City of San Jacinto Utility Users Tax, Measure CC (November 2014)

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A City of San Jacinto Utility Users Tax, Measure CC ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of San Jacinto in Riverside County, California. It was defeated.

If approved, Measure CC would have imposed a 6.5 percent utility users tax for ten years to fund general city services such as police, fire and paramedic services, parks, community buildings and infrastructure. The measure would have exempted low-income seniors.

Election results

Riverside County Measure CC
Result		Votes	Percentage
d No		2,858	52.29%
Yes		2,608	47.71%

Election results from Riverside County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot appeared as:

“

To maintain current police, firefighter and paramedic service levels, maintain 9-1-1 emergency response times, maintain operational levels for existing neighborhood fire stations, parks, community buildings and infrastructure, and create jobs; shall the City of San Jacinto establish a 6.5% Utility Users Tax for 10 years on utility services within the City, while exempting low-income seniors, requiring annual audits and allowing no tax rate increase without voter approval?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure CC:

“	On August 5, 2014, the City Council placed Measure “CC” on the November 4, 2014 ballot. If approved by a majority of San Jacinto voters, this Measure would authorize a six and one-half percent (6.5%) utility users tax on the use of telecommunications, water, gas, electricity, cable/video, sewer and refuse services within the City of San Jacinto. The tax proposed by Measure “CC” is temporary and will automatically expire 10 years after its effective date. Measure “CC” would exempt households with low-income seniors (62 or older) and authorizes the City Council to exempt additional persons or services from the tax in the future. Measure “CC” is intended to prevent significant cuts to general City services resulting from revenue shortfalls caused by recent economic factors. This tax would be a “general tax,” meaning that revenues raised from the tax would go into the City’s general fund to fund any lawful City program, improvement, or service. The City would not be required to use the revenues raised by Measure “CC” for any special purpose or for any particular program or service. All revenues raised by the tax would belong to the City and would not be shared with the State or any other agency. Measure “CC” would require that the City annually verify that the tax has been properly applied, collected and spent according to applicable law through an independent third-party audit, the results of which shall be published in an annual expenditure report. Measure “CC” would authorize the City Council to adjust the rate of the utility users tax up or down as appropriate to the financial condition of the City, without voter approval, provided the rate does not exceed the maximum 6.5% set forth in the Measure. If approved, the utility users tax would be collected starting on or about March 1, 2015. By placing Measure “CC” on the ballot, the City complies with Article XIIIC of the California Constitution (Proposition 218), which requires a majority of the voters to approve an ordinance which establishes a general tax. A “yes” vote on Measure “CC” will authorize the utility users tax. A “no” vote on Measure “CC” will not authorize the utility users tax.	”
—Jeff Ballinger, San Jacinto City Attorney

Support

Supporters

• John Norman, San Jacinto Unified School District President
• Alonso Ledezma, San Jacinto Mayor
• Mark Bartel, San Jacinto City Councilman
• Jack Warneke, Longtime San Jacinto Resident and Community Leader
• Susan Watson, San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

Arguments

The following was submitted as the official arguments in favor of Measure CC:

“	Vote YES on Measure “CC” to maintain and restore police, fire and emergency services. Public Safety is the most important service. San Jacinto policing levels are already 20% below the standard due to growth. Home invasions, homicides, gang activity, and crimes targeting seniors are up. County prisons are full resulting in the release of 23,560 inmates, and increasing the City’s police calls by 40%. The City cannot continue to spend more money on public safety than its revenues. San Jacinto could eliminate everything from the budget except public safety and there would still be a deficit. Over 80% of the general fund is spent on police and fire services. Without Measure “CC”, approximately 25% of the police, one School Resource Officer, all traffic patrols and one fire station will be eliminated. It is an income problem, not a spending problem. Since 2007-2008, Sacramento raided the City revenue by over $3.7 million, taking over 40% the City’s property tax revenues. Between this and “The “Great Recession” the City was forced to balance the budget using reserve funds. San Jacinto has cut 23% of an already lean staff, lowered interest payments on loans, reduced utility costs, eliminated special events and passed pension reform requiring employee retirement contributions. Measure “CC” will provide the revenue needed to not only maintain the current public safety levels, but will increase the policing levels to match our population growth. These funds will be safe from Sacramento and the County. Measure “CC” will require independent audits, exempt low income seniors, and will sunset after 10 years. Measure “CC” is endorsed by The San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce, The Hemet/San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce, educators, all 5 council members, and community leaders because they know Measure “CC” will protect businesses, schools and our entire community.	”
—John Norman, Alonso Ledezma, Mark Bartel, Jack Warneke, and Susan Watson

Opposition

Opponents

• Steve Di Memmo, Former Council Member
• James D. Pangrazzi, Retired Professional Driver
• Michael Fred Allen, Retired Teacher

Arguments

The following was submitted as the official arguments in opposition to Measure CC:

“	Taxpayers Against Measure “CC” Here we go again with another new tax increase on the ballot, and this one is unnecessary and unfair. The current City Council for the past two years has been fiscally irresponsible and has not been good stewards of the City’s assets and services. The City Council approved placing the measure on the ballot 5-0. They are a tax and spend council. Measure “CC” will apply a 6.5% tax to your electric, gas, water, phone, cell phone and internet bills. Your “NO” VOTE on “MEASURE CC” will save you thousands of dollars over the next ten years on user utility tax for all utilities. This tax has a sunset clause of ten years. Do you really think this tax would be a “TEMPORARY TAX?” This tax will automatically increase as utility rates increase for San Jacinto residents and businesses. This 6.5% tax could cost an average household about $400.00 a year or more and for businesses substantially more. Contrary to what the City Council claims, the tax DOES NOT indicate whether it is designated or restricted for Public Safety or for a specific benefit for the San Jacinto Taxpayers. Some homeowners will be double taxed because of Community Facilities District taxes where they pay for public safety already. For example a property owner in San Jacinto who already pays $3,484.46 per year for Community Facilities District public safety taxes will now add on 6.5% utility tax or about $400. For electricity alone, a restaurant in San Jacinto that pays $8,000.00 per month would have to pay $6,240 more per year. This will cost us jobs! “VOTE NO” on Measure “CC”	”
—Steve Di Memmo, James D. Pangrazzi and Michael Fred Allen

See also

• City tax on the ballot
• Local utility tax and fees on the ballot
• California Utility User Taxes
• Riverside County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• Riverside County Vote Info website