City of Claremont Public Safety Parcel Tax, Measure PS (November 2015)
| Voting on taxes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||
| Ballot measures | ||||||||
| By state | ||||||||
| By year | ||||||||
| Not on ballot | ||||||||
| ||||||||
| Measure info Amount: $286/parcel |
A parcel tax measure was on the ballot for Claremont voters in Los Angeles County, California, on November 3, 2015. It was defeated.
If approved, Measure PS would have authorized the city to impose an annual parcel tax—a kind of property tax based on units of property rather than assessed value—of $286 per parcel for 40 years. The revenue would have been used to fund a new police station.[1]
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure PS.
Election results
| Claremont, Measure PS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 No | 4,134 | 75.08% | ||
| Yes | 1,372 | 24.92% | ||
- Election results from Office of the Los Angeles County Clerk
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Shall the Claremont City Council adopt the ordinance levying a new special parcel tax of $286.00 per parcel per year commencing on July 1, 2016 and ending on June 30, 2056, for the purpose of funding the site acquisition, design, construction and furnishing of a new public safety facility?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of Measure PS was prepared by the office of the city attorney:
- Note: The impartial analysis below states that the tax was designed to continue until 2047. This is an error; Measure PS was a 40-year tax.[3]
| “ |
The City of Claremont (the "City") provides public safety services and operates its own police department, serving its residents, businesses and members of the public. This ballot measure, Measure PS, proposes a special parcel tax to fund a new public safety facility. The California Constitution and state law authorize the voters of the City to approve a parcel tax for specified purposes. Measure PS proposes to impose a special parcel tax of $286 per parcel for all parcels within the City. The tax, if approved, will commence on July 1, 2016 and end on June 30, 2047. The tax will not increase at any time. The Los Angeles County Treasurer-Tax Collector will collect the tax at the same time and in the same manner as ad valorem property taxes are collected. The proposed tax is a special tax. The proceeds of the tax may only be used to pay for a new public safety facility within the City, including, but not limited to, the cost of site acquisition, design, construction and furnishing of the facility, and all other necessary and related expenses related thereto, including incidental expenses incurred in the administration of the tax. Two-thirds of the qualified voters voting in the election must approve Measure PS in order to approve the tax. A "yes" vote on Measure PS authorizes the City, commencing July 1, 2016, to establish a new special parcel tax of $286 per parcel. A "no" vote on Measure PS prohibits the City from establishing a new special parcel tax of $286 per parcel.[2] |
” |
| —Claremont city attorney[4] | ||
Support
| City of Claremont, California, "Video about proposed police station," August 27, 2015 |
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of Measure PS:[5]
- Corey Calaycay, mayor of Claremont
- Sam Pedroza, mayor pro tem of Claremont
- Opanyi Nasiali, Claremont City council member
- Joseph M. Lyons, Claremont City council member
- Larry Schroeder, Claremont City council member
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of Measure PS:
| “ |
Claremont needs a new police station. The existing 9,762 square feet concrete block building was constructed in 1972. Its structural integrity is questionable, not likely to withstand a major earthquake. It does not comply with the California "Essential Services Building Seismic Act" and Federal "Americans with Disabilities Act." The jail facility does not meet current state standards, risking decertification. The station is inadequate for modern police operations which require high technology for effective service. It was built to accommodate 34 employees when the city's population was 24,000. Now there are 62 employees and more than 150 volunteers, with a city population of more than 35,000. An option to keep the existing building is risky, cost-prohibitive and unacceptable. In the likely event of a devastating earthquake, resulting in the building being unusable, temporary structures at an initial cost of approximately $2,623,000 ($748,000 annually) will be necessary to alleviate disruption in public safety. The community must not risk and wait to construct a new station at a time of dire need, when everyone in the region would most likely be competing for limited resources (labor, materials). With temporary structures and/or decertification of the jail facilities, Claremont will be forced to house prisoners at other jurisdictions, incurring additional transportation and boarding costs. Constructing a new police station now, at the estimated $50 million, is the most prudent option. We cannot continue to make do with the existing building, risking public safety. The police station is the only community facility open 24 hours daily, BENEFITING EVERYONE EQUALLY. Accordingly the City Council selected parcel tax as the most equitable means of funding the station. Approval of this measure will enable the City to borrow funds at the current low interest rates. For public safety, we urge a YES vote on November 3, 2015.[2] |
” |
| —Corey Calaycay, Sam Pedroza, Opanyi Nasiali, Joseph M. Lyons and Larry Schroeder[5] | ||
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument in opposition to Measure PS:[6]
- Bruce D. Cathcart, Claremont resident
- Hayden E. Lening, Claremont resident
- Jay N. Pocock, Claremont resident
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to Measure PS:
| “ |
Please vote NO on this extravagant unneeded measure. The City of Claremont may WANT a lavish police station but the community does not NEED the one proposed. Here are some reasons this measure is a bad idea: The City plans to increase police station square footage by FIVE TIMES to 47,000 square feet: more than an acre under roof. The direct cost of $50,000,000 is almost TWENTY TIMES that of the current station in today's dollars. Meanwhile, Claremont's population has increased by less than half. The City chose a site that was rejected in 2008 by its expert consultant due to water, site, and access problems. It is currently a pit, and will cost millions extra just to make it buildable. This would be funded by a REGRESSIVE parcel tax. Modest parcels in south Claremont pay exactly the same as larger and more expenses ones in the Village or north Claremont. A 40-year parcel tax is the most costly possible financing option. Each parcel owner in Claremont will pay $286 yearly for 40 years, almost $12,000 in all. With principal and interest totaling $119,500,000, you will be paying $8,185 per DAY for a police station that will be ready to demolish the day it is paid off. This is not OWNING, it is RENTING: a replacement building will immediately be needed. The City argument resorts to fear-mongering and scare stories about a natural disaster. These speculative perils cannot justify constructing a huge 47,000 square foot edifice on fill dirt in a pit. There are many less expensive and more suitable options that the City has ignored in its planning. It's time to get serious and pare this proposal down to something affordable to meet the true NEEDS of our community. This is not affordable. Please vote NO[2] |
” |
| —Bruce D. Cathcart, Hayden E. Lening and Jay N. Pocock[6] | ||
Path to the ballot
Measure PS was put on the ballot by a vote of the Claremont City Council.[4]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Claremont police station parcel tax Measure PS. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- City tax on the ballot
- Parcel tax
- California parcel tax on the ballot
- Parcel tax elections in California
- Los Angeles County, California ballot measures
- November 3, 2015 ballot measures in California
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Los Angeles County Elections Office, “Measures appearing on the ballot on November 3, 2015,” accessed September 8, 2015
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff writer Josh Altic, "Telephone correspondence with Claremont official," September 17, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Claremont Government, "Impartial Analysis of Measure PS," accessed September 16, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Claremont Government, "Argument in support of Measure PS," September 16, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Claremont Government, "Argument against Measure PS," September 16, 2015
| |||||
