Fortuna, California, Sales Tax, Measure E (November 2016)
| Measure E: Fortuna Sales Tax |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local sale tax |
| Related articles |
| Local sale tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Humboldt County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Fortuna, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Fortuna voters in Humboldt County, California, on November 8, 2016. The measure was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of establishing a three-quarters cent sales tax for eight years to maintain city services. |
| A no vote was a vote against establishing a three-quarters cent sales tax for eight years to maintain city services. |
Election results
| Measure E | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 2,707 | 58.38% | ||
| No | 1,930 | 41.62% | ||
- Election results from Humbolt County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To protect and maintain essential City services, including increasing and restoring police officers and programs, repairing aging/deteriorating streets and potholes, parks maintenance, and programs for youth and seniors, shall the City of Fortuna establish a 3/4¢ sales tax, sun setting in 8 years providing approximately $1,200,000 annually, requiring independent annual financial audits and a Community Oversight Committee, with all funds remaining in Fortuna?[2] |
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Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Fortuna City Attorney:
| “ |
The City Council placed Measure E on the ballot to ask the City’s voters to approve a three-quarter of one percent sales tax. The proposed tax would add ¾ of a cent to the price of an item that costs a dollar. A sales tax of ¾ of a cent is estimated to provide approximately $1,200,000 annually for police and essential City services. Because Measure E would not limit the use of tax revenue, it is a “general tax,” not a “special tax” which would restrict the funds to a specific purpose. Therefore, the City may use revenue from this tax for any legitimate governmental purpose to support the full range of City services. At the time that the City Council called for an election on Measure E, it also found that the revenue from the measure would provide a source of funding to protect and maintain essential City services, including increasing and restoring police officers and programs, repairing aging and deteriorating streets and drainage facilities, repairing potholes, parks facilities and equipment maintenance, and programs for youth and seniors. Measure E requires the formation of an independent community oversight committee to review the expenditure of the revenue from the tax. The committee would consist of five members appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. Separately, the City’s independent auditors would annually prepare a separate accounting of the revenue received from the tax and the expenditures of revenue to be included in the City’s annual audited financial statements. This tax will automatically sunset in eight years. In addition, the measure would authorize the City Council, by a four-fifths vote, to terminate the tax at any time. Technically, the proposed measure is a “transactions and use tax.” A transactions and use tax is levied on the same purchases as the existing sales tax, with some minor exceptions. Retailers and other merchants collect the tax at the time of sale and remit the funds to the State Board of Equalization, which administers the tax. The State Board of Equalization then transmits the funds collected to the City. Measure E would authorize a ¾ of a cent transactions and use tax, increasing the total sales tax rate in Fortuna to 8.75%. Currently the total “sales tax” rate in Fortuna is 8% and the City’s share is only ¾ of a percent of that 8%. A “Yes” vote is a vote to approve a ¾ of a cent sales tax increase for 8 years with annual review by independent auditors and a community oversight committee. A “No” vote is a vote against the tax. Measure E would be approved if it received a simple majority of “Yes” votes. If you desire a copy of the ordinance or measure, please call the City Clerk’s office at 707-725-1411 and a copy will be mailed to you at no cost[2] |
” |
| —Fortuna 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 vote of the governing officials of Fortuna, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Fortuna Local sale tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Humboldt County Elections Office, "Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlet," accessed October 25, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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