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Inyo County, California, Marijuana Business Tax, Measure I (November 2016)
| Measure I: Inyo County Marijuana Business Tax |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local marijuana tax |
| Related articles |
| Local marijuana tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Inyo County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Inyo County, California |
A marijuana business tax measure was on the ballot for Inyo County voters in Inyo County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the county to impose a tax of 5 percent of gross receipts on commercial marijuana businesses within the unincorporated areas of the county, with a minimum tax of $1,250 per year for marijuana cultivators and the authority to increase the tax rate to as much as 12.5 percent. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the county to impose a tax of 5 percent of gross receipts on commercial marijuana businesses within the unincorporated areas of the county, with a minimum tax of $1,250 per year for marijuana cultivators and the authority to increase the tax rate to as much as 12.5 percent. |
Election results
| Measure I | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 4,849 | 64.41% | ||
| No | 2,679 | 35.59% | ||
- Election results from Inyo County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ | Shall the County ordinance adding Chapter 3.50 to the Inyo County Code imposing a 5% gross receipts tax on COMMERCIAL cannabis businesses (but no less than $1,250 per growing cycle for cultivation BUSINESSES) in the unincorporated area of Inyo County, and authorizing the Board of Supervisors to increase the tax to a maximum of 12.5% over time, be adopted?[2] | ” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Inyo County Counsel:
| “ |
The lnyo County Board of Supervisors placed Measure I on the ballot. The measure proposes voter-approval of an Inyo County ordinance (Ordinance No. 1202) imposing a tax on commercial cannabis (marijuana) businesses in the unincorporated areas of the County — the areas outside of the City of Bishop. Cannabis businesses are not currently permitted in such areas of the County and approval of Measure I would not permit them; rather, approval of Measure I would only impose a tax on any such businesses that may exist in the future. The tax would not apply to non-commercial cultivation of cannabis for "personal use" as defined by applicable laws. If approved by the voters, Ordinance 1202 would impose an initial tax equal to five percent (5%) of a cannabis businesses' gross receipts per fiscal year, effective January 1, 2017, with cultivation businesses paying not less than the following amounts: • businesses cultivating twenty-five hundred (2,500) or fewer square feet of cannabis would pay not less than twelve hundred and fifty dollars ($1,250) per "growing cycle" (defined generally as the life of a cannabis plant until harvest) • businesses cultivating more than 2,500 square feet and up to five thousand (5,000) square feet of cannabis would pay not less than twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500) per growing cycle • businesses cultivating more than 5,000 square feet of cannabis would pay not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) per growing cycle. Beginning July 1, 2020, the ordinance also provides that the 5% initial tax rate on gross receipts may be increased in two and one half percent (2.5%) increments per fiscal year, not to exceed a maximum tax rate of twelve and one half percent (12.5%). Such increases in the tax rate are not automatic; they can only be implemented if approved by the Board of Supervisors at a regular meeting. The ordinance further provides the Board with authority to amend or modify the ordinance, including but not limited to reducing the tax rate or creating additional exemptions from the tax. Such modifications could be made applicable to any or all types of commercial cannabis businesses. The tax would apply to any cannabis businesses operating within the County, including a business operating illegally (i.e., illegal businesses could not avoid taxation). The ordinance contains payment and reporting requirements and enforcement provisions and authorizes the County Treasurer-Tax Collector to administer the tax. The tax is for general governmental purposes (a "general tax") and tax revenues would be placed in the County's General Fund and used for general County purposes at the discretion of the Inyo County Board of Supervisors. The tax will go into effect only if Measure I is approved by a simple majority of the voters voting on the measure at the election. A "YES" vote on Measure I is a vote in favor of approving Ordinance 1202 and imposing a tax on commercial cannabis (marijuana) businesses in the unincorporated areas of Inyo County. A "NO" vote on Measure I is a vote against approving Ordinance 1202 and against imposing a tax on commercial cannabis (marijuana) businesses in the unincorporated areas of Inyo County. [2] |
” |
| —Inyo County Counsel[3] | ||
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 Inyo County, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Inyo County Local marijuana tax Measure I. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Inyo County Elections, "What's on the ballot," accessed October 19, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Inyo County Elections, "COUNTY COUNSEL IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS BY BALLOT MEASURE I: CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX," accessed October 19, 2016
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