Absentee Voters Reject School Tax in Thousand Oaks

A proposal to raise property taxes to improve public schools in Thousand Oaks was overwhelmingly rejected Tuesday by absentee voters, but proponents expressed cautious optimism that Measure K might still pass.

“We’ve always been a long shot anyway,” said Conejo Unified School District board member Ellyn Wilkins. “So I’m not any more discouraged by these early returns than I was before the polls closed.”

Results from absentee voters, who tend to be more conservative than the electorate at large, were 1,876 against raising taxes and 472 in favor.

The measure sought to add $77 per parcel to the property tax. The estimated $2.77 million a year to be raised was earmarked for hiring 82 more teachers.