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Bellflower, California, Marijuana Tax, Measure B (March 2017)
| Measure B: Bellflower Marijuana Tax |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| March 7, 2017 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local marijuana tax |
| Related articles |
| Local marijuana tax on the ballot March 7, 2017 ballot measures in California Los Angeles County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Bellflower, California |
A marijuana tax measure was on the ballot for Bellflower voters in Los Angeles County, California, on March 7, 2017. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the city to impose a tax on marijuana businesses. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the city to impose a tax on marijuana businesses. |
Election results
| Measure B | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 3,159 | 73.84% | ||
| No | 1,119 | 26.16% | ||
- Election results from Los Angeles County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
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Shall the proposition imposing a tax on cannabis related businesses operating within the City of Bellflower be adopted?[2] |
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Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of Measure B was provided by the office of the Bellflower city attorney:[3]
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Measure B is a proposition placed on the ballot by the Bellflower City Council. If approved by voters, Measure B would impose a new general tax upon cannabis businesses operating within the City of Bellflower including commercial cultivation, distribution, manufacturing, and retail sales. All tax revenue derived from the tax would be deposited in the City’s General Fund. Measure B itself does not authorize or permit cannabis business activities. Rather, beginning July 1, 2017, it authorizes imposition of an annual tax upon all commercial cannabis activities authorized by separate City Council action and state law. For commercial cannabis cultivation (except for nurseries) the tax would be $15.00 per fiscal year, per square foot of authorized space. Commencing July 1, 2020, this tax will increase each fiscal year by $2.50 per square foot until it reaches a maximum annual tax rate of $25.00 per square foot. For nurseries, the tax would be $2.00 per square foot of authorized space. Beginning July 1, 2020, this tax will increase each fiscal year by $1.50 per square foot until it reaches a maximum annual tax rate of $5.00 per square foot. Every person transporting cannabis or cannabis products from one permitted business location of one permittee to another must pay an annual tax of $1,500.00 per year. Every person who operates a dispensary, manufacturing facility, testing laboratory, or distribution facility, or engages in delivery of cannabis in the City must pay an initial annual tax of 5% of the gross receipts per fiscal year. That rate would increase on July 1, 2020 (and for each fiscal year thereafter) by 2.5% until it reaches an annual maximum tax rate of 10%. Beginning July 1, 2024, and continuing each July 1st thereafter, non-gross receipt based cannabis taxes (cultivation, nurseries, and transportation) would increase based upon the consumer price index. There is no sunset clause on the taxes. All the taxes implemented by Measure B may be suspended or reduced by City Council action. Any other increase of the tax would require voter approval. Measure B would impose a “general tax.” Therefore, all tax revenue would be available for use by the City to pay for general City operations and services. The City would not be legally bound in any way to use the tax monies for any special purpose or for any particular facilities or programs. Since this ballot measure proposes a “general tax” rather than a “special tax,” it requires approval by a simple majority of the City’s voters. A “yes” vote on Measure B favors the Measure. A “no” vote on Measure B opposes the Measure.[2] |
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Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official arguments in support of Measure B.[4]
- Ron Schnablegger, mayor pro tem
- Ray Dunton, city councilmember
Arguments in favor
Official arguments
The following argument was submitted in favor of Measure B:[4]
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A YES vote on Measure B will make Bellflower a fiscally sound City at no cost to the residents of Bellflower. The anticipated revenues from Measure B will provide funding for needed law enforcement, including additional neighborhood patrols, parks and recreation and after-school programs. The estimated new funds of up to $3 million annually would allow the City to continue providing the existing law enforcement and economic development services provided by the existing utility user tax fees that are set to expire in April 2018. All programs funded by Measure B will be subject to citizen oversight and review, and the funds will be fully audited every year. Measure B will be implemented through a tightly regulated Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process and regulatory ordinance. It is the City’s intent to allow only a very limited number of highly qualified operators to do business in the City. We recognize that cultivation and distribution of cannabis is not necessarily a preferred activity among all facets of the community. However, it is simply a matter of good government to regulate and tax a lucrative business that that has been overwhelmingly approved by voters throughout the State and in the City on November 8, 2016. Vote YES on Measure B. It is a matter of good government and good business.[2] |
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Opposition
Opponents
John Paul Drayer, who described himself as a homeowner and educator, signed the official argument in opposition to Measure B.[5]
Arguments against
Official arguments
The following argument was submitted in opposition to Measure B:[5]
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Argument Against 12 Pot Businesses in Bellflower & their taxation Please VOTE NO, against the sale of pot in our city! This measure doesn’t allow enough distance away from schools, safe passages to & from school, homes where children live, & churches from these 12 pot businesses that could harm the brain development of kids with an increased drug supply & drug culture. Where is the urgency on the part of the city manager, Mayor, & City Council for more regular businesses among the vacant lots & buildings throughout Bellflower? The City will open its doors wide open for up to 12 pot businesses in your neighborhood? Why has the city given up on our family oriented community & our kids’ brain development? (google the research) Maybe a few pot businesses, but 12? Is the city withholding accurate information about the true nature of the city’s finances? Why wasn’t a community task force set up to research the best practices on such an important issue to develop our community standards on this issue with forums at local schools & parks? Federal law is against this, plus a new President might enforce all drug laws. His proposed Attorney General is against Pot Businesses. Especially if Marijuana sold in Bellflower will be sold in another state, like what is happening in Colorado. We should take a wait & see approach to this, like surrounding bedroom communities. We do not have large industrial areas to hide pot businesses, like Long Beach. With the city’s new direction will our property values drop? What will be the total liability & cost to the city & its residents with higher emergency room visits with kids experimenting at a higher levels. VOTE NO, SAY NO TO POT & TAXES![2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Bellflower City Council.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Bellflower Local marijuana tax Measure B. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Los Angeles County Elections Office, "CONSOLIDATED MUNICIPAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS MARCH 7, 2017: MEASURES APPEARING ON THE BALLOT," accessed January 8, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Bellflower Elections, "Impartial analysis of Measure B," accessed March 7, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bellflower Elections, "Argument in favor of Measure B," accessed March 7, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bellflower Elections, "Arguments against Measure B," accessed March 7, 2017
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