Mill Valley, California, Parcel Tax, Measure H (November 2016)
| Measure H: Mill Valley Parcel Tax |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 ApprovedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| California parcel tax Expires in: 10 years |
| Related articles |
| California parcel tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Marin County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Mill Valley, California |
A parcel tax measure was on the ballot for Mill Valley voters in Marin County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of replacing an expiring parcel tax—a kind of property tax based on units of property rather than assessed value—at a rate of $266 per first residential unit and other rates for secondary residential units, commercial properties or other parcel types to fund repairs of streets and roads and fire suppression activities. |
| A no vote was a vote against replacing an expiring parcel tax—a kind of property tax based on units of property rather than assessed value—at a rate of $266 per first residential unit and other rates for secondary residential units, commercial properties or other parcel types to fund repairs of streets and roads and fire suppression activities. |
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of this measure.
Election results
| Measure H | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 6,661 | 77.33% | ||
| No | 1,953 | 22.67% | ||
- Election results from Marin County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[2]
| “ |
MEASURE H: To renew funding exclusively for improved fire safety activities, street maintenance, and road repair, shall the Mill Valley Municipal Service Tax be renewed within the City of Mill Valley Community Facilities District Number 2016-1, at a rate of $266 for single family residential property, with a 2% annual adjustment, raising an average of $1.79 million annually over 10 years, and shall the appropriations limit be established, all as specified in Mill Valley City Council Resolution No. 16-39?[3] |
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Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Mill Valley City Attorney:
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The City of Mill Valley imposes a municipal services tax on residential and commercial properties. This tax was first authorized in 1985. The current tax is part of a community facilities district approved by the voters in 2006 at the base rate of $195 per residence per year and expires June 30, 2018. In anticipation of this expiration, the City Council recently formed City of Mill Valley Community Facilities District No. 2016-1 (the "District") to pay for: (i) maintenance, repair and improvement of streets and roads, (ii) fire suppression activities, including vegetation removal, and (iii) all property with an expected useful life of five years or longer necessary or useful for these services. The boundaries of the District are identical to the city limits of Mill Valley. Measure H, which is placed on the ballot by the City Council, seeks voter approval to levy an annual special tax to pay for the above-described services and facilities at the following maximum rates: 1.$266.00 per occupied single family residential unit and $133.00 per second unit 2. $266.00 per first unit of a multiple family residential property and $133.00 per additional unit, unless no unit has more than 700 square feet, then the rate shall be $133.00 per unit 3. $266.00 per occupied commercial property containing 2,071 square feet or less 4. $0.12 per square foot for occupied commercial property containing more than 2,071 square feet 5. $66.50 per residential or commercial property that is not occupied or issued a certificate of occupancy during the fiscal year Exempted from the special tax are public property, property exempt from taxation, property that cannot be developed, and single family residential properties owned and occupied by low income residents over 65. Measure H renews the municipal services tax, with the tax rates being increased to the levels stated above. If approved, the special tax will be levied annually for ten years in the same manner as property taxes, commencing in fiscal year 2017-2018. Beginning with fiscal year 2018-2019, the tax rates stated above would increase by 2% annually. Measure H establishes an appropriations limit for the District, which prevents the District from spending more money on services and facilities than the amount of special tax revenues collected. A "Yes" vote will approve the special tax and will establish an appropriations limit for the District, all as described in City Council Resolution No. 16-39. A "No" vote will result in the existing special tax expiring on June 30, 2018, with no new special tax replacing it. Measure H requires a two-thirds vote to be approved.[3] |
” |
| —Mill Valley City Attorney[2] | ||
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:[2]
- John McCauley, Mayor, representing Mill Valley City Council
- Kenneth R. Wachtel, Mayor 2011 & 2015
- Paula Reynolds, Former President, Mill Valley Business Advisory Board
- Kimberly Hobson, Chair, Mill Valley Emergency Preparedness Commission
- Maggie Lang, Former Chair, Emergency Preparedness Commission and Mill Valley CERT Steering Committee
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[2]
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We enthusiastically ask you to join us in voting Yes on Measure H! Since 1987, Mill Valley residents have supported the MST to fund our City’s long-term program of street rehabilitation and fire prevention services, including:
Well-maintained streets and ongoing fire prevention programs are fundamental to our safety and to the value of our homes. The large annual expenditures required to perform these vital tasks can only continue with the funds generated by a renewed MST. The MST is an important, stable local funding source. Our community’s continued MST investment has enabled the City to:
Measure H funds will be used exclusively to provide funding for maintenance, repair, and improvement of streets and roads, and to fund the City’s fire prevention activities, including removal of brush and vegetation. This annual community investment is $266 per occupied single family residence. Low-income seniors are eligible for exemption. The 2% annual adjustment is intended to ensure that the steady pace of 30 years of investment in Mill Valley’s fire and road safety continues despite likely future cost increases over the next decade. Please join every City Council member, fire safety community leaders, and neighbors and Vote Yes on Measure H to make sure Mill Valley remains fire-safe, and can continue to improve, repair, and maintain our streets and roads. https://www.facebook.com/SafeMillValley/ www.SafeMillValley.com[3] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[2]
- Susan Ives
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[2]
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Measure H is a parcel tax that unfairly impacts long time residents of modest means, renters, and small businesses. Each property owner is assessed an identical amount—$266—whatever the value of their property or income level. If approved, Measure H would raise the municipal tax by more than 36 percent in the first year. The proposed tax would automatically go up by 2 percent each year thereafter—an increase not conditioned on any cost-of-living index. Second units and multi-unit properties would also be subject to the additional tax. This tax increase will get passed on to renters, fueling the skyrocketing rents that make Mill Valley out of reach for all but the wealthy—including our children and their families. Occupied commercial properties also would face higher taxes, even as longtime businesses are leaving Mill Valley due to high rents, and many downtown storefronts stand vacant. Measure H is just one of several new city and county taxes on the ballot. If approved, taxes will increase by the same amount for every homeowner in every income bracket. Automatic annual increases ensure that our taxes will continue to rise for years to come—regardless of changes in income or the value of our property. We all love Mill Valley and are willing to pay our fair share. But Measure H isn’t a fair tax. It disproportionately burdens long time, lower income residents and independent business owners—those least able to keep up with the rising costs of living here. Vote No on Measure H.[3] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Mill Valley, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Mill Valley California parcel tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Note: rate varies for secondary residential units and other parcel types.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Marin County, "November 8, 2016 - List of Measures," accessed October 25, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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