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Claremont, California, Measure CR, Sales Tax Increase (November 2019)
| Measure CR: Claremont Sales Tax Increase |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 5, 2019 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
|
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: No expiration |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 5, 2019 ballot measures in California Los Angeles County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Claremont, California |
A city sales tax increase was on the ballot for Claremont voters in Los Angeles County, California, on November 5, 2019. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the city of Claremont to enact a 0.75% sales tax for general usage, thereby increasing the city sales tax rate from 9.5% to 10.25%. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the city of Claremont to enact a 0.75% sales tax for general usage, thereby keeping the city sales tax rate at 9.5%. |
Election results
|
Claremont Measure CR |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 3,870 | 49.11% | ||
|
|
4,011 | 50.89% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
Shall the measure providing general revenue to: maintain existing City services including public safety, youth/senior programs and special events; repair and replace infrastructure and facilities; maintain right-of-way landscaping, parks, and trees; address rising operational costs; restore reserves and improve the financial health of the City, by setting a permanent three-quarter cent (0.75%) transactions (sales) and use tax, resulting in approximately $2,500,000 annually, for Claremont services, programs, and projects, be adopted?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Claremont City Attorney:
| “ |
The City Council of the City of Claremont has placed a sales tax measure (“Measure”) on the November 5, 2019 ballot to ask the City’s voters to approve an ordinance that would enact a City-based three-quarter percent (0.75%) sales tax (officially called a “Transactions and Use Tax”). If approved, the tax would add three quarters of a cent ($0.0075) per dollar to the price of an item subject to the tax. In other words, if a consumer spends $100 in Claremont, this tax would add 75 cents to the bill. Sales taxes are levied on the purchase price of retail sales and uses of tangible personal property. The State has a sales tax cap of 10.25%. The current sales tax rate in Claremont is 9.5%. The City currently receives 1% of this 9.5%. The remainder goes to the State (6.25%) and other regional agencies, like the County (collectively, 2.25%). This Measure, if approved by the City’s voters, would increase the total sales tax rate in Claremont from 9.5% to the cap of 10.25%. The proceeds of this tax would go to the City of Claremont’s general fund to be used for City services, programs, and projects, such as:
Because this Measure does not limit the use of tax revenue, State law considers it a “general tax,” not a “special tax” that restricts funds to a specific purpose. The estimated proceeds of this tax are $2.5 million per year, but actual revenues may vary. The California Constitution –– specifically Article XIII, Section 24(b) –– protects all revenue generated by this Measure from being diverted away from the City and its services, programs, and projects. A “Yes” vote is in favor of adopting the City-based 0.75% sales tax under this Measure. A “No” vote is against adopting the City-based 0.75% sales tax under this Measure. If a simple majority (i.e., more than 50%) of voters vote “Yes,” then this Measure will be approved, and the ordinance authorizing the City-based 0.75% sales tax will be adopted.[2] |
” |
| —Claremont City Attorney[3] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[3]
- Corey Calaycay (mayor)
- Nicholas C. Quackenbos (businessman)
- Lissa Petersen (retired professor)
- Peter S. Alvarado (casino compliance officer)
- Sonja Stump Fagg (business owner)
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]
| “ |
Claremont voters are being given this opportunity to secure proper funding for the level of services we have come to expect. These include police and public safety, youth and senior programs, maintenance of parks, streets and lighting. Our City is in financial crisis because of unpreventable increases in insurance, utilities and pensions. We face a $1 million deficit this year and $1.8 million by 2021-22. This proposed sales tax increase of .75% will provide an estimated $2-$2.5 million annually to Claremont. This will address the budget deficit and will also provide reserves for future unanticipated cost increases and enhanced service levels. In 2018, the City Council formed the Future Financial Opportunities Committee (FFOC), representing a diverse group of residents, to explore new revenue opportunities. This sales tax increase was this group’s leading recommendation. Currently, Claremont receives only 1% of our 9.50% sales tax, with the rest going to the State, County and other taxing agencies. The state allows a maximum of 10.25%. If Claremont voters want to secure this final .75% for our City (before other taxing agencies take this opportunity away), the time to act is now. Already, nineteen other Los Angeles County cities have passed local increases. We have the opportunity to act now. Secure the added tax dollars for Claremont. Secure our financial future. Vote YES on Measure CR to secure the quality of life for Claremont residents now and in the future.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]
- Matthew Magilke (professor of accounting)
- Linda Wieczorek (homeowner)
- Eric Hughson (professor of finance)
- Arman Ariane (Xerxes & Persepolis owner)
- Mojgan Ariane (Susa Boutique employee)
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]
| “ |
Measure CR is BAD FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES. If this regressive tax passes, Claremont’s sales tax will be 2.5% higher than nearby cities. This tax will not only disproportionately hit low-income families who already struggle to live in Claremont, it will devastate small, locally-owned retailers, potentially costing them millions in lost sales, and putting many of them out of business. Despite the local Chamber’s support and the false premise by city officials that everyone “already shops at Target”, virtually every retailer in the Village opposes this tax! Measure CR is a BLANK CHECK. Our City Council refused to earmark a single dollar of this tax increase, not even for police-station upgrades they say we desperately need. This means they will spend up to $27,000,000 over the next ten years on automatic raises, higher pensions, and annual bonuses. CITY HALL CANNOT BE TRUSTED. City Hall has a history of making exaggerated and false claims. In 2014, they told us that a $125,000,000 takeover of the water company would reduce our water bills. In 2016, they told us we needed to replace our police station with a $50,000,000 Taj Mahal. In 2018, after the failure of two consecutive ballot measures and years of telling us the existing police station could not be fixed, they finally admitted that it could. Last fall, they announced that we were facing multiple years of budget deficits, then, 24 hours later, they reported a budget surplus and granted over $100,000 in bonuses! Paying bonuses one day and declaring a fiscal emergency the next, makes no sense. City Hall has consistently demonstrated they cannot be trusted to make good decisions and spend our tax dollars wisely. Please support our small businesses and keep Claremont affordable for everyone by voting NO on Measure CR.[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Claremont City Council.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, "Local and municipal elections: November 5, 2019," accessed September 27, 2019
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 City of Claremont, California, "Official Sample Ballot - November 5, 2019," accessed September 27, 2019
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