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Lafayette, California, Sales Tax, Measure C (November 2016)
| Measure C: Lafayette Sales Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
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| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 29 years |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Contra Costa County, California ballot measures Local sales tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Lafayette, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Lafayette voters in Contra Costa County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of increase the sales tax by one additional percent for 29 years to fund city services. |
| A no vote was a vote against increase the sales tax by one additional percent for 29 years to fund city services. |
Election results
| Measure C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 8,352 | 58.19% | ||
| Yes | 6,002 | 41.81% | ||
- Election results from Contra Costa County Elections Division
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To provide funding that will stay 100% in Lafayette, to maintain the City’s quality of life by funding general City services prioritizing:
shall the ordinance enacting a general 1% sales tax, for 29 years, providing $3 million dollars annually, with citizens’ oversight, all funds spent in Lafayette, be adopted?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Lafayette City Attorney:
| “ |
On July 25, 2016, the City Council placed Measure C on the November 8, 2016 ballot. If approved by a majority of Lafayette voters, this Measure would authorize a one percent (1%) retail transactions and use (sales) tax within the City of Lafayette. It is estimated that Measure C will provide an additional $3,000,000 in annual local funding for open space and parks, traffic and parking improvements, police services, revitalization of the Park Theater, and other general City services. This tax would be a “general tax,” meaning that revenues raised from the tax would go into the City’s general fund to fund any lawful City program, improvement, or service. California Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.9 authorizes the City to levy a general transactions and use/sales tax at a rate of one percent (1%) so long as the tax is approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the City Council and a majority of the voters voting in an election on that issue. If approved, the sales tax would become effective on April 1, 2017. Measure C will expire on April 1, 2046, unless extended by Lafayette voters voting at a subsequent election. The tax would be paid in addition to current sales taxes and would be collected at the same time and in the same manner as existing sales taxes. All revenues raised by the tax would belong to the City and would not be shared with the State or any other agency. Measure C requires annual independent audits to verify that tax revenues are collected, managed and expended in accordance with its terms. Measure C requires the City Council to establish a “Citizens’ Oversight Commission” to review the collection and expenditure of tax revenues or to assign those duties to an existing City committee or commission. The terms, composition and specific duties of Commission members shall be established by the City Council. By placing Measure C on the ballot, the City complies with Article XIIIC of the California Constitution (Proposition 218), which requires a majority of the voters to approve an ordinance which establishes a general tax. A “yes” vote on Measure C will authorize the 1% transactions and use (sales) tax. A “no” vote on Measure C will not authorize the 1% transactions and use (sales) tax. The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure C. If you desire a copy of the Measure, please call the City at (925) 284-1968 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you. |
” |
| —Lafayette City Attorney[3] | ||
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:[3]
- Mark Mitchell, Mayor, City of Lafayette, for the City Council
- Dennis Garrison, President, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
- Teresa Gerringer, Lafayette School Board
- Tom Steuber, Lafayette Citizen of the Year
- Richard Whitmore, President, Acalanes Union High School District Board
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]
| “ |
Lafayette residents live in a special community. Our public schools are outstanding, the setting is beautiful, the weather is grand, and we enjoy a semi-rural lifestyle only minutes from the most exciting cosmopolitan area in the world. Crime rates are low, our roads have been rebuilt, and the City has had a balanced budget for twenty consecutive years. Still, we can improve. During last year’s Community Conversations, and in two detailed surveys, we learned that residents want – and are willing to pay for – the City to preserve open space, add downtown parking, ease traffic back-ups, ensure our police have adequate resources, create downtown parks, and revitalize the Park Theater. These improvements cost money and current revenues are insufficient to fund them. Measure C thus proposes a 1% sales tax increment, all of which will stay in Lafayette. The tax will raise about $3 million annually and, with matching funds, grants, and private donations, deliver exceptional improvements to Lafayette. These other funds might not be available without the leverage that a local sales tax fund would provide. A sales tax in Lafayette will also be paid by the many residents from neighboring communities who shop and dine in Lafayette, just as we now pay higher Orinda and Moraga sales tax rates when we shop there. The members of your City Council unanimously support Measure C and pledge that the following projects you requested will be the priorities for use of the tax increment: Protecting open space from development
Join us and many others to further perfect this place we call home. |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]
- Michael Griffiths, President, Save Lafayette
- Laurel Stanley, Attorney-At-Law
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]
| “ |
What the City Sales Tax ballot measure DOES NOT tell you:
Further, our City government is not truly representing Lafayette citizens as demonstrated by their denial of our right to vote on a major project, not upholding our General Plan/Ordinances on recent applications, and yet another legal complaint filed for multiple conflict of interest violations of State Law. With this lack of information, honesty and trust, are you comfortable handing the City a blank check for $50 million? We are not. Please Vote NO on Measure C. |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Lafayette, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Lafayette Local sales tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Contra Costa County Clerk, "November 8, 2016, Local Measures," accessed October 14, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Contra Costa County Elections Division, "Measure," accessed October 14, 2016
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