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City of Berkeley Special Parks Parcel Tax, Measure F (November 2014)
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A City of Berkeley Special Parks Parcel Tax, Measure F ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of Berkeley in Alameda County, California. It was approved.
This measure authorized the city to increase a special parks tax from an annual $0.1256 per square foot to $0.1466 per square foot. Measure F also allowed the tax to adjust with inflation.[1]
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure F.
Election results
| Measure F | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 27,573 | 75.08% | ||
| No | 9,151 | 24.92% | ||
Election results via: Alameda County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The question on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Shall the parks special tax be amended to sustain community parks like the Rose Garden, children’s playgrounds, tennis, basketball courts, and ball fields, by increasing the per square foot tax rate from $0.1256 to $0.1466 and adding an inflation factor? Financial Implications The annual cost increase in fiscal year 2016 would be $39.90, from $238.64 to $278.54, for a 1,900 square foot home and $210, from $1256.00 to $1466.00, for a 10,000 square foot building.[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of Measure F was prepared by the office of the city attorney:[1]
| Square feet: | Current Annual Tax: | Proposed Annual Tax: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 | $150.72 | $175.92 | ||
| 1,500 | $188.40 | $219.90 | ||
| 1,900 | $238.64 | $278.54 | ||
| 3,000 | $376.80 | $439.80 | ||
| 10,000 | $1256.00 | $1,466.00 | ||
| “ |
The proposed measure would increase the existing special tax for parks, trees and landscaping maintenance by 2.1 cents per square foot, from $0.1256 to $0.1466, to fund deferred and ongoing maintenance and operation of City parks and recreational facilities, such as the Rose garden, childrens’ playgrounds, ball fields, and tennis and basketball courts. It would also add a new inflation adjustment. Currently the tax rate is adjusted according to the consumer price index in the San Francisco Bay Area. The amendment would allow the rate to be adjusted according to the consumer price index or per capita income growth in the state of California. The proposed increase would represent an approximately 16.7% increase in the existing tax rate. It is estimated that the total tax, including the proposed increase, would cost residential and other taxpayers no more than the following average amounts during FY 2016: (On right) This proposed ordinance was placed on the ballot by the City Council.[2] |
” |
| —City Attorney Zach Cowan[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of changes to the city code are below:[1]
| “ |
BE IT ORDAINED by the people of the City of Berkeley as follows: Section 1. Sub-section 7.10.020.B of the Berkeley Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: B. The tax rate for the fiscal year Section 2. Sub-section 7.10.020.C of the Berkeley Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: C. The tax imposed by this chapter shall be operative on July 1, Section 3. Sub-section 7.10.020.D of the Berkeley Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: D. The tax Section 4. Section 7.10.110 of the Berkeley Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 7.10.110 Increase appropriations limit. Pursuant to California Constitution Article XIIIB, the appropriation limit for the City
is increased by the aggregate sum authorized to be levied by this special tax for
each of the four fiscal years from 2016 |
” |
See also
- Parcel tax elections in California
- Parcel tax
- California parcel tax on the ballot
- Alameda County, California ballot measures
- November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California
External links
Additional reading
- Berkeley Daily Planet, "Berkeley Measure F: The Fix-it Measure," September 19, 2014
- Berkeleyside, "Op-ed: Support Measure F for care, repair of Berkeley parks," September 26, 2014
Footnotes
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