City of Stanton Sales Tax, Measure GG (November 2014)

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A City of Stanton Sales Tax, Measure GG ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of Stanton in Orange County, California. It was approved.

Upon approval, Measure GG authorized the city to impose an additional 1 percent sales tax. The revenue was general tax revenue, which meant it went into the city's general fund.

Election results

Orange County, Measure GG
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		2,543	54.9%
No		2,092	45.1%

Election results via: Orange County Registrar of Voters

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot appeared as:

“

Stanton 9-1-1- Public Safety and Essential City Services Protection Measure. To address state takeaways of local funds and protect and maintain essential city services including: 9-1-1 emergency response; programs attracting businesses/creating jobs; neighborhood police patrols; sheriff’s deputies; fire protection services/paramedics; gang/youth violence prevention programs; senior programs/nutrition center; and other general City services, shall the City of Stanton establish a one cent sales tax, requiring annual independent audits, and all funds remaining in Stanton?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was provided for Measure GG:

“	On July 22, 2014, the City Council placed Measure GG on the November 4, 2014 ballot. If approved by a majority of Stanton voters, this Measure would authorize a one cent (1.0%) transactions and use (i.e. "sales") tax within the City of Stanton. Measure GG is intended to prevent significant cuts to general City services resulting from revenue shortfalls caused by recent economic factors. This sales 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 GG for any special purpose or for any particular program or service. California Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.9 authorizes the City to levy a transactions and use/sales tax at a rate of one percent so long as the tax is approved by two-thirds of the City Council and a majority of the voters voting in an election on that issue. If approved, the sales tax would become effective on April 1, 2015. The tax would be paid in addition to current sales taxes and would be collected at the same time and in the same manner as existing sales taxes. All revenues raised by the tax would belong to the City and would not be shared with the State or any other agency. By placing Measure GG 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 GG will authorize the sales tax. A "no" vote on Measure GG will not authorize the sales tax (quote)	”
—Mathew Richardson Stanton City Attorney

Support

Protect Stanton campaign logo

Supporters

A campaign named Protect Stanton was started to campaign in support of Measure GG.

The following individuals signed the official arguments and rebuttals in favor of this measure:

• Tom Dominguez, president of the Orange County Sheriff (AOCDS)
• Ed Royce, Sr., former mayor of Stanton
• Pamela Schoonover, director of the Boys & Girls Club of Stanton
• Ngoc Lan Nguyen, Stanton businesswoman
• Dave Rose, president of OC Firefighters
• Debi Grand, planning commissioner and member of the Stanton Community Foundation
• David Parikh, CFO of Magnolia Center
• Bryan Pendergast, former Vice Principal of St. Polycarp and 41-year resident
• Frances Daigle, member of the Stanton Volunteer in Policing Program and 46-year resident
• David L. Morse, former president of the Stanton Chamber of Commerce

Arguments in favor

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

“	Concerned about 9-1-1 response…public safety…local jobs? We all are! Consider the facts: The brain starts to deteriorate 4-6 minutes after a person stops breathing – quick emergency response saves lives. Stanton has 11 active gangs with 600 gang members total but has cut public safety services. Jobs and our local economy are still struggling. Over 70% of Stanton’s budget goes to public safety, but without Measure GG sheriffs and fire services face more cuts! Enough is Enough! Do something about it! YES on GG balances the budget without more cuts to public safety. YES on GG maintains 9-1-1 response times YES on GG restores neighborhood police patrols YES on GG maintains current levels of fire protection services/firefighters YES on GG prevents further cuts to gang/youth prevention programs YES on GG attracts businesses to create local jobs for Stanton residents YES on GG maintains firefighters/paramedics and keeps fast 9-1-1 emergency response times so that people suffering from heart attacks or strokes get immediate, life-saving care. YES on GG continues gang and youth violence prevention/intervention programs and keeps police officers in schools to keep kids away from gangs/drugs. YES on GG keeps Stanton attractive to businesses, visitors and homebuyers by fixing blight and filling vacant storefronts with new businesses, strengthening local property values. YES on GG is fiscally accountable! Measure GG is not charged on food groceries or medication, requires independent audits, and publishes the City budget online to account for every penny. Stanton has lost over $18 million due to Sacramento taking local tax dollars – and we lose another $4 million every year. Join local sheriffs, firefighters, business and community leaders in Voting YES on GG to guarantee funding for local services that can’t be taken by Sacramento! (quote)	”
—Measure GG supporters

Opposition

Opponents

The Orange County Republican Party officially urged a "no" vote on Measure GG.

Arguments against

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

“	Measure GG will give Stanton the highest sales tax in Orange County! Measure GG‘s sales tax increase will impact every aspect of our lives: Clothing will cost more Shoes will cost more Vitamins will cost more Restaurant meals will cost more Soda will cost more School supplies will cost more Office supplies will cost more Car parts will cost more Stanton businesses will lose customers to businesses in other cities, like Anaheim, Cypress, Garden Grove, and Westminster. If Stanton businesses lose customers, Stanton’s economy will decline, reducing jobs and income for our city. City politicians and bureaucrats claim they need Measure GG‘s $3,000,000 tax hike to fill a $1,800,000 deficit. Why do the politicians and bureaucrats need an extra $1,200,000 of our taxpayer money? Measure GG is the second tax hike on the Stanton ballot since 2012. Why don’t the politicians and bureaucrats understand that no means no? Just two years ago, Stanton voters soundly rejected a proposed tax hike, Measure J. The politicians and bureaucrats claimed Measure J’s failure would “put our local public safety at risk...If Measure J fails, local businesses will not feel safe and could leave Stanton, causing unemployment and a greater economic downturn.” They’re using those scare tactics again to fool us into passing Measure GG, which would give Stanton the highest sales tax in Orange County. Measure J was a $1,100,000 tax hike. Measure GG is nearly three times as large. Why would the politicians and bureaucrats propose a tax triple the size of the one we rejected in 2012? As voters, we’ve already told the politicians and bureaucrats to live within their means instead of asking taxpayers to pay more and more to the government. Vote “No” on Measure GG to stop the highest sales tax in Orange County! (quote)	”
—Measure GG opponents

See also

• Local sales tax on the ballot
• City tax on the ballot
• Orange County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• Orange County Elections Office website
• Protect Stanton website, accessed October 11, 2014