Placer County, California, Sales Tax for Roads and Transportation, Measure M (November 2016)
| Measure M: Placer County Sales Tax for Roads and Transportation |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 DefeatedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 30 years |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Placer County, California ballot measures County tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Placer County, California |
A sales tax was on the ballot for Placer County voters in Placer County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of establishing an additional 0.5 percent sales tax, limited to 30 years, to fund modifications to the 80/65 Interchange and road maintenance. |
| A no vote was a vote against establishing an additional 0.5 percent sales tax, limited to 30 years, to fund modifications to the 80/65 Interchange and road maintenance. |
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of this measure.
Election results
| Measure M | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 65,199 | 36.2% | ||
| Yes | 114,920 | 63.8% | ||
- Election results from Placer County Elections Division
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
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Shall Placer County reconfigure the 80/65 Interchange to relieve congestion; better maintain roads countywide; provide dedicated funding for rural road pothole repair; widen roadways/expand transit; expand Highway 65 in each direction; provide safe routes to school; add seniors/disabled persons transit; widen Baseline Road and build Placer Parkway creating I-80 alternatives, by establishing a one-half cent sales tax, limited to 30 years, raising $53 million annually, with independent audits, citizens' oversight, and increasing eligibility for state/federal matching?[2] |
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Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Placer County Counsel:
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The Placer County Transportation Planning Agency, designated and acting as the Placer County Local Transportation Authority (“Authority”), adopted Ordinance No. 16-02 (“Authority Ordinance”) which would impose a retail transactions and use tax to supplement local revenue for local transportation purposes and projects as authorized by section 180201 of the Public Utilities Code. In order for the tax to be imposed, two-thirds of the electors voting on this measure must vote in favor of the ordinance. If this measure is approved, the Authority Ordinance will be implemented, imposing a one-half (1/2) cent retail transactions and use tax countywide within Placer County. The tax will be effective for thirty (30) years and the proceeds of the tax can only be used to fund the construction, maintenance, improvement, and operation in Placer County of streets, roads, and highways, and the construction, improvement, and operation of public transit systems as identified in the Placer County Transportation Improvement Plan (“Expenditure Plan”) adopted by the Authority as a part of the Ordinance. If this measure is approved, the ordinance will be operative on the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than one hundred ten (110) days after adoption of the ordinance, but in no event earlier than April 1, 2017. The Ordinance establishes pay-as-you-go financing as the preferred method of financing transportation improvements and programs specified in the Expenditure Plan under the Ordinance; however, the Authority will also have the authority to issue bonds in the future if needed to finance capital outlay expenditures, as outlined in the Expenditure Plan, payable from the proceeds of the retail transactions and use tax. Pursuant to Public Utilities Code section 180250(b), the maximum bonded indebtedness that may be outstanding at any one time cannot exceed the estimated proceeds of the tax, as determined by the Expenditure Plan. The Expenditure Plan may be reviewed and amended annually pursuant to section 180207 of the Public Utilities Code but any amendment cannot affect the rate of the tax imposed. A citizens’ oversight committee shall be appointed to ensure that tax revenue is expended in accordance with the Expenditure Plan. The Authority’s annual spending appropriations limit will initially be set at $450 million. The appropriations limit shall be subject to adjustment as provided by law. This measure makes no change to existing laws but will add to existing laws a countywide ordinance imposing a one-half (1/2) cent retail transactions and use tax within Placer County to be used according to the requirements of the Ordinance and the Expenditure Plan. The electors entitled to vote on this measure are the registered voters within Placer County A "YES" vote on this Measure would approve a half-cent tax for 30 years for transportation improvements. A "NO" vote on this Measure is a vote against the tax.[2] |
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| —Placer County Counsel[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]
- Eric Sanchez, President, League of Placer County Taxpayers
- Susan Rohan, Vice Mayor Roseville, Chair Placer County Transportation Planning Authority
- Ed Bonner, Sheriff, Placer County
- Tom Cosgrove, CEO, Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce
- Jennifer Montgomery, Placer County Supervisor
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]
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Measure M relieves congestion, repairs local roads, and improves safety, all with strict accountability. Sick of growing traffic on highways and roads, robbing us of time with family? Vote Yes on Measure M. Troubled to see more dangerous accidents, and unsafe routes around schools? Vote Yes on Measure M. Concerned about potholes and poor street maintenance that cost you money? Vote Yes on Measure M. Want alternatives to automobile commuting; by train to Sacramento, or even biking or walking? Vote Yes on Measure M. Lack of local transportation funding threatens the quality of life we enjoy in Placer County, and puts the brakes on our economy. Measure M provides funding for specific improvements across Placer County, including:
Measure M contains STRONG TAXPAYER SAFEGUARDS. The projects are part of the ballot; funds must be spent as voter approved. Annual, independent audits will be performed under a Taxpayers Oversight Committee, with results made publicly available. Transportation dollars raised in Placer County will stay in Placer County. Politicians can't raid the funds. No more than 1% may be spent on administration. Measure M preserves our quality of life and keeps our local economy strong. Vote Yes on Measure M to Keep Placer Moving! For more information: www.YesMeasureM.com. [2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]
- Ken Campbell, Past Chairman, Placer County Republican Party
- Jean Pagnone, Treasurer, Placer County Taxpayers Association
- Debra Jackson, Chairman, Placer County Tea Party
- Ed Rowen, President, Placer County Republican Assembly
- Thomas N. Hudson, Executive Director, California Taxpayer Protection Committee
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]
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Measure M is a major SALES TAX INCREASE that will damage our local economy, shut down businesses, and send shoppers and their money out of Placer County. Measure M will cost us $1.6 billion over 30 years, but many of the projects they promise will never be completed without future revenue increases. We already pay very high taxes to build and repair roads, but way too much of what we pay is diverted elsewhere. Our County Supervisors found money for two Supervisor pay raises, including a historic 139% raise, but somehow they couldn't find enough money for transportation even when tax revenues began breaking all previous records. The Placer County Transportation Planning Agency has a "Bucks for Bikes" program that pays people to buy their own bicycles. No kidding! They have filled our mailboxes with junk mail promoting this tax increase, they've purchased newspaper ads, made telephone calls, and paid expensive consultants to convince us to raise taxes. Shouldn't they have used that taxpayer money on roads? Instead of raising taxes, we need to tell the politicians to make road building a priority again. We need freeways, not bicycle giveaways, empty busses, and train subsidies! Our county budget has exploded to over $816 million, far higher than expected, so there is no excuse for pretending that we can't find $50 million each year for high-priority transportation projects. Even if the politicians refuse to spend current revenues on transportation, they could easily set aside future revenue growth for this critical spending priority. If we keep raising taxes every time they ignore our priorities, we will never fix the system and we will never force them to live within their means. Please VOTE NO on higher taxes. NO on Measure M.[2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Placer County, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Placer County Local sales tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Placer County Elections, "Measures for the November 8th 2016 Presidential General Election for Placer County," accessed October 22, 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 Placer Elections, "Sample Ballot," accessed October 22, 2016
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