Los Angeles County Sales Tax, Measure R (November 2008)

A County of Los Angeles Sales Tax, Measure R ballot question was on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Los Angeles County, California, where it was approved.

Measure R increased the county sales tax from 8.25% to 8.75% (a half-cent increase) to fund transportation projects. The Measure R tax will last for 30 years and will cost taxpayers an estimated $40 billion for roadway and transit projects. According to the independent nonprofit Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), the average cost per person would be $25 per year.

The official title of Measure R was Traffic Relief. Rail Extensions. Reduce Foreign Oil Dependence. It was proposed by the Los Angeles County Metro Transit Authority (MTA or "Metro") as a county-wide sales tax.

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for approval.

Election results

Measure R
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		2,039,214	67.93%
No		962,569	32.07%

These final, certified, election results are from the Los Angeles County elections office.

Planned use of funds

Projects to be funded with the proceeds of the Measure R sales tax included:

• Synchronize traffic signals;
• Repair potholes;
• Extend light rail with airport connections, including Green Line service to LAX and South Bay Corridor, the Purple Line from Western/Wilshire to Westwood, Exposition Boulevard Light Rail Transit from Culver City to Santa Monica, the 24 mile Gold Line Foothill Extension to Claremont, develop a West Santa Ana branch transportation corridor, and a rapid transit option through the I-405/Sepulveda Pass;
• Accelerate completion of Canoga Corridor Orange Line to Chatsworth as well as completion of San Fernando Valley East North-South Rapidways;
• Link Local Rail lines through a Regional Connector (Long Beach/Pasadena, Culver City/East LA lines);
• Improve freeway traffic flow (5, 10, 14, 60, 101, 110, 138, 210, 405, 605, 710);
• Keep senior/student/disabled fares low;

• Provide clean-fuel buses;
• Expand subway/Metrolink/bus service; and
• Community traffic relief.

Support

Supporters

Measure R was supported by:

• Move LA
• Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City of Los Angeles
• American Lung Association of California
• Coalition for Clean Air
• Coalition of Rapid Transit
• The Transit Coalition
• Friends 4 Expo Transit
• Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters
• Bruins for Traffic Relief
• Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
• Los Angeles-Orange County Building Trades Council
• Laborers Local 300
• Ironworkers Local 416 and Local 433
• IBEW Local 11
• Operating Engineers Local 12
• Teamsters Local 986
• Los Angeles Business Council
• Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
• Los Angeles Business Federation

Arguments in Favor

• "If Measure R fails, little gets built for 30 years" according to Mayor Villaraigosa.
• "Measure R will create 210,000 new jobs as estimated by the nonprofit Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation."
• Measure R would cost "just $25 per person each year. Compare that to what traffic congestion and poor roads cost us today."
• Such action will put Los Angeles transport in a position to solicit federal funding, "as part of the next economic stimulus package (a la New Deal programs in the 1930s) is being given serious consideration" on the national scene, according to Southern California Transit Advocates, a Los Angeles-based public transportation advocacy and public policy review organization
• The measure "would help prevent many illnesses related to air pollution, including asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer" by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cars, potentially benefiting residents throughout the county region.
• "Until we offer people a viable alternative to their cars that also gets them off the road, we aren't doing enough to improve the quality of life of local residents."
• "This isn't just about commutes. It's about productivity of workers, improving the business climate for employers..."
• Measure R's public transport could increase pedestrian traffic going to/from subway stations, preserve walkable areas of the city, and re-invigorate neighborhoods.

Opposition

Opponents

Measure R was opposed by:

• The Glendora City Council was opposed, with Mayor Pro Tem Mark Kelly saying, "This is nothing more than a ploy to build a subway to the sea for the Mayor (Antonio Villaraigosa)."
• The Culver City Chamber of Commerce, which said, "The Chamber feels this is the wrong time to impose such a tax on business and the public."
• The cities of Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Duarte, Irwindale, La Puente, Monrovia, Pomona, San Dimas, South Pasadena, West Covina.

Arguments against

• The measure is a special interest "subway to the sea" and does not equally benefit outlying areas which would receive lower amounts of funding for transportation projects
• A sales tax "is regressive because the rich and the poor have to pay the same amount"
• It may increase racial tensions between classes which utilize the bus system, and a more white, affluent population which would benefit from rail
• The proposition discriminates against buses, as bus funds could be raided to pay for rail projects. It may continue a trend of spending monies and subsidies on rail over buses, and subsidizing rail (per ride) in larger amounts than buses-- thus punishing the mainly poorer ridership of buses.
• A sales tax is the wrong way to finance such a measure during a major economic recession

Name left off ballot argument

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan apologized for accidentally omitting the name of Pomona City Councilman George Hunter from the official ballot argument against Measure R. Logan said,

“

Although we have quality controls in place, we experienced an unprecedented volume of measure contest consolidations and accompanying argumentation for this election — a historical high of 60 measures countywide. We apologize for the error and the lack of quality service in this regard.

”

Controversy over taxpayer funds

On September 11, Los Angeles County transit reportedly removed material that appeared to promote Measure R from their website, after complaints by opponents, including county superivsor Don Knabe, that what was said on the government-owned website was an improper use of taxpayer funds to take a position on a ballot measure. The county-funded Metropolitan Transportation Authority had also purchased radio ads urging listeners to visit their website to read arguments in favor of Measure R, fueling complaints over improper allocation of tax payer funds.

Editorial opinions

"Yes on Measure R"

The Los Angeles Times asked its readers to consider a "yes" vote despite opposition from outlying areas of the county, saying, "A well-designed transportation network relieves bottlenecks in places where demand is greatest, and such high-density corridors aren't evenly distributed on the map. The projects to be funded by Measure R have been well chosen to maximize efficiency and thus give taxpayers the best bang for their bucks regardless of where they live."

The Daily News Los Angeles supported the measure, saying, "We've reached the point where the leaks in Los Angeles County's transportation system can no longer be ignored."

"No on Measure R"

The Long Beach Press Telegram opposed the measure, writing that its residents should not have to pay for "billions earmarked for West Los Angeles projects."

The Pasadena Star News opposed the measure on similar grounds, arguing "inequitable funding" as a reason for a "no" vote.

The Antelope Valley Press opposed the measure as a "boondoggle in the basin" that would do little to help its "far flung" residents, and would raise taxes during an economic downturn.

Path to the ballot

The vote to place the measure on the ballot, taken by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, was 9-2 with one abstention and one absent.

See also

• Los Angeles City ballot measures
• Los Angeles County ballot measures
• California 2008 local ballot measures

External links

Suggest a link

Basic information:

• Metro: Measure R information site (dead link)
• Measure R on Smart Voter
• Many drivers don't see east-west divide over Measure R
• Los Angeles Times Bottleneck Blog: Measure R
• Officials await transit funds

Support:

• Los Angeles Times Editorial (Yes on Measure R)
• "Yes on Measure R" Facebook Group
• Yes on Measure R, official support website
• More reasons for vote for Measure R
• A mostly quiet campaign so far for Measure R
• Los Angeles Business Journal, "Measure R an important step in easing area transit issues"
• Independent blog supporting Measure R

Opposition:

• Long Beach Press-Telegram Editorial (No on Measure R)
• Vote No on the 6: MTA's Racist Sales Tax (dead link)
• The MTA's Sales tax boondoggle
• San Gabriel Valley Tribune Officials oppose Measure R, Oct 30, 2008
• Pasadena Weekly A 30 Year Ride