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McFarland, California, Measure P, Utility Users Tax (November 2018)
| Measure P: McFarland Utility Users Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 6, 2018 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
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| Topic: |
| Local utility tax and fees Expires in: 10 years |
| Related articles |
| Local utility tax and fees on the ballot November 6, 2018 ballot measures in California Kern County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| McFarland, California |
A utility users tax was on the ballot for McFarland voters in Kern County, California, on November 6, 2018. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the city to enact for 10 years a utility users tax of 5 percent on phone, electric, natural gas, water, sewer, cable television, and trash services. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the city to enact for 10 years a utility users tax of 5 percent on phone, electric, natural gas, water, sewer, cable television, and trash services. |
Election results
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McFarland Measure P |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 653 | 42.32% | ||
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890 | 57.68% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
To maintain vital services, improve McFarland's streets and roads, maintain local police and fire protection and 911-emergency response times; shall the city of McFarland enact a utility users tax at the rate of five percent for all utilities, for ten years, providing approximately four hundred ninety-four thousand dollars annually with exemptions for senior citizens and funds used only in McFarland, subject to independent financial audits and citizen oversight?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the McFarland City Attorney:
| “ |
The City Council of the City of McFarland (City) is submitting Measure P to the voters to adopt an ordinance establishing a Utility Users Tax (UUT) on the use of utilities in the City, including telecommunications services, electric energy, natural gas, water, sewer, cable television, and refuse and trash collection and recycling. The UUT is a general tax which means that the revenues from the UUT will be deposited in the City’s General Fund to be used for general municipal governmental purposes. Measure P does not bind the City to use the revenues of the UUT for any particular services, facilities, or programs. Measure P establishes a 5% UUT on the charges for each utility service, which the City would impose beginning January 1, 2019, or the beginning of the first regular billing period after January 1, 2019. If adopted by the voters, the UUT would be in effect for ten years and terminate on December 31, 2028. The City Council may reduce, but cannot increase, the UUT rate for any utility service. California law requires voter approval for any future UUT tax rate increase. Measure P exempts a utility service user who is 65 years of age or older from paying the tax. In addition, Measure P authorizes the City Council to adopt other exemptions from the UUT. Measure P requires each utility service provider to collect the UUT from its customers at the time that the utility service provider charges its customers for utility services and remit the tax revenues to the City on a monthly basis. Delinquent taxes are subject to a penalty that is 5% of the delinquent amount plus interest at 3/4% per month from the date that the UUT first became due. An additional penalty of 5% may be assessed for fraud or gross negligence in reporting or remitting the UUT. In the case where the City has assumed the responsibility of collecting the tax, the City may attach a penalty of 25% on the delinquent charges plus interest at 3/4% per month. In the event that a utility service user believes the UUT was erroneously paid, the service user may submit a claim for a refund to the City Council within one year from the date that the UUT was paid in error. Measure P requiresthe approval of a majority of the voters voting on the measure. A “yes" vote for Measure P will approve establishing the UUT; a “no" vote against Measure P will oppose establishing the UUT. The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure P. If you would like to receive a complete copy of Measure P, please call the McFarland City Clerk’s office at (661) 792-3091 and a copy will be provided to you at no charge.[2] |
” |
| —McFarland City Attorney[3] | ||
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of McFarland, California.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Kern County Elections, "2018 Measure Language," accessed October 2, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Voter's Edge, "McFarland Measure P," accessed October 8, 2018
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