Morgan Hill homeowners: there’s a good chance a school bond and parcel tax will be on your November 2026 ballot. Here’s what the district is proposing, what it would cost you, and the questions we’d want answered before voting.
What’s on the table
The Morgan Hill Unified School District board has been weighing two financing tools: a general obligation bond and a parcel tax. Bonds pay for buildings and capital improvements — think roofs, HVAC, new classrooms. Parcel taxes fund operations — think teachers, programs, staff. The district has talked about both.
Why the district says it needs it
MHUSD’s facilities are aging. Some schools haven’t had major infrastructure upgrades in decades. Solar, heating, roofing, seismic work — the list is long. On the operations side, the district says state funding isn’t keeping pace with costs, and a local parcel tax would backfill critical programs.
What it would cost you
Exact numbers depend on the bond and parcel tax amounts the board finalizes. For context: a typical California school bond costs homeowners roughly $30 to $60 per $100,000 of assessed value per year. A parcel tax is usually a flat annual amount per parcel, often in the $100 to $300 range. If both pass, a median Morgan Hill homeowner could see a few hundred dollars a year in new property-related taxes.
The politics
There’s already pushback. The Morgan Hill Times has covered critics who say the district should manage existing budgets better before asking for more. The district has responded that state funding shortfalls are the core problem, not internal mismanagement. You’ll see both sides argued loudly in the run-up to November.
Questions to ask before voting
What specific projects does the bond pay for — and is there a project list with costs?
2. How long is the bond repayment period (20 years? 30? 40?) and what’s the total interest cost over the life of the bond?
3. What accountability structure oversees the spending?
4. If a parcel tax passes, what happens if state funding increases — does it sunset?
5. Is there an exemption for seniors?
For more on Morgan Hill’s schools, see our Morgan Hill Schools Guide.
Want updates as the ballot language gets finalized? Subscribe to South Valley Spotlight — we’ll track this all the way to November.
Sources:
- MHUSD board weighs bond and tax options — Morgan Hill Times
- School district responds to critics as board considers bonds, parcel tax — Morgan Hill TimesHUSD’s Proposed 2026 Bond Measure: What It Means for Homeowners’ Property TaxesWhy the district is considering a bond + parcel tax on the November ballot — and what voters should ask first.