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City of Newark Utility Tax Extension and Reduction, Measure Y (November 2014)

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A City of Newark Utility Tax Extension and Reduction, Measure Y ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of Newark in Alameda County, California. It was approved.

This measure extended for five years the city's utility user tax, while simultaneously reducing the tax rate from 3.5 percent to 3.25 percent. The tax was designed to apply to phone service, video service - such as cable television - and electricity and gas services. The Measure Y tax was not designed to apply to satellite television or internet access, in according with federal law.[1]

The tax was originally approved in 2010 under Measure U. It was approved under a "fiscal emergency" provision.[1]

Election results

Measure Y
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 5,655 74.99%
No1,88625.01%

Election results via: Alameda County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot:[1]

“

To maintain critical City services, including neighborhood patrols, crime prevention, anti-drug/gran-prevention programs, 9-1-1 emergency response, fire protection services, City streets, repairing potholes, keeping the Senior Center open, maintaining school police officers, parks/recreation programs, and other city services, shall the City of Newark extend the existing voter-approved utility users tax for 5 years, reducing the rate from 3.5% to 3.25%, exempting seniors and low-income residents, requiring independent audits, with no money for Sacramento?[2]

”

Support

Supporters

The following individuals signed the official arguments in favor of Measure Y:[1]

  • Alan L. Nagy, Mayor of Newark
  • Ethan Katz, President of the Newark Police Officers Association
  • David W. Smith, Mayor Emeritus
  • Vivien Larsen, Member of Ohlone College Board of Trustees
  • Elwood Ballard, Member of Newark Senior Citizens Advisory Committee

Arguments in favor

Supporters argued that the tax was essential in 2010 when it was originally passed and was equally essential in 2014. They proposed that, without the utility tax, the city would experience a fiscal emergency and would suffer the following consequences, just as the city did in 2010:

  • Reduced police protection services
  • The elimination of school crossing guards
  • The elimination of the high school police officer
  • The closure of the senior center and community center
  • The elimination of Sunday library hours
  • The reduction of park maintenance and street maintenance
  • The depletion of fiscal reserves.

Opposition

Opponents

The following individuals signed the official arguments in opposition to Measure Y:[1]

  • Virgil Patterson
  • Linda Patterson
  • Kathleen M. Kelley
  • Danny H. Kelley
  • Stewart Dean Lewis

Arguments against

Opponents argued that the utility tax approved in 2010 was supposed to be a temporary tax. They argued that the city should not have claimed it is an integral part of the budget since it was first presented as a temporary tax to help during a fiscal emergency. Opponents also argued that the tax supporters were exaggerating the city's needs and pointed to the follow items of evidence:[1]

  • A new Amazon distribution warehouse likely to increase the city's sales tax.
  • The Newpark Mall being remodeled, with ample tax refunds from the city, indicating that the city budget was not in such dire straights as officials would have voters believe.
  • A new high-tech research center, as well as the Pacific Research Center, producing more tax revenue to the city.
  • Property value in the city being on the rise.
  • Most of the revenue from the utility tax went to repay CalPERS debts, rather than to increase city services.

An excerpt from the official arguments in opposition to Measure Y stated, "The original UUT was passed under the "fiscal emergency" provision. There is no longer a fiscal emergency."[1]

Related measures

Approveda City of Newark Utility Users Tax, Measure U (November 2010)

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Alameda County Elections Office, "Ballot Measure information document," archived August 15, 2014
  2. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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