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Los Banos, California, Measure H, Sales Tax (November 2018)
| Measure H: Los Banos Sales Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 6, 2018 |
| Status: |
 Approved
|
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: No expiration |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 6, 2018 ballot measures in California Merced County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Los Banos, California |
A sales tax was on the ballot for Los Banos voters in Merced County, California, on November 6, 2018. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of allowing the city to impose a half-cent (.5 percent) sales tax to fund city services. |
| A no vote was a vote against allowing the city to impose a half-cent (.5 percent) sales tax to fund city services. |
Election results
|
Los Banos Measure H |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
5,542 | 66.64% | ||
| No | 2,774 | 33.36% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
To maintain fiscal stability; neighborhood police patrols; police/firefighter recruitment/retention; rapid emergency/medical response times; antigang/youth violence prevention programs; pothole/road repairs; answer 911 calls; prevent theft, property, burglary, robbery, auto-related crimes; essential City services; shall the measure be adopted approving an ordinance establishing a half-cent sales tax, raising approximately $2,500,000 annually for 15 years, with citizens’ oversight, independent audits, and all funds spent locally?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Los Banos City Attorney:
| “ |
The City Council of the City of Los Banos placed Measure H on the ballot to ask the City’s voters to consider approval of a half-cent [one-half of one percent (0.50%)] local sales tax. The proposed tax would add a half-cent to the price of an item that costs one dollar. The sales tax is also referred to as a "transactions and use tax." The current sales tax rate in the City of Los Banos is 8.25%. Accordingly, if this ballot measure is approved, the Los Banos sales tax rate would increase to 8.75%. The tax increase would automatically expire in 15 years unless extended by the voters. Because Measure H would not limit the use of tax revenue, it is a “general tax,” not a “special tax” that restricts the funds to specific purposes. Therefore, the City may use the funds for any legitimate governmental purpose such as fire and police protection, traffic safety, street and sidewalk repair, park maintenance, and general administration of the City. The City would not be bound to use the tax monies for any special purpose or for any particular projects, facilities or programs. At the time that the City Council called for an election on Measure H, it also adopted a formal resolution stating its intention to expend all proceeds of the sales tax to enhance essential city services as identified by the community spending priorities such as public safety, neighborhood services, and fiscal stability. Measure H safeguards the use of public funds and ensures transparency and accountability. The measure requires citizens’ oversight, the publishing of an annual report and annual mandatory financial audits to ensure that all funds are spent as pledged. Each year, the City’s independent auditors would complete a report reviewing the collection, management, and expenditure of revenue from Measure H. Measure H requires the establishment of a citizen oversight committee to be appointed by the City Council. The Citizen Oversight Committee would review the annual report; evaluate the projects and services provided with revenue from Measure H, and make recommendations to the City Council regarding priorities for expenditure of revenue from Measure H in the following budget year. A “Yes” vote is a vote to approve the enactment of the ½ cent tax. A “No” vote is a vote against the tax. The measure would be approved if it received a simple majority of “Yes” votes.[2] |
” |
| —Los Banos City Attorney[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 Los Banos, California.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Merced County, "Measure H Question," accessed September 19, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Merced County, "Measure H Impartial Analysis," accessed September 19, 2018
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