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Hemet, California, Sales Tax, Measure U (November 2016)
| Measure U: Hemet Sales Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 10 years |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Riverside County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Hemet, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Hemet voters in Riverside County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the city to impose a sales tax of 1 percent for 10 years to fund general city services. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the city to impose a sales tax of 1 percent for 10 years to fund general city services. |
Election results
| Measure U | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 15,744 | 61.02% | ||
| No | 10,056 | 38.98% | ||
- Election results from Riverside County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To pay for police protection and crime prevention services, fire prevention and suppression services, 9-1-1 / paramedic services, other general municipal services and lawful public purposes of the City, shall the City of Hemet establish a 1% sales tax (1 cent) for 10 years only, providing $10,000,000 annually, requiring citizen oversight committee, annual audits, and all funds remaining local?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Hemet City Attorney:
| “ |
The City of Hemet placed Measure U on the ballot seeking voter approval of a 1% transactions and use tax (hereinafter, the “tax”) to be used for general municipal services and all lawful public purposes of the City of Hemet. If Measure U is approved, a one cent per dollar tax will be levied on the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail within the City of Hemet, as well as upon the storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property purchased from any retailer within the City of Hemet. The tax would be collected in the same manner and at the same time as sales taxes. Proceeds of the tax will be deposited in the City’s general fund and will be subject to the same independent annual audit as other general fund revenue. Measure U requires the creation of a “Citizens’ Oversight Committee” to furnish independent advisory review of the expenditure of the tax revenues. The Committee will meet at least twice per year and its meetings will be subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act. The Committee will consist of seven members, all of whom are residents of the City or its sphere of influence, or own a business having its primary offices located in the City. Committee members will be appointed by the City Council for a two-year term. The Committee will annually review and report on the City’s proposed and actual expenditure of the tax proceeds, which will be submitted to the City Council for review at a noticed public meeting. The Committee will also review the required independent annual audit prior to its final review by the City Council. California Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.9 authorizes the City of Hemet to levy the proposed tax if the ordinance proposing the tax is approved by a two-thirds vote of the City Council and a majority of the voters. The Council approved the tax ordinance for submittal to the voters by a 4-1 vote on July 26, 2016. If approved by a majority of the voters, the ordinance would take effect on March 1, 2017 and would continue for a period of ten (10) years hereafter. The tax will be automatically repealed effective March 1, 2027 if not extended by a vote of the people.[2] |
” |
| —Hemet City Attorney[1] | ||
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:[1]
- Howard Rosenthal, Co-Chair, Keep Hemet Safe
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
There’s a public safety crisis in Hemet. • #1 in murders in Riverside County. • Violent crime is up 50%, • Trespassing and Disturbing the Peace calls up 1,025%. • Assaults on police officers up 1,100%. • Gang members, drug dealers, parolees and sex offenders are pouring into Hemet. • Hemet has 25% fewer police officers today than in 2010. Last year, Hemet Fire Department responded to 16,171 calls for medical, rescue and fire emergencies, the most per capita in California. • Since 2008, Fire Department staffing cut 40%. • Fire Station 5 in eastern Hemet is without a fire engine, and not all fire stations have paramedics on duty. With a decline in property and sales tax revenue caused by the Great Recession, the City lacks the resources to confront our public safety crisis. California State Audit found no malfeasance and validated that the lack of revenue has drastically impacted public safety. More boots on the ground will force criminals to go elsewhere and keep Hemet safe! Measure U provides opportunities to: • Add 39 new police officers patrolling neighborhoods • Ensure faster 911 emergency response • Restore police anti-gang and anti-drug units • Expand tracking of parolees and sex offenders • Provide paramedics at every fire station • Restore Fire Engine Company at Station 5 Measure U adds 1¢ to the sales tax on every dollar spent, generating $10 million annually providing opportunities for public safety, much of it paid by shoppers from outside our city. Temecula, Menifee and Riverside are all fighting crime with new sales taxes. If we don’t, Hemet will get even worse as all their criminals will scurry to our corner! • Do U feel safe? • Do U want to be safe? • Then U should vote YES on U! STOP CRIME KEEP HEMET SAFE---VOTE YES ON MEASURE U[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Robert S. Righetti, Hemet Taxpayers Association
- Raymond Strait, Hemet Taxpayers Association
- Charles C. Moore, Hemet City Council Candidate, 1st Dist.
- Cameron Broderick, Hemet City Council Candidate, 3rd Dist.
- Paul Valenzuela, Hemet City Council Candidate, 4th Dist.
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
NO “U” DON’T. After spending more than $300,000 in a failed June tax measure; the union-controlled special interests and their County friends (who won’t pay the tax) are back at it again with a 12.5% sales tax increase that goes directly into the General Fund and can be spent in any manner the City Council deems appropriate for the next ten years. THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC SAFETY TAX. Don’t be fooled. The legacy of failure for the past 10 years is instructive for one to confidently cast a vote opposing this tax. Ridiculous real estate purchases, City Manager payoffs, City Union giveaways, and more overpaid consultants than one can count – all have contributed to our the current financial mess. The chickens have finally come home to roost and we taxpayers are being pressured to write the bailout check. Just say NO. Know that when our non-resident Police Chief spends his time promoting new taxes, he is the highest paid Hemet employee making over $315,000 per year in salary and benefits. He is protecting his pension first and foremost. Our Fire Chief is a double-dipping public retiree who is paid more than $400,000 with his Orange County pension and Hemet salary. More than 32 of our Hemet safety employees make more than $200,000 per year. Thanks to prior city councils that have put union demands above the interest of the taxpayers, Hemet now has an unfunded pension liability exceeding $132,000,000. ENOUGH. A sales tax increase is most unfair to retirees on fixed incomes. Ask yourself why an increase in sales taxes as opposed to property taxes is being proposed. The answer lies in those who support it from the County area to the east. Hemet voters need to reject this tax and elect City Council members who will represent the taxpayers and not the local unions. [2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Hemet, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Hemet Local sales tax Measure U. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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