A City of Antioch services sales tax, Measure C ballot question was on the November 5, 2013, election ballot for voters in the city of Antioch in Contra Costa County, California. It was approved.
Measure C increased the Antioch sales tax rate by 1/2 percent from 8.5% to 9%. The increase was authorized for 6 years with a "yes" vote on November 5.[1]
Antioch City voters narrowly rejected a sales tax measure in 2010.
Election results
| Measure C |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage |
 a Yes | 7,609 | 68.09% |
| No | 3,566 | 31.91% |
- These final, certified results are from the Contra Costa County elections office.
Text of measure
Ballot question
The question on the ballot:
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To fund all essential city services
including increased police staffing
to reduce crime and gang
activities and improve 911
emergency response time;
restored code enforcement to
clean up blighted properties; and
local economic development and
job creation, shall the City of
Antioch adopt a one-half cent
transactions and use (sales) tax,
expiring in seven years, with
mandatory annual audits and
independent citizens’ oversight
and for local Antioch use only?
[1][2]
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Support
Supporters
Below is a list those who signed the official voter pamphlet arguments in favor of Measure C:[3]
- Sergeant Tom Fuhrmann, President, Antioch Police Officers' Association
- Brittney Gougeon, Founder, Take Back Antioch
- Hans Ho, Past Chair, Antioch Crime Prevention Commission/Neighborhood Watch
- Joyann Motts, President, Antioch Unified School Board
- Wade Harper, Mayor of Antioch/Retired Police Lieutenant
Other supporters:
Arguments in favor
In its editorial endorsement of Measure C, the Contra Costa Times wrote that the 1/2 cent sales tax increase proposed by Measure C raises the Antioch City tax rate to 9%, which matches cities such as Concord, Pittsburg and Richmond and is a fair rate.[3]
Official arguments
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| Official Voter Guide Arguments in favor of Measure B | |
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A Yes on Measure C will allow us to immediately hire 22
new police officers, decreasing the time it takes to respond
to 911 calls. It will also provide funds to reduce the number
of gang-related homicides, assaults and robberies.
Our police force has dwindled from 126 officers four years
ago to only 89 today. 911 response times have increased
and violent crime is up 30%. We feel unsafe in our homes
and are in constant fear of becoming victims of crime.
The budget crisis has forced the near-closing of Antioch’s
Code Enforcement Department. We need to resume
inspections on foreclosed and abandoned properties to
force absent property owners to clean up blight and evict
tenants dealing drugs.
A Yes on Measure C will give us immediate funds to
begin cleaning up Antioch’s blighted properties. (Go to
CleanUpAntioch.com to register the address of a blighted
property you would like to add to the cleanup list.)
Measure C would temporarily raise the sales tax by ½
cent for seven years – generating $4.3 million a year for
additional police and cleaning up abandoned properties.
To increase accountability, Measure C has a fixed end
date and requires independent annual spending audits and
strict citizens’ review.
Antioch is in a State of Emergency, and we must come
together to restore our quality of life. We need immediate
funding to “turn Antioch around” – to lower crime and
cleanup abandoned properties.
The City workforce has been cut nearly 40%; city
employees, including police, have substantially reduced
their health/retirement benefits. City services have been
scaled down to skeletal levels. Yet we still face a $3.6
million deficit.
Antioch needs funds now to lower crime and to cleanup
dilapidated properties. Your voting Yes on Measure C will
give us the financial boost we need to turn Antioch around.
Thank you.[1]
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Media endorsements
The editorial news group of the Contra Costa Times urged voters to approve Measure C.[5]
Opposition
Opponents
Below is a list of those who signed the official voter guide arguments against Measure C:
- Citizens for Democracy
- Norma A. Hernandez, CFD's Senior Citizens' Representative and former Antioch City Council Member
- Ralph A. Hernandez, Chairperson and fromer Antiock City Council Member
Arguments against
Those standing up in opposition to Measure C argued that in the past revenue increases have been used by the city to increase salaries and benefits instead of increasing services. They also pointed out that there were no restrictions on how the City Council could use money garnered from Measure C. Supporters, such as the Contra Costa Times and opponents alike were quick to call for decreases in the benefits of the city's public employees, especially the police officer pensions.[1][3]
Official arguments
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| Official Voter Guide Arguments in opposition to Measure C | |
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Vote “NO” on increasing your Sales Tax to 9 cents
on the $1 for all taxable items purchased. The State
just raised gasoline taxes by 3.5 cents more per gallon!
Antioch’s proposed tax increase also affects jobs and
businesses (it’ll drive customers elsewhere)! More taxes
doesn’t mean better decisions. It’ll benefit those favoring
its passage and those receiving increased raises, benefits,
and extremely generous pensions! Pay more, get less!
Antioch’s Police salaries, retirement pay, and benefits
have significantly increased again, making the public
pay more! Some employees’ outrageous estimated
salaries’ and benefits’ costs; City Manager $350,000;
Chief $330,000; Lts. $285,000; Sgts. $240,000; Corporals
$200,000; Officers $180,000.
APOA always vigorously insisted on pay and benefit
increases for themselves, not more manpower! Police
recently received 9% in wage increases (and 4% more
effective on 9/1/13), more guaranteed yearly increases,
costly multi year contracts, keeping their costly “3% at 50”
pension package. The public gets far less, some with no
retirement at all. It’s shameful!
This General Fund tax can be used however any
Council majority (3) wants! They haven’t listened to you
before! You alone are the best “Oversight” on how your
money’s spent, not their Appointees!
They’re again using scare tactics to just tax you more!
You shouldn’t pay for their uncontrolled overspending and
mismanagement! The Council majorities caused this, not
you!
Property values are continuing to increase and as
adjustments are made the City will receive more tax
revenue! This tax increase is unnecessary! We have
continuing increases in costs for utilities, sewer, groceries,
medical, and unemployment! Antioch’s already raised
water, garbage rates, business fees, etc. Enough already!
Increasing existing taxes isn’t the solution! City
officials must do more to cut costs! Stop overspending,
and definitely cut back excessive salaries and benefits for
those overcompensated employees.
Vote “NO”
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City Analysis
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| Official Voter Guide Analysis by City Council | |
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The City Council of the City of Antioch has declared a fiscal
emergency. This is due to the $13 million reduction in the
City’s annual general fund revenues; depletion of reserves;
and decreased level of essential City services.
The City Council voted unanimously to put Measure C on
the ballot to ask voters to approve a temporary one-half of
one percent (0.5%) sales (transactions and use) tax. This
means one-half of one cent would be added to the price
of a taxable item that costs a dollar. The increase would
terminate automatically in seven years after collection
begins.
Audit and Citizens’ Oversight Committee
Each year, an independent auditor would complete a public
audit report of the revenue raised and its expenditure.
A Citizens’ Oversight Committee would review the
expenditures and report publicly. The report would be part
of the public record. The Committee would be composed
of seven Antioch residents appointed by the Mayor and
approved by the City Council.
General Revenue for All City Services
The revenue would be deposited in the City’s general fund.
It could be used for any legal municipal purpose including:
police and emergency response; code enforcement; local
economic development and job creation; street repair; and
any other City program and service.
Allocation and Administration
The City receives 0.75% of the current sales tax, with
most of it going to the State of California (7.25%); along
with Contra Costa County (0.25%), the Contra Costa
Transportation Authority (0.50%), and BART (0.50%).
Measure C would increase the sales tax by .50% for seven
years starting April 1, 2014. The temporarily increased
amount would only go to the City of Antioch and not the
State, County, Transportation Authority or B.A.RT.
The existing sales tax is levied on the sale or use of tangible
personal property sold at retail, with some exceptions.
Retailers collect the tax and forward it to the State Board
of Equalization to allocate. The additional amount would
be collected in the same way.
Effect of Measure
Measure C, also known as the “Restoring Antioch
Services Sales Tax,” would add an ordinance to the
Antioch Municipal Code to impose the temporary sales tax
increase. The State Board of Equalization approved the
ordinance language.
A “Yes” vote is a vote to approve the additional half-cent
sales tax for seven years. A “No” vote is a vote against the
tax. If the Measure receives a majority of “Yes” votes, it
will be approved.[1]
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Similar measure
See also
External links
