Glendale, California, Utility Users Tax Repeal, Measure N (June 2016)
| Measure N: Glendale Utility Users Tax Repeal |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| June 7, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
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| Topic: |
| Local utility tax and fees Expires in: N/A |
| Related articles |
| Local utility tax and fees on the ballot June 7, 2016 ballot measures in California Los Angeles County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot California Utility User Taxes |
| See also |
| Glendale, California |
A measure to repeal the city's utility tax was on the ballot for Glendale voters in Los Angeles County, California, on June 7, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of eliminating Glendale City's utility users tax. |
| A no vote was a vote against eliminating Glendale City's utility users tax, keeping the city's utility tax of 7 percent in place. |
Measure N was a citizen initiative designed to completely eliminate Glendale's 7 percent utility users tax, with an annual revenue of about $17.5 million, which amounted to about 9.5 percent of the city's budget.[1]
Supporters argued that a cut of 9.5 percent should not be a problem for a government with such large salaries and pensions for top officials. Supporters claimed that there were 10 city employees with salaries over $300,000 per year, 31 employees with salaries of between $250,000 and $299,000, 135 employees with salaries of between $200,000 and $249,000, and 580 city workers with salaries between $100,000 and $199,000, arguing that these salaries were excessive. Supporters of Measure N also argued that threats of cuts in city services made by opponents amounted to scare tactics and were not accurate.[1]
Opponents, including the mayor and city council members, argued that Measure N would require cuts in essential city services, such as fire safety services, police protection services, emergency medical services, library services, and infrastructure maintenance.[1]
Election results
| Glendale, Measure N | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 27,513 | 71.48% | ||
| Yes | 10,976 | 28.52% | ||
- Election results from Los Angeles County Elections
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[2]
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Shall the City’s longstanding utility users tax be repealed, eliminating approximately 9.5% of the revenues in the City’s general fund annually ($17.5 million this year) that is used to pay for city services such as police, fire, 9-1-1 emergency response, libraries, parks and senior services?[3] |
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Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Glendale City Attorney:
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Residents of Glendale currently pay a Utility Users Tax (UUT) for water, gas and electricity service. The current rate is 7%. The UUT is a general tax, meaning that UUT revenues are paid into the City's General Fund. General Fund revenues are budgeted by the City Council annually for general City services, such as police and fire protection, 9-1-1 emergency response, parks, libraries, and street maintenance and repairs. If approved by a majority of Glendale voters, Measure "N" would amend the City's Municipal Code by repealing the UUT on gas, electric and water service in its entirety. This measure is on the ballot because a number of residents circulated a petition and obtained sufficient signatures to qualify for the ballot under California Elections law. Therefore, the City Council placed this Measure on the ballot. If the measure is approved, the General Fund will no longer receive UUT revenues resulting in a loss of approximately $17,500,000 per year. The UUT is the City's third largest source of General Fund revenue (9.5%) after property and sales taxes. If the UUT is repealed, there would be a significant impact on the City's ability to provide services and programs at current levels. The City Council will have to decide, as part of the budgeting process, whether alternative revenues are available, or whether City services and programs will have to be reduced or eliminated. Current options being considered to offset this potential revenue loss are to: eliminate 53 full-time sworn police officer positions; eliminate 37 firefighter positions; close the equivalent of two fire stations; eliminate the Police Department's DNA Crime Lab; reduce the number of on-duty paramedics; eliminate the Specialized Fire Department Emergency Service personnel, including the emergency preparedness unit, the arson investigator, the hazardous materials response team and the search and rescue team; eliminate youth anti-gang and anti-drug prevention programs; reduce pothole repair and maintenance of city streets, storm drains and other critical city facilities and infrastructure, and; close most libraries in Glendale and eliminate librarians and library staff. Measure "N" requires simple majority approval of the voters to pass. A "Yes" vote on Measure "N" will repeal the Utility Users Tax A "No" vote on Measure "N" will not repeal the Utility Users Tax. [3] |
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| —Glendale City Attorney[4] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The Glendale Coalition for Better Government was behind the signature petition campaign to put Measure N on the ballot and urge voters to approve it.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
- William A. Taliaferro, Resident and Tax Payer
- John M. Voors, Resident and Tax Payer
Arguments in favor
| YES on N Glendale Coalition video |
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
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Taxation and spending are out of control at every level of government. In a stagnant economy with declining real income, local government continues to grow. Even though Glendale’s population is essentially unchanged since 2000, the General Fund has grown an astonishing 77% from just under $100 million to $177 million for 2015. In just six years, total budgeted city revenues including GWP grew from $708 million to $832 million, a whopping 17.6% increase. In 2014, 10 city employees banked over $300,000 per year; 31 made $250,000-$299,000; 135 made $200,000-$249,000; 237 made $150,000-$199,000 and 343 made $100,000-$149,000. California’s governor made only $212,640 in 2014. (Source www.transparentcalifornia.com) In 2014 the median fulltime city employee received pay and benefits totaling $105,211. Government elites enjoy pay, pensions and job security the average taxpayer can only dream about. It gets worse. We have to pay these people the rest of their lives. Glendale’s unfunded pension obligations are officially $411.9 million. But the real number, according to Stanford Institute for Economic Research, could be as much as $1,425,003,510. (Source: www.pensiontracker.org) The City Council has caved into the salary demands of public employee unions and has failed to control the growth of non-essential services. Passing this measure will reduce utility taxes by $17,500,000, just 9.5% of the General Fund. The idea that a 9.5% cut can, or should, compromise public safety is extortionate nonsense.[3] |
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Opposition
Opponents
A Save My Glendale: No on Measure N campaign was started to urge voters to reject Measure N.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
- Armenian American Chamber of Commerce
- Armenian National Committee of America
- Baroian & Peto, LLP
- Brand Associates
- Brand Pacific Construction
- Broadway Project, LLC
- Caruso Affiliated
- Glendale Adventist Medical Center
- Glen Arden Club
- Glendale Association of REALTORS®
- Glendale Chamber of Commerce
- Glendale City Employee's Association
- Glendale Firefighter's Association
- Glendale Management Association
- Glendale Memorial Hospital
- Glendale Police Officer's Association
- Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee
- Mill Creek Residential Trust
- Montrose-Verdugo Chamber of Commerce
- USA Armenian Life
Arguments against
| Vote NO on Measure N video |
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
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Why do Glendale’s most respected leaders and organizations all say vote NO on N? Glendale’s FIREFIGHTERS and paramedics say vote NO because Measure N means: - SLOWER 9-1-1 EMERGENCY RESPONSE times for victims of heart attacks, strokes, car accidents, fires and other emergencies - CLOSING two Glendale FIRE STATIONS and eliminating nearly 40 firefighters and paramedics - Eliminating Glendale’s Emergency Preparedness unit, arson investigator, hazardous materials response team and search and rescue team Glendale’s POLICE OFFICERS say vote NO because Measure N means: - SLOWER POLICE RESPONSE to 9-1-1 crime calls and less investigation to solve crimes - CUTTING the number of on-duty POLICE officers - REDUCING police PATROLS in our neighborhoods that keep our families and homes safe - Closing the Glendale Police Department’s DNA Crime Lab for prosecuting criminals Glendale’s PARENTS and TEACHERS say vote NO because Measure N means: - CLOSING most LIBRARIES in Glendale and eliminating librarians that help students learn to read, do their homework and succeed in school - Eliminating youth anti-gang and anti-drug programs that keep kids on the right track and out of trouble Glendale’s BUSINESS leaders and realtors say vote NO because Measure N means: - A less safe Glendale with deteriorating roads and infrastructure drives away business and good jobs - More crime in our neighborhoods will DECREASE HOME VALUES Why is this misguided and poorly written initiative on our ballot? An out-of-town group collected signatures to put this same measure on the ballot in several cities. They don’t understand Glendale’s needs or how Measure N will hurt Glendale. Don’t believe their lies about out of control budgets and pensions. Get the facts at http://glendaleca.gov/government/uut-education. Glendale residents know that we live in a great community with safe neighborhoods. Let’s keep it that way. Just say NO on N.[3] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a successful initiative petition campaign. The Glendale branch of the Coalition for Better Government was behind the initiative signature gathering campaign.[1]
Related measures
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Glendale utility tax ellimination initiative Measure N. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Support
Opposition
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Los Angeles Elections Office, "Glendale Sample Ballot, June 7, 2016, election," accessed May 25, 2016
- ↑ Los Angeles County Registrar, "Presidential Primary June 7, 2016 Measures Appearing on the Ballot," accessed May 20, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Glendale Votes, "City Attorney's Impartial Analysis Of Measure "N" Repeal Of City's Utility Users Tax," accessed May 21, 2016
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