Long Beach, California, Measure A, Sales Tax (March 2020)

Long Beach Measure A
Election date March 3, 2020
Topic Local sales tax
Status a Approved
Type Referral	Origin Lawmakers
List of California measuresCalifornia Proposition 13 (March)California Proposition 14California Proposition 15California Proposition 16California Proposition 17California Proposition 18California Proposition 19California Proposition 20California Proposition 21California Proposition 22California Proposition 23California Proposition 24California Proposition 25Submit

A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Long Beach voters in Los Angeles County, California, on March 3, 2020. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the city to continue an additional sales tax beyond the existing expiration date of 2027 and adjust the existing scheduled tax rates to be 1% through 2023, 0.75% from 2023 through 2027, and 1% thereafter, thereby generating an estimated $60 million in general fund revenue until ended by voters.

A "no" vote opposed authorizing the city to continue its existing local sales tax, thereby allowing the tax to expire in 2027 and decreasing the total sales tax rate in the city to 9.5%.

A simple majority was required for the approval of Measure A.

Election results

Long Beach Measure A
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		49,676	50.01%
No		49,660	49.99%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot question

The ballot question was as follows:

“

To maintain 911 emergency response services, police, fire, parks, improve water quality, repair streets, and maintain general services, shall a measure be adopted extending the City of Long Beach’s transactions and use (sales) tax beyond 2027, generating approximately $60 million annually, at a maximum rate of one cent (1%) per the measure until ended by voters, requiring a citizens’ advisory committee and annual independent audits, with all funds remaining in Long Beach?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Long Beach City Attorney:

“ On June 7, 2016, Long Beach voters approved Measure "A", a general Transactions and Use (Sales) Tax ("TUT") enacted for a period of ten (10) years on the sale and/or use of all tangible personal property sold at retail in the City of Long Beach. Measure "A" initially set the TUT rate at one percent (1%) for the first six operative years of the tax (January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2022), and declining to one-half percent (1/2%) for the remaining four operative years of the tax (January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2026), with the tax scheduled to sunset on January 1, 2027. Voter approval of this measure (Measure "A") would eliminate the ten (10) year sunset and the Long Beach TUT would remain in effect until ended by voters at a later election. This measure would also adjust the TUT rate as follows: - From January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2022 – one percent (1%) on the sale and/or use of all tangible personal property sold at retail in the City. This is the same rate currently authorized by Measure "A" through December 31, 2022; - From January 1, 2023 through September 30, 2027, three-quarters percent (3/4%) on such sale and/or use; - From October 1, 2027 and thereafter, one percent (1%) on such sale and/or use. Under Measure "A", which was placed on the ballot by the Long Beach City Council, the TUT would remain a general tax, from which the revenue would be placed in the City's general fund. This measure requires a majority vote of the electorate. Except as set forth above, the City's current TUT ordinance would remain the same. For example, the five-member citizens advisory committee would be retained. This committee is authorized to make recommendations to the City Council on the priority of TUT-funded projects and to review the use of these funds by the City. The requirement for annual audits of expenditures also remains. The proposed adjusted TUT tax would continue to be administered by the California State Board of Equalization, in the same manner that sales tax is currently administered, in order to reduce the cost of collecting the tax and to minimize the burden of record-keeping upon retailers subject to the tax. A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the extension and rate adjustment for the TUT. A "no" vote is a vote against authorizing the extension and rate adjustment for the TUT. ”

Full text

The full text of the measure is available here.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Long Beach City Council.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2020
• Local sales tax on the ballot
• City tax on the ballot
• Los Angeles County measures

California

• March 3, 2020 measures in California
• Local ballot measures, California
• Long Beach, California

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas

External links

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic
• Los Angeles County Elections Office website