Our Accomplishments

A History of Success

Oak Hill: CST leads advocacy to protect school districts from the 40-year risk of guaranteeing bond payments for proposed employee housing, collaborating with civic leaders on alternatives.
Stood up against special election tax measures. Defeated Ross Valley School District Measure A.

Sausalito Marin City per square foot parcel tax passed with CST help: necessary, fair & affordable
Radical rent control measures in Marin & defeat council members imposing them: defeated!
Unaffordable regional housing bond costing $53 Billion: Blocked from reaching ballot
Prop 5, which would have unleashed a flood of new taxes statewide: Defeated with CST’s help
New Ross Valley Supervisor Candidate Brian Colbert elected with CST’s endorsement.
Launched Independent Campaign Committee that successfully defeated TUHSD $1 billion school tax that was overly large, inequitable, and poorly prioritized. This groundbreaking effort increased our ability to influence future tax proposals.
Novato civic leader Mary Stompe, CPA, joins CST Board, boosting our advocacy effort in north Marin and adding expertise in affordable housing and forensic accounting.

Effectively challenged Refuse Franchise Fee kickbacks to local governments.
Negotiated settlement with MMWD resulted in fairer water rates and recovered legal costs.

Helped defeat Belvedere property transfer tax measure
Won Marin IJ’s support in opposing Measure G (Larkspur’s “forever” sales tax measure)

Recruited, developed, supported candidates to challenge 3 entrenched Water Board Directors. All 3 challenger candidates won in a landslide. This upset further increased our renown.

CST was instrumental in modifying and helping pass important new county Wildfire Prevention tax after gaining significant taxpayer protection concessions. We lobbied the County, city councils and city fire agencies to substantially improve the proposal to make it more fairly apportioned, affordable & accountable — and limit the tax’s life to nine years (vs. perpetual). We won enough concessions that we dropped our opposition and endorsed the tax, which is important to our collective safety. This put CST on the map with elected officials.
Defeated SMART sales tax renewal by a wide margin. Won Marin IJ editorial board’s support in opposing the tax.
Marin County Open Space sales tax renewal — Negotiated provisions guaranteeing more money for vegetation reduction so as to reduce wildfire risk.
MMWD suit expanded to class action
March: Defeated Tam Union High School District’s parcel tax 50% increase, arguing “More money Not Needed” (District enrollment peaking). November – Voters approve straight renewal.

CST’s 501(c)(3) sues Marin Municipal Water District over illegal rates (billing based on meter size rather than water usage)

Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers Foundation recognized by IRS as 501(c)(3) tax—exempt nonprofit
CST endorses Measure J, Tamalpais Union High School District parcel tax increase, averting teacher layoffs or insolvency. Endorsing a tax measure breaks new ground for a taxpayer organization.
CST wins Taxpayer Organization of the Year from Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers recognized by IRS as 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. CST formulates Sensible Tax Criteria to judge whether necessary tax proposals are as fair as possible.