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City of Cloverdale Utility User Tax, Measure O (November 2014)
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A City of Cloverdale Utility User Tax, Measure O ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of Cloverdale in Sonoma County, California. It was approved.
Upon its approval, Measure O was designed to authorize the city to impose a 3 percent utility tax for eight years on telecommunications, electricity, gas, and video services. This tax was a general tax, meaning revenue from it was meant to go into the city's general fund and was not earmarked for a specific purpose or dedicated to a particular city fund.[1]
Election results
| Measure O | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 1,279 | 51.1% | ||
| No | 1,224 | 48.9% | ||
- Election results from Sonoma County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The question on the ballot:[1]
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Temporary City of Cloverdale Local Control/Fiscal Stability Measure. To create local funding for local needs; maintain Cloverdale’s independent, local Police Department; prevent further cuts to police officers, 911 response, violent/property crimes investigation; maintain storm drains, pothole/street repair, local business support, and other City services; shall the City of Cloverdale establish a utility user tax at a 3% rate for eight years with low-income senior exemptions, citizens’ oversight, annual independent audits and no money for Sacramento?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure O:[1]
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The City Council of the City of Cloverdale placed Measure O on the ballot to ask voters to approve a temporary three percent (3%) utility users’ tax on the use of telecommunications, electricity, gas, and video services (“UUT”). For example, the UUT would add 30¢ to a $10 bill for one of those services. Because MeasureO does not limit the use of UUT revenue, it is a “general tax,” not a “special tax” restricting the funds to specific purposes. The City would be allowed to use the funds for any legitimate governmental purpose. The resolution that submitted the Measure and Council-approved ballot question to the voters identified the following priorities for use of the revenue from the UUT: maintaining Cloverdale’s independent, local Police Department; preventing further cuts to the number of police officers, 911 response, and investigations of violent and property crimes; maintaining storm drains; pothole and street repair; support for local businesses; and replenishing the City’s emergency reserve fund. The UUT would terminate automatically on January 1, 2023, unless extended by the voters. Measure O requires the City Council to establish a three-member citizens’ oversight committee to review and report on the receipt of revenue and expenditure of UUT funds. The committee would prepare the required reports in 2020 and 2022 and submit them to the City Council as part of its budget considerations. The Measure requires the City’s independent auditors to include an accounting of revenue from and expenditure of UUT funds in the City’s annual financial audits. The independent auditor’s reports would be submitted to the citizens’ oversight committee. The UUT would apply to the use of telecommunications, electricity, gas, and video services by residents and businesses. It would apply to landline, wireless, and other forms of telephone service, including long distance. It would also apply to cable television service, however, it would not apply to internet access service. The UUT would be based upon the amount charged by each service provider for the services used. Service providers would include the UUT on their bills, collect the UUT from service users, and remit the revenue collected to the City. The Measure provides low-income senior exemptions for telecommunications, electricity, and gas services. To qualify for an exemption, the person responsible for paying the bill would have to be 65 years of age or older and eligible to participate in an existing low-income service plan for the applicable service. A “Yes” vote is a vote to approve a three percent (3%) tax for eight (8) years on telecommunications, electricity, gas, and video services, with annual audits and review by a citizens’ oversight committee. A “No” vote is a vote against the UUT. Measure O would be approved if it received a simple majority of “Yes” votes.[2] |
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| —Jose M. Sanchez, Cloverdale
City Attorney[1] | ||
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official arguments in favor of Measure O:[1]
- Carol Russell, mayor of Cloverdale
- Gail Pardini-Plass, Cloverdale leader
- Bill Lambert, Cloverdale resident and taxpayer
- Greg Carter, business owner
- Joe Palla, Cloverdale city councilmember and former Police Chief
Arguments in favor
The following was submitted as the official arguments in favor of Measure O:[1]
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Secure Cloverdale’s financial stability and support the essential City services you rely on — vote Yes on O! Yes on O gives Cloverdale a guaranteed source of local funding that cannot be taken by Sacramento or Washington, ensuring our tax dollars are spent locally to keep Cloverdale financially stable. Did you know that the City has already implemented significant budget cuts and reform? The number of City employees has already been reduced by over 20%, salaries have been frozen for the past six years, pensions have been reformed, and City Hall is currently closed on Fridays to save money. To fix their own budget, Sacramento politicians have seized our money for years. But Cloverdale has virtually no emergency reserves left and is vulnerable to emergencies like natural disasters or future state budget cuts. Yes on O enhances the fiscal stability of Cloverdale. Yes on O prevents devastating budget cuts and gives Cloverdale a locally-controlled source of revenue! Yes on O prevents cuts to 9-1-1 emergency response services and police dispatchers. Yes on O prevents cuts to violent and property crime investigations. Yes on O maintains programs that promote businesses and jobs to locate in Cloverdale. Yes on O maintains street maintenance and pothole repair services. Yes on O keeps us safe, by preventing even deeper reductions in the number of police officers patrolling our neighborhoods, and will maintain our independent, local Cloverdale Police Department. Yes on O is fiscally accountable! All funds are subject to Independent Citizens Oversight and annual independent audits available for public review. By law, low-income seniors are exempt and Measure O expires in eight years. No money can be taken by Sacramento! Join public safety and business leaders in protecting our City — vote Yes on O![2] |
” |
| —Carol Russell, Gail Pardini-Plass, Bill Lambert, Greg Carter and Joe Palla[1] | ||
Opposition
No official arguments were submitted in opposition to Measure M. If you have an argument you would like to see posted here, please email the Local Ballot Measure Project staff writer.
See also
- City tax on the ballot
- Local utility tax and fees on the ballot
- California Utility User Taxes
- Sonoma County, California ballot measures
- November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California
External links
Footnotes
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