Registered voters in Los Altos Hills and Palo Alto were scheduled to vote last Tuesday on Measure A after the Town Crier’s press deadline.

Proponents of the ballot measure said the parcel tax for residents within Palo Alto Unified School District was necessary to prevent teacher layoffs, increased class sizes, limited course offerings and the possible closure of an elementary school. If the ballot measure passed, the tax would increase from $293 per year to $493 per year for residents.

Critics said the tax was unnecessary and blamed PAUSD for fiscal mismanagement. An anti-measure mailing sent out to Los Altos Hills residents who live in the district contained an error that Measure A supporters sought to correct just days before the election. The anti-A mailing contained an error about the cost of busing in-district children.

The Town Crier will report the ballot measure result next week.

Mayfield agreement

The Los Altos Hills City Council postponed issuing a response last Thursday concerning Palo Alto’s recent approval of the Mayfield Agreement with Stanford University. Part of the agreement concerns plans to install two stoplights on Arastradero Road.

Hills residents along Arastradero Road voiced objections to the lights after learning in early May that as part of the Mayfield Agreement, Stanford planned to build 430,000 square feet of office space at the triangle formed by Foothill Expressway, Arastradero Road and Hillview Avenue.

The council directed staff to investigate its legal options concerning the lights since the agreement has already received final approval from the Palo Alto council. Staff will report back to the council June 16.