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Los Angeles County, California, Sales Tax, Measure M (November 2016)
| Measure M: Los Angeles County Sales Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 ApprovedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: Never |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Los Angeles County, California ballot measures County tax on the ballot Sales tax in California |
| See also |
| Los Angeles County, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Los Angeles County voters in Los Angeles County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing an additional 0.5 percent sales tax for transportation and the indefinite extension of an existing 0.5 percent sales tax also dedicated to transportation and originally set to expire in 2039. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing an additional 0.5 percent sales tax for transportation and the indefinite extension of an existing 0.5 percent sales tax also dedicated to transportation and originally set to expire in 2039. |
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure M.
Election results
| Measure M | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 2,259,654 | 71.15% | ||
| No | 916,375 | 28.85% | ||
- Election results from Los Angeles County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan. To improve freeway traffic flow/safety; repair potholes/sidewalks; repave local streets; earthquake retrofit bridges; synchronize signals; keep senior/disabled/student fares affordable; expand rail/subway/bus systems; improve job/school/airport connections; and create jobs; shall voters authorize a Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan through a ½ ¢ sales tax and continue the existing ½ ¢ traffic relief tax until voters decide to end it, with independent audits/oversight and funds controlled locally?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Los Angeles County Counsel:
| “ |
Approval of Measure M (“Measure”) would adopt an ordinance known as the Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan (“Ordinance”) proposed by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“Metro”), which placed this Measure on the ballot by resolution dated June 23, 2016. The Ordinance would impose a retail transactions and use tax (“Sales Tax”) at the rate of one-half of one percent (.5%) within Los Angeles County (“County”), beginning on the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing not less than 180 days after adoption of the ordinance. The Sales Tax will increase to one percent (1%) on July 1, 2039, when the Measure R tax of one-half of one percent (.5%) tax imposed by Metro by Ordinance number 08-01 expires. The Sales Tax is in addition to any other taxes authorized by law. The Sales Tax has no expiration date. Sales Tax revenue shall be used only for purposes described in the Ordinance and the attached Expenditure Plan (“Expenditure Plan”) to meet the goals of improving freeway traffic flow; accelerating rail construction and building rail lines; enhancing local regional and express bus service, bike and pedestrian connections; improving transportation system connectivity, streets and intersections; addressing transit and highway safety; providing more accessibility, convenience, and affordability of transportation for seniors, students and the disabled; and incorporating modern technology in the transportation system. The Sales Tax would be imposed, administered, and collected in the same manner as existing sales taxes, and would be imposed on all retailers in incorporated cities and unincorporated areas of the County on gross receipts of the retailer, as well as an excise tax on the storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property purchased from a retailer. The Ordinance designates exemptions to the Sales Tax for certain transactions, including but not limited to, those occurring outside of the County. Metro shall establish and administer a Sales Tax revenue fund (“Fund”) and subfunds as required by the Ordinance. All sums in the Fund or subfunds shall be expended by Metro for the projects and programs described in the Ordinance and Expenditure Plan. Metro may also expend additional funds from other sources on the projects and programs. The Ordinance requires the establishment of an Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee (“Committee”) consisting of seven members with specified qualifications. The Committee would, among other oversight duties, approve the scope of work and direct the auditors for the annual audit, prepare an annual report on the audit findings and determine whether Metro is in compliance with the Ordinance. All audit reports, findings and recommendations will be public.
Metro may make certain amendments to the Ordinance, including the Expenditure Plan, by two thirds (2/3) vote of the Metro Board in accordance with the Ordinance. This Measure requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote for passage.[2] |
” |
| —Los Angeles County Counsel[3] | ||
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[3]
- John R. Fasana, Duarte Councilmember/LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair
- Nancy McPherson, AARP California State Director
- Thomas S. Sayles, Chair of the Board, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
- Amy Howorth, Manhattan Beach Councilmember
- Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Mayor/LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Vice Chair
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]
| “ |
YES ON MEASURE M creates a comprehensive Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan to ease congestion and build a 21st Century transportation network. In 2015, the average driver on LA freeways spent 81 hours stuck in traffic. We can stop wasting time away from our families and jobs by making smart investments in both transit and roads. YES ON MEASURE M will modernize Los Angeles County’s aging transportation system. YES ON MEASURE M will build more light rail, Rapid Bus, Metrolink, and better freeways and highways all across Los Angeles County. And, with Measure M, we can finally do earthquake retrofitting on our overpasses and bridges. YES ON MEASURE M will keep seniors, disabled, and student fares affordable. In 15 years, the number of Los Angeles County residents 65 or older will expand to over 2 million. Yes on Measure M invests in van services and public transit so more seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities can live independently. The non-profit Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation estimates that Measure M will create 465,000 new jobs throughout Los Angeles County. YES ON MEASURE M gives Los Angeles County a guaranteed source of funding that can be used to get hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal matching dollars. Without Measure M, these matching dollars will go to other places. YES ON MEASURE M will help each of LA County’s 88 cities fix their streets and repair their potholes and sidewalks. YES ON MEASURE M includes strict accountability, an Oversight Committee, and an Annual Financial and Performance Audit, which will be available online. All Measure M money is for local use only and cannot be taken by the state government in Sacramento. Join business, labor, environmentalists, transportation experts, and leaders from every corner of Los Angeles County and vote YES ON MEASURE M.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]
- Norwalk Mayor Michael Mendez, Chair I-5 Joint Powers Authority
- Jon Reno, Local Chamber of Commerce Leader
- Damien Goodmon, Executive Director, Crenshaw Subway Coalition
- Barbara Lott-Holland, Co-Chair Bus Riders Union
- Professor Sally Morales Havice, former President, League of United Latin American Citizens #2009
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]
| “ |
We all want less traffic and smog -- and better, clean and safe public transit! But Measure M doesn’t accomplish these things – vote NO! Measure M is a flawed, unfair plan written in part by special interests representing the builders and contractors who’ll make billions. Consider this: Blue collar communities pay the tax but won’t get traffic congestion relief for decades. Yet mega-projects in wealthy communities are the first in line to receive even more funding—and that’s unfair. That’s why a coalition of more than 40 communities in LA County voted to officially oppose Measure M. The streets, roads and freeways we use are falling apart, but Measure M doesn’t make fixing them a priority. Improvements to the I-5, 605, 710 and the 405 won’t be completed for decades! Measure M is a FOREVER TAX on working families with no end date, oversight or accountability. Loopholes make Measure M a blank check because there are no guarantees the projects you’ve been promised will ever be started or completed. Measure M taxes people who can’t afford it, spreads social and racial injustice and makes discrimination worse. By voting NO on M our communities can develop a better, comprehensive plan that will truly reduce traffic and expand the quality rail, subway and bus system we all expect and deserve. No on M forces the establishment to listen to us and to provide fair, accountable funding for transit projects that benefit us all—not just a fortunate few. If they are going to raise taxes “forever,” they had better get it right because “forever” is a long, long time. Measure M doesn’t get it right. We can do better—vote NO on M. [2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Los Angeles County, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Los Angeles County Local sales tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Los Angeles County Elections, "November 8, 2016: Measures Appearing on the Ballot," accessed October 29, 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 Voters Edge, "Los Angeles County Ballot Measures," accessed October 29, 2016
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