts and revenue estimates shift with the county assessment roll.
- Exemption rules and the application window are set by the district.
- Any spending plan is subject to future AUHSD board votes, not to this measure alone.
Measure W is not Measure L
These are the two most confused items on the Walnut Creek ballot, so it is worth stating plainly.
Measure L was a Walnut Creek School District measure for TK-8 schools, and it already failed on June 2, 2026, with about 64.7% yes against a 66.67% requirement. Measure W is an Acalanes Union High School District measure for grades 9-12, and it is still ahead of voters. Different districts, different boards, different ballots.