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Crescent City, California, Sewer Rate Increase, Measure Q (November 2016)
| Measure Q: Crescent City Sewer Rate Increase |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
|
| Topic: |
| Local utility tax and fees Expires in: Never |
| Related articles |
| Local utility tax and fees on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Del Norte County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Crescent City, California |
A sewer rate increase measure was on the ballot for Crescent City voters in Del Norte County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of approving the city council's ordinance to increase the sewer service rate and make it based on consumption rather than a flat rate for all residents. |
| A no vote was a vote against approving the city council's ordinance to increase the sewer service rate and make it based on consumption rather than a flat rate for all residents. |
This measure was put on the ballot through a citizen veto referendum petition. The city council approved Ordinance No. 792, making the proposed changes to the sewer service rates. Opponents of the ordinance collected enough signatures to allow voters a chance to decide whether or not to approve the ordinance. Voters sided with the petitioners, voting against Ordiance No. 792.[1]
The exact sewer rates that the city's ordinance was designed to impose are available here.
Election results
| Measure Q | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 641 | 57.03% | ||
| Yes | 483 | 42.97% | ||
- Election results from Del Norte County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
In order to financially support the operation, maintenance, capital improvements and debt service of the City’s sewer utility, shall Ordinance No. 792 be adopted to amend Chapter 13.30, Sewer Charges, of Title 13 Public Services of the Crescent City Municipal Code to (1) implement a consumption-based rate structure and (2) to provide for a net revenue increase of 5% to the City each year for the next four fiscal years (FYE 2017 through 2020)? (A “yes” vote approves the ordinance; a “no” vote disapproves the ordinance.)[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Crescent City City Attorney:
| “ |
If approved by a majority of voters voting thereon, Measure Q would (1) implement a consumption-based sewer rate structure for the City’s sewer utility customers, and (2) generate an overall revenue increase to the City of 5% per fiscal year for the next four fiscal years (FYE 2017-2020). The consumption-based rate structure is designed so that those customers who discharge greater amounts of sewage into the system will pay more than those customers who discharge less sewage into the system. Currently, residential customers all pay the same flat rate regardless of the amount of sewage that they actually discharge. Under the proposed consumption-based rate structure, approximately 50% of residential customers will see their sewer bill decrease in the first year (FY 2016-2017). Thereafter, rates for all customer classes will increase 5% per year for the next three fiscal years. Commercial customers are currently charged a flat rate for up to 5 CCF and then charged an additional fee per 1 CCF thereafter. Under the new structure, commercial customers and residential customers will be charged a fixed charge, then per 1 CF beginning with the first 1 CF. Consumption levels and therefore sewer bills will be based upon water consumption. Except for irrigation, the majority of the water that is used by customers ends up being discharged into the sewer system (toilets, sinks, showers, dishwashers, washing machines). Residential customer rates will be based on the customer’s most recent winter average for the months November through February, when residences use the least amount of water for irrigation. Commercial customers will be charged based on actual monthly water usage each month. All customers have the option to install an irrigation meter to ensure that irrigation water is not being included in the consumption calculation for sewer service. Sewer customers without city water service and sewer customers without a winter average history will be charged for 5 CCF, an assumed residential winter average. Once a winter average has been established, the customer will be charged accordingly. If Measure Q is approved, the sewer fund is projected to be a financially stable and viable utility through FYE 2020. If Measure Q is not approved, the sewer fund is projected to be in a deficit position by FYE 2020. Following a successful referendum petition, Ordinance No. 792 was approved for placement on the ballot as a City Measure by the City Council of the City of Crescent City on June 20, 2016. If approved, Measure Q will become effective immediately.[2] |
” |
| —Crescent City City Attorney[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a successful referendum petition campaign.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Crescent City Local utility tax and fees Measure Q. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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