Cerritos, California, Measure C, Sales Tax (March 2020)

Cerritos Measure C
Election date March 3, 2020
Topic Local sales tax
Status d Defeated
Type Referral	Origin Lawmakers
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A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Cerritos voters in Los Angeles County, California, on March 3, 2020. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported authorizing an additional sales tax in the city of 0.75% for general city services, thereby increasing the total sales tax rate in the city from 9.5% to 10.25%.

A "no" vote opposed authorizing an additional sales tax of 0.75%, thereby keeping the total sales tax rate in the city at 9.5%.

A simple majority was required for the approval of Measure C.

Election results

Cerritos Measure C
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		4,637	32.53%
No		9,616	67.47%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot question

The ballot question was as follows:

“

Shall the measure to establish a general, three-quarters percent (0.75%) local transactions and use (sales) tax, raising an estimated $11.4 million annually, and ending when voters decide to do so, subject to independent audits and public reports of spending, to provide and maintain a high level of City services, including, but not limited to, local sheriff’s and community safety, sidewalk and street maintenance and repair, tree-trimming, library services, and parks and recreation services, be adopted?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Cerritos City Attorney:

“ The Cerritos City Council has placed Measure C on the ballot for the March 3, 2020, general election to ask the City’s voters to approve a three-quarters percent (0.75%) transactions and use tax to be added to the current sales tax. The proposed measure would add a threequarters of one percent tax on the retail sales price. As examples, Measure C would add fifteen cents (.15₵) to items purchased for a total of twenty dollars ($20.00), or would add seventy-five cents (.75₵) to items purchased for a total of one-hundred dollars ($100.00). Measure C is a “transactions and use tax” that is levied on the same type of purchases as the existing sales tax. The current combined sales tax rate in Cerritos is 9.50%. Of the 9.50% tax rate, the allocation to Cerritos is 1.00%. This Measure would increase the combined sales tax rate in Cerritos to 10.25% and the allocation to Cerritos would increase 0.75% to a total of 1.75%. The Measure is estimated to generate $11,400,000 annually for the City’s general fund to be used locally in Cerritos. All of the funds generated by Measure C will remain in Cerritos. As a general tax, the revenue by the Measure can be used to maintain and expand funding for general governmental services and facilities, including: • Public safety services • Public infrastructure, including streets and sidewalks, and public facilities • Parks and Recreation services, including facilities • Library services The funds generated by Measure C and the expenditures will be subject to independent annual audits that will be presented to the City Council at a meeting open to the public and posted on the City’s website. The Measure will be approved if it receives a simple majority of “Yes” votes. Once approved, it will continue unless and until ended by voters. A “yes” vote is for approving the 0.75% local tax and a “No” vote is against approving the 0.75% local tax. ”

Full text

The full text of the measure is available here.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Cerritos City Council.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2020
• Local sales tax on the ballot
• City tax on the ballot
• Los Angeles County measures

California

• March 3, 2020 measures in California
• Local ballot measures, California
• Cerritos, California

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas

External links

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic
• Los Angeles County Elections Office website