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Montebello, California, Sales Tax, Measure S (November 2017)
| Measure S: Montebello Sales Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 7, 2017 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
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| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: Never |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 7, 2017 ballot measures in California Los Angeles County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Montebello, California |
A sales tax was on the ballot for Montebello voters in Los Angeles County, California, on November 7, 2017. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of enacting a local sales tax of .75 percent for funding general city services. |
| A no vote was a vote against enacting a local sales tax of .75 percent for funding general city services. |
Measure S was originally designed to enact a local 1 percent sales tax in Montebello. However, on October 1, 2017, a 0.25 percent sales tax to fund services for the homeless was implemented across Los Angeles County, raising the county tax to 2.25 percent.[1] The state-mandated tax rate that applied throughout California as of 2017 is 7.25 percent, with revenue allocated to various purposes. The county tax increase brought Montebello's total sales tax rate up to 9.5 percent. California state law caps the total sales tax rate at 10.25 percent, and for this reason, Montebello could only propose a 0.75 percent local sales tax.[2][3]
City officials proposed the sales tax measure after declaring a fiscal emergency and citing a $5.6 million deficit in the 2017-2018 city budget.[4] Officials originally estimated annual revenue from Measure S at $9 million, but after the county tax rate went up, the estimate was changed to $6.75 million.[3][5]
Election results
| Measure S | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 2,720 | 62.24% | ||
| Yes | 1,650 | 37.76% | ||
- Election results from Los Angeles County Office of the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[6]
| “ |
To preserve public safety, community programs and prevent significant cuts to essential services, by funding general City services including hiring additional police and fire personnel, maintaining anti-gang and graffiti efforts, youth and after-school parks and recreation services, expanding and improving City parks, fixing City streets and public infrastructure, shall the City sales tax be increased by one cent with annual financial audits, expenditure reports, and financial oversight?[7] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Montebello City Attorney:
| “ |
The City of Montebello currently does not impose a local sales tax upon purchases made within the City. This Measure has been entitled as the “City Services Protection Measure.” The voters of many cities in Los Angeles County have adopted revenue enhancement measures and approved a similar one cent sales tax. Among those cities that have approved a local sales tax include Pico Rivera, Santa Monica, Long Beach and Lynwood. Measure S places before the voters the decision of whether or not to create a one percent (1%) tax to be imposed upon the sales of goods and merchandise sold within the City of Montebello. If approved, the sales tax is expected to generate approximately $9 million annually for general city services and purposes. These revenues could be used for all City services or programs, including the hiring of more police and fire officers, the upgrading of public safety protection and crime prevention equipment, improved street lighting and signalization, fixing potholes and other street and sidewalk repairs, increased youth and senior citizen activities, repair and enhancement of City parks and facilities, and providing other essential municipal services. The proposed Measure also includes a “City Services Protection Measure Oversight Committee” comprised of two members of the City Council, five members of the community, City staff and officials, and representatives of the various City employee groups, including members of the Police, Fire and Transportation departments. The purpose of the Committee is to oversee the City’s accounting, use, and/or expenditure of the revenues or proceeds generated in the event the Measure is approved by the voters of Montebello. A YES vote would establish a 1% sales tax within the City and would expect to generate $9 million in general fund revenues to be made available for all City programs and services, and would establish the Oversight Committee to monitor and control the City’s use of the new revenues. A NO vote results in the City not implementing the 1% sales tax and the City would not receive the estimated revenues for City programs and services. The Oversight Committee would not be established. The City Council directed Measure S to be placed on the ballot at the Special Municipal Election to be held on November 7, 2017.[7] |
” |
| —Montebello City Attorney[5] | ||
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:[5]
- Vivian Romero, mayor
- Jack Hadjinian, city council member
- Vanessa Delgado, city council member
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[5]
| “ |
MONTEBELLO LEADERS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND POLICE AND FIRE ORGANIZATIONS ALL AGREE: VOTE YES ON MEASURE S. The voters of Montebello have an opportunity to take action which will secure the economic stability of our City. By supporting Measure S, you can insure that Montebello will have strong, fully staffed police and fire departments. Our streets and parks can be improved and kept clean and repaired. Our youth and senior citizen programs will be provided the resources to have a safe, healthy community. Many cities in Los Angeles County, including Pico Rivera and Long Beach, have adopted a one-cent sales tax on goods and merchandise purchased within their city. Each of these communities has a thriving economic base which support the essential public safety and related services our residents deserve. This Measure will not increase your property tax, rent, mortgages, cost of medical services, or utility expenses. The Montebello Chamber of Commerce, Montebello Police and Fire Associations, local leaders, including Mayor Vivian Romero and Councilmembers Art Barajas, Jack Hadjinian and Vanessa Delgado all support a YES vote on Measure S. Here is what Measure S will do: – Increase City revenues by approximately $9 million. – Every new dollar generated will be available to enhance and improve our City’s police and fire services, upgrade our streets and sidewalks, repair our parks and community buildings. – On every $1.00 spent by those shopping in Montebello, an additional 1 cent sales tax will be imposed on purchases – The City’s spending will be subject to a citizen review committee – no wasteful spending will be allowed. The future and safety of our residents, our children, our seniors depend upon your YES VOTE! Join your neighbors, your City Council, the men and women of our Police and Fire Departments and VOTE YES ON MEASURE S.[7] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[5]
- Edward C. Pizzorno, former mayor/council member
- Raymond Ernest Broguiere Jr., local businessman
- William M. Molinari, council member/mayor pro tem
- Charles E. Pell, former city treasurer
- Lawrence Salazar, former planning commissioner
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[5]
| “ |
NO NEW TAXES! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Every level of government is spending our money with no end in sight. The State of California has raised income, sales, gasoline taxes and car registration fees. Montebello property owners already pay $11 Million Tax for Employee retirement. Now City Council wants to raise sales tax because they’ve so BADLY MISMANAGED City finances that WE ARE BROKE. The Budget has NOT been balanced for 3 years with $10 Million in deficits. Originally another $9 Million in sales tax would hire more Police Officers and Firefighters. Now they’re PROMISING EVERYTHING to everybody, far exceeding what $9 Million can actually cover. They’re promising repairing potholes, trimming trees, new parks and recreation programs, etc. HOW MANY TIMES can they spend these same dollars??? To predict how this money will actually be spent, just LOOK AT THEIR CURRENT TRACK RECORD: Mismanagement includes settling a $4 Million, 10 year old Garfield Financial Corp. claim, with no lawsuit filed, to accommodate politically connected friends. They also paid a Contractor who submitted fake bids (a felony) $500,000 for City work, yet City did nothing to recover this money. Contracts are regularly awarded to politically connected vendors with automatic renewals and price increases with no competitive bidding. NO WONDER WE ARE BROKE. Mayor and other Council Members spent tens of thousands of our tax dollars on trips to resort destinations like Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Miami and other resorts. They also serve themselves restaurant meals at Council meetings. In reality, this new tax money has already been spent! The current $5 Million budget deficit must be covered and City employees promoting this new tax, particularly public safety, have been promised raises. If they won’t control spending on their personal benefits, how can we possibly expect them to properly spend another $9 Million??? NO NEW TAXES[7] |
” |
Path to the ballot
Measure S was put on the ballot through a unanimous vote of the Montebello City Council on May 10, 2017.[4]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Montebello Local sales tax Measure S. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The full 2.25 percent county tax—last increased on October 1, 2017—did not affect cities where the total sales tax rate was already 10.25 percent.
- ↑ Note: The original language of the ballot measure quoted on the page does not reflect the changes that took effect on October 1, 2017.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Whittier Daily News, "Proposed Montebello sales tax measure will raise millions less than first anticipated," October 12, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Whittier Daily News, "Montebello council votes to declare fiscal emergency, ask voters to approve sales tax," May 11, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Los Angeles County Elections, "Sample Ballot/Polling Place Look Up," accessed September 23, 2017
- ↑ Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, "Local and Municipal Consolidated Elections November 7, 2017," accessed September 22, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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