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City of Yreka Sales Tax, Measure I (November 2014)
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A City of Yreka Sales Tax, Measure I ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of Yreka in Siskiyou County, California. It was defeated.
If approved, Measure I would have authorized the city to increase its sales tax by 0.25 percent in order to fund the stimulation of business through the advancement of culture, arts, education and youth programs. This tax was designed to increase the total sales tax rate in the city from 7.5 percent, which is the minimum rate mandated by the state, to 7.75 percent.[1]
The proposed tax was developed as a special tax, which means revenue from the tax would go into a special fund and could only be used for the purposes expressly proposed in the tax question. It also meant that the tax requires approval from 66.67 percent of voters, rather than just a simple majority.[1]
Thus, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure I.
Election results
| City of Yreka, Measure I | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 No | 1,197 | 61.17% | ||
| Yes | 760 | 38.83% | ||
Election results via: Siskiyou County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The question on the ballot:[2]
| “ |
To improve the Yreka's Quality of Life shall a ordinance be enacted for a local sales tax of one-quarter of one percent, solely for 1) Advancing Culture, the Arts and Entertainment thereby stimulating business; and/or 2) Advancing Education and Youth Activities in the City of Yreka thereby stimulating business; and 3) Operational expenses of an overseeing independent nonprofit corporation that expires in six years?[3] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure I:[1]
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The approval of this measure would enact a sales tax within the City of Yreka intended to improve Yreka resident’s “quality of life” through the promotion of education, youth activities, culture (including arts and entertainment) by funding nonprofit organizations leading to increased business activity. The measure would create an independent Quality of Life Stimulus Authority whose board of directors would be appointed by the City Council. The Authority’s board would decide how the sales tax revenues generated by this measure would be used to accomplish the Quality of Life purposes identified in the measure. The tax proceeds would be deposited into a special fund and be solely available to support the stated Quality of Life purposes. The tax proceeds may only be used for these purposes and cannot legally be taken away by the State. The tax proceeds would be subject to independent annual audits. Those audits would be public records. The tax rate would be one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) of the retail sales price or one-quarter of one cent for an item that costs one dollar. The tax would automatically expire in six years from its operative date unless voters later extend it. The total state and local tax on retail sales in Yreka is currently seven-and-a-half percent (7.5%) of an item’s purchase price. This measure increases the total sales tax rate to 7.75%. Technically, a “sales tax” is a combination of “sales and use tax” and “transactions and use tax.” Both are levied on the sale or use of tangible personal property sold at retail, with certain limited exceptions. Retailers collect the tax at the time of sale and remit the funds to the State Board of Equalization that administers the tax and distributes it back for the purposes of this measure. A “Yes” vote is a vote in favor of the tax. A “No” vote is a vote against the tax. This measure would be approved if it receives yes votes by at least two-thirds of the qualified electors casting votes.[3] |
” |
| —Dohn R. Henion, Yreka City Attorney[1] | ||
See also
- Sales tax in California
- Local sales tax on the ballot
- Siskiyou County, California ballot measures
- November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Siskiyou County Elections Office website, "Impartial analysis for Measure I," accessed October 27, 2014
- ↑ Siskiyou County Elections Office website, "Ballot question for Measure I," accessed October 27, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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