City of Clovis Sales Tax Increase, Measure A (March 2009)
From Ballotpedia
A City of Clovis Sales Tax Increase, Measure A ballot question was on the March 3, 2009 ballot for voters in the City of Clovis in Fresno County, where it was defeated.[1][2]
If it had been approved, Measure A would have added a penny tax on every $1 in taxable purchases made within the city's limits, increasing the overall sales tax rate in the city to 8.975%. It was expected to generate $15 million a year in added revenues to the city. After 10 years, the tax would have dropped by a quarter of a cent.[3]
Majority approval was needed to pass the tax.
The Clovis City Council voted 4-1 in December 2008 to place Measure A on the March 3 ballot.[4]
Election results
| Measure A | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 No | 11,098 | 68.01% | ||
| Yes | 5,221 | 31.99% | ||
- These final election results are from the Fresno County election office.
Support
Supporters included:
- Clovis Citizens for Yes on A, which received donations of $5,000 each from the local police and fire unions.[5]
- Pat Cummings, owner of a 7-Eleven store in Clovis, who said, "I am very conservative; you can even consider me anti-tax" but who believed the tax was needed.
- Clovis City Council Member Harry Armstrong, who donated $15,000 to support the tax.
Opposition
Opponents of Measure A included:
- Clovis Mayor Bob Whalen
- Clovis City Council candidate Doug Foster.
- The Clovis Chamber of Commerce.[6]
- Don Watnick of Sir Speedy Printing.
- The Fresno County Peace and Freedom Party was opposed to Measure A and urged a "no" vote. The basis for their opposition was the "long-standing position in opposition to any sales tax because these are regressive taxes. Regressive taxes are those which hurt poor people more than they do the rich."[7]
- The Fresno Bee editorial board, which wrote, "In better times, this tax might make more sense. But for now, it's too much to ask of taxpayers."[8]
Ballot question
The question on the ballot:
| Measure A: "To restore, maintain and improve essential city services and preserve the safety and character of Clovis, prioritizing police services, fire protection; street/pothole repairs; senior services, parks, youth anti-gang/drug prevention and recreation programs; expanded neighborhood patrols; graffiti removal, and other general city services/facilities, shall the city sales tax be increased by one cent for ten years, then reduced to three-quarters cent with independent citizen's oversight, annual audits, and all funds under local control?"[9] |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ "Fresno County - Election Summary Report," March 3, 2009
- ↑ Fresno Bee, "Clovis split over sales-tax increase proposal," January 8, 2009
- ↑ Fresno Bee, "Clovis split over sales tax increase," January 8, 2009
- ↑ Fresno Bee, "Approval ratings high in Clovis," December 28, 2009
- ↑ Fresno Beehive, "Clovis tax issue raising money on both sides," January 23, 2009
- ↑ Chamber Board opposes Measure A tax increase
- ↑ Vote "No" on Clovis Measure A
- ↑ Fresno Bee, "Clovis residents should vote 'no' on Measure A sales-tax increase," February 18, 2009
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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