Lodi, California, Sales Tax for Public Safety Services, Measure S (November 2016)
| Measure S: Lodi Sales Tax for Public Safety Services |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 DefeatedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 15 years |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California San Joaquin County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Lodi, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Lodi voters in San Joaquin County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated by a margin of 13 votes.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of enacting an additional 0.25 percent sales tax for 15 years to fund the restoration of Fire Engine 1 and expand gang prevention programs. |
| A no vote was a vote against enacting an additional 0.25 percent sales tax for 15 years to fund the restoration of Fire Engine 1 and expand gang prevention programs. |
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of this measure.
Election results
| Measure S | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 7,077 | 33.39% | ||
| Yes | 14,115 | 66.61% | ||
- Election results from San Joaquin Registrar of Voters
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Shall the City of Lodi fight crime and expand programs to reduce gang violence by hiring additional police and a gang intervention worker, restore downtown Fire Engine 1 service, and increase training, by enacting a one-quarter cent per dollar (0.25%) transactions and use (“sales”) tax, estimated to raise $2,800,000 annually, 64% to police, 36% to fire, sunset in 15 years, all revenue exclusively applied to these specific purposes, subject to citizen oversight and annual audit? [2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Lodi City Attorney:
| “ |
Measure S seeks voter approval of a temporary one-quarter cent (0.25%) special transactions and use tax (commonly referred to as a “sales tax”). If approved, the one-quarter cent sales tax would be paid in addition to the current sales tax and be collected by the California Board of Equalization at the same time and in the same manner as the existing sales tax. California Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.91 authorizes the City Council to impose a special purpose tax at a rate of 0.125 percent or any multiple thereof, provided the tax is approved on a 2/3 vote of all members of the City Council and the tax is approved by 2/3 of the voters at a general election. Special tax revenue is legally restricted to the purposes identified in the ballot measure and cannot be repurposed to other City operations, programs, or service without voter approval. If approved, Measure S will increase the local sales tax in the City of Lodi from the current rate of 8% to 8.25% and be in effect from April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2032. Any extension of the tax beyond March 31, 2032, would require additional approval of 2/3 of the voters at a general election. Measure S requires that the additional sales tax revenue be spent to increase the number of police officers on staff, fund their safety equipment, hire a part-time youth outreach worker for gang intervention and prevention, return downtown Fire Engine 1 to service, and provide advanced training to public safety personnel, as specified in the expenditure plan incorporated in the Ordinance. No tax revenue collected under Measure S may be spent on the City’s General Fund operating expenses or projects, or on public pension (PERS) deficits. In the event of recession or uncontrolled expenses, Measure S tax revenue could be used to supplement police and fire services in excess of those that the General Fund could then support. Measure S tax revenue is limited to supplementing rather than replacing existing City expenditures for public safety as set forth in the City’s 2016/2017 fiscal year budget. The City estimates Measure S will generate $2,800,000 in revenue annually. The measure calls for the additional tax revenue to be deposited into a special fund and the City’s independent auditors to annually audit the collection, management, and expenditure of the tax revenue during their annual audit of City finances. Measure S also establishes a citizen’s oversight committee to oversee expenditures of the additional tax revenue and requires the committee meet annually to review the previous year’s expenditure of the increased tax revenue and to provide a report to the City Council stating how the funds were spent. Measure S is placed on the ballot by action of the City Council of the City of Lodi (Ordinance No. 2016-127). [2] |
” |
| —Lodi 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]
- John Della Monica
- Mark Chandler, Mayor
- Michael K. Woznick
- Nathan Woods
- Tracy Williams
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]
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Lodi has long been livable and lovable because we are a tight-knit and safe community. But our safety is increasingly at risk due to changes in state law. Police calls are spiking because of the State of California’s unprecedented criminal justice experiment that puts habitual criminals back on our streets shortly after their repeated arrests. Police calls in Lodi increased by 2,000 from 2015 to 2016, criminal cases increased by more than 400 and arrests increased by 145. Citizens who call 911 are waiting longer for officers to arrive because officers have as many as 15 calls taking priority. If Lodi is to maintain its livability we must increase our police staffing to keep up with these challenges. A yes vote also will ensure The Lodi Fire Department provides residents the highest service levels. More than half the time, the fire engine at our downtown station is browned out. Measure S would provide the funds needed to keep the engine in service 24 hours a day. In addition, it would restore a depleted training budget so that firefighters can provide the best fire and medical service to those in need, as well as better protect our community from hazardous materials. Measure S will hire eight street officers, two part time parks officers, one part time gang intervention worker and fully staff Fire Engine One at the cost of a ¼ percent increase in the sales tax, costing Lodi taxpayers only 2 cents on an $8 taxable purchase. Importantly, Measure S can only be spent on additional staffing (not a penny can go to solving the pension crisis or pet projects) and Measure S comes with citizen oversight. VOTE YES for Public Safety on November 8, 2016, VOTE YES on Measure S! [2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]
- Gregory P. Goehring
- Alexander S. Aliferis
- Jim Shoemaker
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]
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Lack of Accountability: one reason to vote NO The sales tax measure increases Lodi’s sales tax from 8.0% to 8.25%. It is cheaper to purchase goods in Lodi than in Stockton where the sales tax is 9%. According to the Tax Foundation, California has the highest sales tax in the nation. LA County and some counties in the Bay Area are inching to 10% and 11%. Lodi has a population of 63,000 residents and about a 10% unemployment rate. The city has 397 employees. The city increased salaries in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Did you receive a salary increase in the past year? Why did the city increase salaries when pension costs are spiraling? Lodi’s unfunded pension debt is over $92 million. Spiraling pensions costs leave less money to put cops on the street. City revenues are diverted to fund yearly pension increases. Public Safety (Fire and Police) comprises over 60% of the city budget. The estimated PERS (Public Employee Retirement System) contribution for Lodi in 2016/17 alone is $9.2 million. It then increases a million plus dollars each year. In 2017/18, it rises to $10.2 million and in 2018/19 to $11.2 million. By 2019/20, the cost rises $1.1 million to $12.3 million. Then in 2012/22 it is estimated to rise a whopping $1.5 million to $13.4 million. Will the city have to lay off cops and firefighters to fund the pensions of retired employees? A high sales tax is a regressive tax. It hurts the middle class and people on fixed and lower incomes. It increases the cost of goods and services. Lack of Accountability: one reason to vote NO on Measure S. [2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Lodi, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Lodi Local sales 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
- ↑ San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters, "Local Measures to be voted for in the November 8, 2016 Election," accessed November 1, 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 San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters, "Sample Ballot," accessed November 1, 2016
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