City of South San Francisco Sales Tax, Measure W (November 2015)

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Measure info Amount: 0.5% Expires: 30 years Purpose: General

A sales tax measure was on the ballot for South San Francisco voters in San Mateo County, California, on November 3, 2015. It was approved.

Measure W authorized the city to impose a 0.5 percent sales tax for 30 years. The measure was designed to transfer the sales tax revenue, amounting to about $7 million per year, into the city's general fund to be used for any government purpose. Without Measure W, the total sales tax in the city would have continued at 9 percent—7.5 percent mandated by the state and a 1.5 percent sales tax. The approval of Measure W increased the total sales tax in the city to 9.5 percent.

Measure W also authorized the city to increase its debt, with repayment made by sales tax revenue, in order to accelerate projects in the city.

Election results

South San Francisco, Measure W
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		4,494	59.91%
No		3,007	40.09%

Election results from San Mateo County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The following question appeared on the ballot:

“

To maintain South San Francisco services, including maintaining neighborhood police patrols/9-1-1 response, programs for seniors/disabled residents, crime/gang suppression programs, repairing potholes/streets, maintaining youth/teen educational/recreational programs, providing a police operations center that meets earthquake safety codes, and other city services; shall South San Francisco levy a 1/2 cent sales tax for 30 years, with authority to incur debt to accelerate projects, annual audits, citizens' oversight, no funds for Sacramento and all funds for South San Francisco?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis of Measure W was prepared by the office of the city attorney:

“	Measure W is a ballot measure that, if approved by the voters, would authorize a one-half percent (0.5%) transactions and use tax. Because Measure W does not limit the use of tax revenue generated by this tax to specified uses, it is a "general" tax. Therefore the City may use the funds for any legitimate governmental purpose. If approved by the voters, the tax will be deposited into the City of South San Francisco's general fund and may be used to pay for services, such as maintaining neighborhood police patrols/911 response, programs for seniors/disabled residents, crime/gang suppression programs, repairing potholes/streets, maintaining youth/teen educational/recreational programs, providing a police operations center that meets earthquake safety codes, and other city services. Tax revenue could also be used to pay the debt on bonds or other financing to accelerate projects. The tax would terminate automatically 30 years after collection begins unless extended by voters. If approved, Measure W would also require independent citizen oversight, mandatory financial audits, and yearly reports. Additionally, the City Council would be required to appoint a five-member citizen oversight committee that would review expenditures and an external auditor's report annually on the use of the tax funds. In the event that bonds were issued, the committee would also review use of bond funds. While Measure W, which was placed on the ballot by the City Council, is a "transactions and use tax", it is commonly understood by residents as a sales tax. The proposed transactions and use tax would add half a penny to the price of an item that costs a dollar (if the item is normally subject to sales tax). Currently the cumulative tax on retail sales in South San Francisco is 9% of the purchase price. On a taxable sales transaction of one dollar, South San Francisco currently receives one cent from the State and the remainder is paid to other public agencies, including the State and the County. A transactions and use tax is levied on the same purchases as the existing sales tax with some minor exceptions. Examples of sales that would not be subject to the tax would be: unprocessed food, such as groceries from a grocery store or farmers' market; real estate transactions and services. Retailers and other businesses that collect the tax at the time of sale remit the funds to the State of Equalization which administers the tax. The State Board of Equalization then transmits the City's share of the tax to the City. Revenue from the tax would go to the City's general fund and be available to support the full range of municipal services. A "Yes" vote is a vote to approve a one-half cent transaction and use tax for 30 years. A "No" vote is a vote against the tax. Measure W would be approved if it received a majority of "Yes" votes.	”
—South San Francisco City Attorney

Support

Supporters

A Vote Yes on W campaign was created to support the proposed sales tax.

The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of Measure W:

• Mike Brosnan, retired deputy police chief
• Kristy Camacho, local parent and community volunteer
• Bill Benavides, local community emergency response volunteer
• Betty Battagia, senior and library advocate
• Sam Shihadeh, local business owner

Arguments in favor

Official argument

The following official argument was submitted in favor of Measure W:

“	As residents, we care about public safety and enhancing the quality of life in South San Francisco. That is why we are voting YES on W. YES on W ensures our City can maintain rapid 911 emergency response times for police, fire safety services, neighborhood patrols, and crime prevention and gang suppression programs without worrying about public safety budget cuts. YES on W improves the quality of life in South San Francisco by maintaining our streets that are in need of over $18 million in repairs, fixing potholes, and preventing our roads from falling into further disrepair. YES on W maintains and enhances recreational and educational programs for senior citizens and disabled residents. YES on W provides quality services for residents of all generations! YES on W expands safe recreational and library spaces for seniors and students, including after school and summer programs for youth and teens so important to keeping them off the street, out of trouble, and away from gangs and drugs! YES on W keeps our taxpayer dollars LOCAL to fund OUR services and priorities! We need local control for local needs. Let's keep OUR money in South San Francisco to maintain and enhance our quality of life, our services, and our community. Measure W is fiscally accountable, including: Independent Citizens' Oversight; no tax increases without voter approval; mandatory financial audits; and public reporting to ensure funds are spent on OUR priorities. By law, ALL funds from Measure W must stay in South San Francisco. Measure W is NOT a tax on your home or property and non-city residents who benefit from city services will share the costs of those services. Measure W was developed after receiving input from hundreds of South San Francisco residents! YES on W. Join us in voting to keep our community safe and enhance our quality of life!	”
—Mike Brosnan, Kristy Camacho, Bill Benavides, Betty Battagia and Sam Shihadeh

Editorials

• The San Mateo Daily Journal editorial board wrote an article endorsing a "yes" vote on Measure W. An excerpt of the editorial is below:

“	The council and city staff are trustworthy and responsive and see a tremendous opportunity to have visitors to the city share in the burden of paying a fraction more on each purchase to create a new chapter for the storied city — one that will see South San Francisco refreshed and enlivened. Vote yes on Measure W.	”
—San Mateo Daily Journal editorial board

Opposition

Opponents

Mark W.A. Hinkle, the president of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association, signed the official ballot argument in opposition to Measure W.

Arguments against

Official argument

The following official argument was submitted in opposition to Measure W:

“	The South San Francisco City Council had funds for a downtown parking garage, fire station, recreation building, maintenance yard, and countless improvements to City parks, even in recent downturns without raising taxes. Why can't they prioritize capital projects specified in Measure W without raising taxes? Budgets reveal an organization's true priorities. The South San Francisco City Council is saying that every dollar spent today is going to something they consider a higher priority than to "address ... street repairs." Do you agree? If street maintenance is a priority, doesn't it deserve a spot in the City's annual budget? Isn't street maintenance an essential city service? The answer is clear: It's not a priority for the South San Francisco City Council. Tell City Hall to get their priorities straight by voting NO on W. The City Council says it is "worrying about future budget cuts" but perhaps they should look at the budget they passed: 2013-14 revenues of $121,644,042 versus 2015-16 revenues of $126,300,000 That's a $4,655,958 increase in revenues. Since when is a revenue increase a "budget cut"? There are two ways to balance a budget: 1. increase revenues 2. cut expenses But the City Council has increased revenues AND increased expenses. From the 2014-15 adopted budget, revenues are UP $16,014,782 but the big spenders have increased expenses by a whopping $23,828,603. Where is the "budget cut?" If you can spend your money more wisely than the big spenders on the City Council, you should vote NO on Measure W.	”
—Mark W.A. Hinkle, the president of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association

Path to the ballot

Measure W was put on the ballot through a vote of the South San Francisco City Council.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms South San Francisco sales tax Measure W. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

City of South San Francisco Sales Tax, Measure W (November 2015) - Google News

See also

• Local sales tax on the ballot
• City tax on the ballot
• San Mateo County, California ballot measures
• November 3, 2015 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• San Mateo County Elections Office website
• Yes on W website