PLEASANTON — For the second time in less than two years, residents will vote on a parcel tax to benefit Pleasanton schools.

Trustees on Tuesday voted 5-0 to hold a May 3 mail-in election, asking voters to approve a $98-per-parcel tax measure. The board agreed to place the four-year tax on the ballot to help the district combat nearly $20 million in cuts it has had to make from its $110 million budget over the past three school years.

The election is expected to cost the district $250,000.

“The last few years have been very difficult,” said Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi, who was hired by the district in July. “This district has done a lot of work to mitigate those cuts. The May 3 ballot will provide us local funds that are raised locally and controlled locally to save some of our valuable programs.”

The district failed to pass a parcel tax of $233 per parcel, known as Measure G, in June 2009. It received only 61.7 percent of the required two-thirds vote.

Continuing state budget woes have resulted in the district’s elimination of 68 teaching positions, 26 classified positions and 17 administrative positions.