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City of Los Angeles Communications Users Tax, Measure S (February 2008)
A City of Los Angeles Communications Users Tax, Measure S ballot question was on the February 5, 2008 ballot in Los Angeles, California, where it was approved.[1]
The measure, known as the "Phone and Internet Tax," levied a new tax on phone and internet use.
An existing City of Los Angeles tax on telecommunications had been declared invalid because it violated the provisions of California Proposition 218 (1996). That tax was 10% on cellular phone service. Proposition S imposed a tax rate of 9%, and extended the tax to include services not previously taxed: internet, DSL, VOIP, PCS and other electronic services.
It was estimated that the tax will raise $270 million annually for the city.
Election results
| Measure S | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 463,621 | 65.94% | ||
| No | 239,513 | 34.06% | ||
- These final, certified, election results are from the Los Angeles County elections office.
Support
The Anschutz Entertainment Group gave $100,000 to the campaign in favor of Proposition S.[2]
Ballot question
The question on the ballot:
| Measure S: "Shall an ordinance be adopted to reduce the City’s tax on communications users from 10% to 9%; modernize the ordinance to treat taxpayers equally regardless of technology used; exempt low income senior-citizen and disabled households; to fund general municipal services, such as 911, police, fire protection, street maintenance, parks and libraries; subject to an annual independent audit?"[3] |
Cost of special election
Los Angeles was criticized for putting the measure on the February 5 ballot, because of the $5.1 million it cost to administer the special election.[4]
See also
- City of Pasadena Utility Users Tax, Measure D (February 2008)
- Local ballot measures, California
- Local utility taxes in California
External links
- No on Proposition S Website of an opponent.
- AFL-CIO says yes on S (dead link)
- Yes on Proposition S, a Los Angeles Times editorial
- The "S" stands for sham (dead link), an editorial opinion column published in the Los Angeles Times
- Boone Pickens contributes to passage of Proposition S
Footnotes
- ↑ Measure S still leaves L.A. short
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "L.A. City Council is set to rule on whether AEG should cover cost of Jackson's memorial," December 6, 2009
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Typical political doublespeak
