City of Hercules utility tax, Measure A (June 2013)
| Voting on taxes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||
| Ballot measures | ||||||||
| By state | ||||||||
| By year | ||||||||
| Not on ballot | ||||||||
| ||||||||
A City of Hercules utility tax, Measure A ballot question was on the June 4, 2013 ballot for voters in the City of Hercules in Contra Costa County, where it was approved.[1]
Measure A sought to increase the utility users tax by 2% from 6% to 8% for five years, providing an estimated $1 million additional general fund revenue per year.[2]
On February 12, the Hercules city council voted to declare a fiscal emergency, allowing this Measure A tax increase to pass with simple majority.[3]
This measure was voted on a year after the overwhelmingly approved Measure O, which raised the city sales tax in 2012.[3]
Election results
| Measure A | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 2,248 | 70.96% | ||
| No | 920 | 29.04% | ||
- These results are from the Contra Costa County elections office.
Support
Supporters
An argument in favor of this measure was filed by the following Measure A supporters:
- Hercules Police Officers Association, Earnest Taylor, President
- Kathy Melas, Neighborhood Crime Watch Leader
- D Jay Tucker, Community Leader and 34-years Hercules taxpayer
- Cip Ayalin, retiree and 34 years Hercules taxpayer
- Betty Fong, DDS, Hercules business owner (North Shore Dental)
Arguments
According to the argument for Measure A filed in the voter's pamphlet, this tax was necessary to maintain a police force and necessary city services in Hercules.
Text of measure
The question on the ballot:
| City of Hercules Fiscal Accountability/Services Protection Measure. To restore Hercules to financial stability, enhance fiscal accountability, continue to maintain our own local Police Department, and prevent drastic cuts to neighborhood police officers, youth/senior programs, and other services, shall Hercules modernize its utility users tax with equal treatment of taxpayers regardless of technology, increase the rate by 2% for 5 years, maintain current low-income exemptions, with citizens’ oversight, independent audits, and local control of revenues?[2][4] |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Two California cities' finances hinge on ballot questions (dead link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Contra Costa voter's pamphlet
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 City to declare a state of fiscal emergency on Feb. 12
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| |||||
