Pacific Grove, California, Event Admissions Tax, Measure P (November 2016)
| Measure P: Pacific Grove Event Admissions Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
|
| Topic: |
| City tax |
| Related articles |
| City tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Monterey County, California ballot measures |
| See also |
| Pacific Grove, California |
A tax on admissions to events was on the ballot for Pacific Grove voters in Monterey County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of imposing a five percent admission tax to enter or attend events or facilities in the city. |
| A no vote was a vote against imposing a five percent admission tax to enter or attend events or facilities in the city. |
Election results
| Measure P | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 6,209 | 77.09% | ||
| Yes | 1,845 | 22.91% | ||
- Election results from Monterey County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Shall Chapter 6.13 be added to the Pacific Grove Municipal Code to impose a five percent (5%) admission tax to enter or attend events or facilities within the City of Pacific Grove, including but not limited to attendance at an aquarium, sporting or athletic events, concerts, golf courses, marathons, motion pictures, museums, or organized activities, in accord with Resolution No. 16-045, which Chapter shall not sunset and shall have an annual yield approximating $4 million?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Pacific Grove City Attorney:
| “ |
Measure P proposes to impose an admission tax on paid entry to facilities and events in the City of Pacific Grove (City). This measure was placed on the ballot by majority vote of the City Council. The California State Controller reports eleven California municipalities presently collect admission taxes. These include San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Indian Wells, San Fernando, Fairfield, Avalon, Pasadena, Inglewood, Pomona, Irwindale and Azusa. The proposed Pacific Grove admission tax is five percent (5%) of the entry price paid to attend any non-exempt facility or event within the City. This tax would apply to events and venues such as the Pacific Grove Museum, the Pacific Grove Golf Links, the Pacific Grove Triathlon, the Half Marathon, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Christmas at the Inns and other events for which an entrance price is charged. If no charge is collected for entry, an admission tax will not be collected. The admission tax would be collected at the time any non-exempt entry charge is paid. If admission privileges are included within a membership fee, season ticket/pass, or subscription, the tax would be charged only for entry of a person to a single event, multiplied by the number of persons for which the membership, season ticket/pass or subscription allows. Certain facilities or events are exempt from the proposed tax including registration or participation in public or private school events; membership at health or fitness facilities; and membership in social, fraternal, or clubs where annual membership is the exclusive means to gain admission. The tax is proposed to apply to all attendees who pay to enter, attend, participate or view non-exempt events or facilities in the City, including those run by non-profit entities or events associated with free expression rights. The proposed tax will be paid by attendees, not by the sponsoring organization. If the privilege of attending an event within the City also includes the right to attend events or facilities outside of the City, the full admission tax would be collected unless it can be shown the patron did not exercise entry to a facility within the City. Measure P proposes to enact a general tax; proceeds shall be placed in the City’s General Fund and may be used for any municipal purpose. The measure is not intended for regulation. City staff estimates potential revenue from the admission tax to approximate $4.2 million per year. No sunset date is included. A majority of voters of the City casting ballots in favor of this measure is required to add Chapter 6.13 to the Pacific Grove Municipal Code and authorize the admission tax within the City. If approved, Measure P shall take effect on February 1, 2017. A “yes” vote on Measure P favors enactment of the admission tax. A “no” vote on Measure P opposes enactment of the admission tax.[2] |
” |
| —Pacific Grove City Attorney[3] | ||
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:[3]
- Rudy Fischer, City Councilmember
- Ken Cuneo, Councilmember
- Daniel Miller, Councilmember
- Richard Stillwell, Business man
- Carmelita Garcia, Former Mayor
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]
| “ |
This measure will provide greatly needed funds to allow the City of Pacific Grove to properly maintain a vital and fully functioning city. This includes infrastructure improvements and the hiring of critical staff. Every year, millions of people visit our city and walk on our paths and sidewalks, use our parks and beaches, bike on our Coastal Recreation Trail, and drive on our roads; causing wear, tear, and damage. Every year tens of thousands of people visit during harbor seal pupping season and we put up fences to protect those vulnerable animals. All of these things cost the City a great deal of money; though in many cases these visitors do NOT currently contribute towards addressing the impact they have on the City’s infrastructure. A 5% tax on admission to events, attractions, and venues will be paid directly by the attendees and will provide the funds needed for infrastructure maintenance and improvements in the City. These funds will also allow us to hire and retain the important public safety personnel we need; the Police Officers and Firefighters who keep us safe. The Admission Tax has the potential to raise over $4,000,000 a year in critically needed additional revenue for Pacific Grove. Without this admission tax it would take a parcel tax of approximately $500 for each residence and other commercial property in the city to provide the same amount of revenue. Even if the Admission Tax revenue is less than anticipated, it will alleviate the need for a parcel tax, business license tax increase, real estate transfer tax, or hotel tax increase. This is not a new idea; so let’s join the eleven other cities such as San Francisco, Pasadena, Fairfield, and Santa Cruz which already have an admission tax. It’s in our City’s best interest – and yours as residents – to vote yes on this measure. |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]
- Dan Cort, Former Mayor, Pacific Grove
- Judy Wills, Educator
- Julie Packard, Executive Director, Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Susan Steele, President, Friends of PG Library
- Craig Bell, First Awakenings Restaurant
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]
| “ |
Join Pacific Grove community, non-profit, and small business leaders: Vote NO on P. This haphazardly drafted “admissions” tax, aimed at non-profits, will do more harm than good for Pacific Grove and our budget. POORLY WRITTEN. UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. Measure P would have negative impacts on a broad range of non-profits and the essential services they provide. Small, tax-exempt non-profits—many run solely by volunteers—aren’t equipped to calculate, track, and pay new taxes, but would face new accounting and administrative hurdles whenever they hold educational or fundraising events. Measure P also inflicts harsh financial penalties on small non-profits that don’t pay quickly enough. TAXES SHOULD SUPPORT, NOT HARM, EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE SERVICES. A tax targeting non-profits that protect our ocean, support schools and the arts, provide shelter for animals, and services for the elderly, hungry, blind, and victims of crime, isn’t appropriate or workable. These organizations help Pacific Grove residents, attract visitors, and strengthen our economy. They deserve our support. UNWORKABLE. POORLY CONCEIVED. Measure P has serious practical and legal flaws that will force our City and non-profits to spend money on lawyers instead of services. The measure primarily targets the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but ignores the fact that just 20 percent of the Aquarium is in Pacific Grove. 80 percent—including the ticketing entrance—is in Monterey. It is unlikely Pacific Grove can even collect the revenue promised. We’ll just feel the negative consequences of the tax. LONG, COMPLEX, SLAPPED TOGETHER LAST MINUTE. This tax proposal is long and complex, and was put on the ballot in a rushed, controversial process, with no public outreach to non-profits that would be taxed. Three councilmembers, including the Mayor, opposed putting it on the ballot, and the City’s own polling report says “the admissions tax is not viable.” Pacific Grove deserves better. NO on P. |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Pacific Grove, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Pacific Grove City tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Monterey County Elections, "Notice of Local Measures," accessed October 24, 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 Monterey County Elections, "Voter Guide," accessed October 24, 2016
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