Contra Costa County, California, Sales Tax for Transportation Projects, Measure X (November 2016)
| Measure X: Contra Costa Sales Tax for Transportation Projects |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 DefeatedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 30 years |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Contra Costa County, California ballot measures County tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Contra Costa County, California |
A transportation sales tax measure was on the ballot for Contra Costa County voters in Contra Costa County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of increasing the sales tax by an additional 0.5 percent for 30 years to fund transportation projects. |
| A no vote was a vote against increasing the sales tax by an additional 0.5 percent for 30 years to fund transportation projects. |
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of this measure.
Election results
| Measure X | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 160,165 | 36.55% | ||
| Yes | 278,098 | 63.45% | ||
- Election results from Contra Costa County Elections Division
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To implement a Transportation Expenditure Plan to continue:
shall voters adopt the ordinance augmenting the sales tax by ½%, raising ninety-seven million dollars for transportation improvements annually for 30 years with independent oversight, audits, and all money benefitting local residents?[2] |
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Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Contra Costa County Counsel:
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The governing body of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (“CCTA”) has proposed a measure asking voters to approve an additional one-half of one percent (0.5%) retail transactions and use tax – a sales tax – to fund certain transportation improvements in Contra Costa County. The sales tax would be collected in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County, from April 1, 2017, until March 31, 2047. The proceeds from this sales tax would supplement CCTA’s existing one-half of one percent (0.5%) sales tax, which will continue to be collected until March 31, 2034. According to the measure, proceeds from the sales tax would be used to “implement a Transportation Expenditure Plan to continue repairing potholes/fixing roads; improving BART capacity/reliability; improving Highways 680, 80, 24, and 4; enhancing bus/transit including for seniors and people with disabilities; increasing bicycle/pedestrian safety; improving air quality; [and] reducing traffic.” Sales tax proceeds may only be used for the projects and purposes specified in CCTA’s Transportation Expenditure Plan (“TEP”), which is included in the Voter Information Handbook, and any future amendments to the TEP. According to the TEP, 26.79% of the tax proceeds will fund BART, bus, ferry, and train networks; 23.79% of the tax proceeds will fund fixing local streets and roads; 21.98% of the tax proceeds will fund building sustainable communities and protecting the environment; 20.71% of the tax proceeds will fund reducing congestion and smoothing traffic; 6.23% of the tax proceeds will fund transportation for children, seniors, and people with disabilities; and 0.5% of the tax proceeds will fund administrative costs. Approval of this measure also would authorize CCTA to issue limited tax bonds to finance projects described in the TEP. The maximum bonded indebtedness may not exceed the estimated proceeds of the sales tax. According to the TEP, CCTA’s Public Oversight Committee will provide oversight of all expenditures of the sales tax proceeds and will report to the public. This committee will review annual audits, the allocation of the tax proceeds, the performance of projects and programs in the TEP, and compliance by local jurisdictions. Expenditures of sales tax proceeds also would be subject to annual independent audits. Two-thirds of those voting on the ballot measure must approve the measure for it to pass. A “yes” vote is a vote in favor of authorizing this 0.5% sales tax. A “no” vote is a vote against authorizing this 0.5% sales tax. [2] |
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| —Contra Costa County Counsel[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]
- Cecilia Valdez, Member, West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee
- Michael R. McGill, Past President, Contra Costa Taxpayers Association
- Joseph A. Ovick, John Muir Land Trust Board Member
- Kristin Connelly, President & CEO, East Bay Leadership Council
- Candace Andersen, Chair, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]
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Vote YES on Measure X to bring badly needed transportation improvements and Get Contra Costa Moving again. Measure X will:
Measure X builds on the success of earlier voter-approved transportation measures, which brought us the fourth bore of the Caldecott Tunnel, BART extensions, car pool lanes on 80 and 680, and major improvements to Highway 4. Measure X means continuing to make major improvements that smooth traffic flow and help people get around more easily. Measure X generates $2.9 billion of local funding over 30 years that will help generate tens of millions more in state and federal matching dollars for projects that we determine locally. Once we secure the money, it can’t be touched by Sacramento or Washington. Measure X is a robust plan to improve transportation, and incorporates strong accountability measures to make sure the money is used as authorized by the voters. It requires independent oversight and financial and performance audits, and every dollar raised by Measure X is required to be spent to benefit local residents. Every city in Contra Costa County voted to support Measure X Seniors, transit activists, taxpayer advocates, business leaders, environmentalists and neighborhood leaders throughout Contra Costa County all agree: vote YES on Measure X Vote YES on Measure X: Get Contra Costa Moving! |
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Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]
- David Schonbrunn, President, TRANSDEF.org
- Nadine Peyrucain, MSW, Retired Contra Costa County Employee
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]
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With traffic getting worse every day, politicians and bureaucrats are proposing to DOUBLE the current ½ cent sales tax for 30 years–for transportation improvements. We already pay an extra ½ cent sales tax to fund local transportation improvements. That tax will NOT expire for another 17 years, but these same politicians have already spent most of the future money, using bond-financing schemes. They want to double-down on the failed strategies of the past. Measure X will weaken the Urban Limit Lines and promote development that adds to traffic congestion and delays. Measure X has no plan to relieve congestion. Measure X’s promises are not binding and can be changed by claiming “unforeseen circumstances.” Measure X doesn’t protect transit funding, even though the tax falls most heavily on those who need transit the most. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority is rushing Measure X to the ballot instead of doing the hard work of updating its strategic plan, as it promised in 2004’s Measure J. With 17 years left on the current tax measure, what’s the rush? Contra Costa needs a transformative 21st Century plan for mobility in the future. Measure X is NOT that plan. Let’s not lock in a 1980’s approach for the next 30 years. We already know that strategy didn’t work. Let’s do more to stop future congestion than just watch it get worse. We need to tell CCTA its plan is unacceptable. Let’s send the message that they can do better and that WE DESERVE BETTER. We need a smart plan that responds to the challenges of climate change and helps our communities and our environment. Don’t we deserve to take the time to do it right? Please join us in voting NO on Measure X For more information: www.transdef.org/MeasureX[2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Contra Costa County Transportation Authority in California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Contra Costa County Local sales tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Contra Costa County Clerk, "November 8, 2016, Local Measures," accessed October 14, 2016
- ↑ 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 Contra Costa County Elections Division, "Measure," accessed October 14, 2016
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