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Chula Vista, California, Measure A, Half-Cent Sales Tax (June 2018)
| Measure A: Chula Vista Half-Cent Sales Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| June 5, 2018 |
| Status: |
 Approved
|
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: Never |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot June 5, 2018 ballot measures in California San Diego County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Chula Vista, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Chula Vista voters in San Diego County, California, on June 5, 2018. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the city to impose a half-cent (0.5 percent) sales tax on retail sales to fund general city purposes, set to expire when only when repealed by voters. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the city to impose a half-cent (0.5 percent) sales tax on retail sales to fund general city purposes, set to expire when only when repealed by voters. |
Election results
|
Chula Vista Measure A |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
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21,126 | 52.56% | ||
| No | 19,070 | 47.44% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
Shall the measure to provide: faster responses to 9-1-1 emergency calls, increaseneighborhood police patrols, reduce gang and drug-related crimes, addresshomelessness, improve firefighter, paramedic and emergency medical response,and general city services, by enacting a ½ cent sales tax, until the voters decideotherwise, generating an estimated $17 million annually for City services, with allfunds staying in Chula Vista, with citizen oversight and independent audits, be adopted?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Chula Vista City Attorney:
| “ |
If approved by voters, Measure A would impose a one-half cent ($.005) "transactions and use tax" (commonly known as a “sales tax”) on retail sales within the City of Chula Vista. The tax would remain in place unless and until the voters repealed it. The City's Finance Director estimates the tax would generate approximately $17 million per year. The City Council has expressed its intent to spend these monies exclusively on critical needs of the City's police and fire departments. However, because the tax is a “general purpose” tax, the City Council would reserve the right to spend the tax revenues for any lawful City purpose. Measure A also includes provisions for separate accounting and citizen oversight. Authority and Method of Assessment Measure A's sales tax would be levied under state law (Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7285.9). As such, it would be assessed and collected as a percentage of gross receipts from retail sales (and other taxable uses) occurring within the City in the same manner as the existing state sales tax. The current sales tax rate in Chula Vista is 8.25%. This includes an existing local sales tax of 0.5% that was approved by Chula Vista voters in 2016. This local tax is scheduled to expire in 2026. If the proposed Measure A sales tax were approved, the sales tax rate in the City would increase to 8.75%. The tax revenues generated from the additional 0.5% would go to the City (less a state administrative fee), and could only be spent for City purposes. If approved, the tax would commence on October 1, 2018. Provisions for Intended Expenditures Concurrent with its approval of Measure A for placement on the ballot, the City Council adopted an “Intended Public Safety Expenditure Plan” ("Plan") for Measure A revenues. By doing so, the City Council expressed its intent to spend Measure A sales tax revenues exclusively on the critical staffing needs of the City's police and fire departments, including necessary equipment. Measure A requires City staff to present for City Council action, requests for budgeting of police and fire personnel, and related equipment, consistent with the Plan. Each year thereafter, City staff would be required to prepare a “Measure A Spending Plan” that is also consistent with the Plan, and present it for City Council consideration, in its discretion, as part of the City's annual budget. A copy of the Plan is available on the City website at www.chulavistaca.gov/publicsafety. Separate Accounting and Citizens' Oversight Measure A includes requirements for separate accounting, budgeting and auditing of tax collections and expenditures. It also requires creation of a citizens' oversight committee (“COC”'). The COC would be responsible for reviewing and reporting on Measure A annual accounting and spending plans, and compliance with those plans. General Purpose Tax The City Council is submitting Measure A to the voters as a “general purpose tax." This means that a majority of the voters must approve the Measure for it to go into effect. Although this City Council has expressed its intent to spend Measure A revenues exclusively on public safety needs, such as police and fire personnel and equipment, the City Council will retain discretion to spend the revenues generated for any lawful municipal purpose. [2] |
” |
| —Chula Vista City Attorney[3] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Chula Vista City Council on February 13, 2018.[4]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ San Diego Registrar of Voters, "Measure for June 5, 2018," accessed April 25, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ City of Chula Vista, "Impartial Analysis," accessed April 25, 2018
- ↑ Fox 5, "Some Chula Vista business owners oppose raising sales tax to hire more first responders," February 14, 2018
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