Pleasant Hill, California, Sales Tax, Measure K (November 2016)
| Measure K: Pleasant Hill Sales Tax |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 20 years |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Contra Costa County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Pleasant Hill, California |
A sales tax was on the ballot for Pleasant Hill voters in Contra Costa County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of implementing a 0.5 percent sales tax for 20 years to provide funds for general city services. |
| A no vote was a vote against implementing a 0.5 percent sales tax for 20 years to provide funds for general city services. |
Election results
| Measure K | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 10,772 | 67.09% | ||
| No | 5,284 | 32.91% | ||
- Election results from Contra Costa County Elections Division
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To provide and maintain Pleasant Hill city services and facilities, including fixing potholes, and repairing neighborhood and city streets; replacing the aging library with a 21st century facility including space for after-school homework and tutoring; creating additional walking and biking paths; maintaining storm drains; and other city services; shall the City of Pleasant Hill levy a 1/2 cent sales tax, providing $4,000,000 annually for 20 years, providing locally controlled funding that cannot be taken by the State?[2] |
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Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Pleasant Hill City Attorney:
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On August 1, 2016, the City Council unanimously voted to place Measure “K” on the November 8, 2016 ballot. If approved by a majority of Pleasant Hill voters, this Measure would authorize a one-half percent (1/2%) retail transactions and use (sales) tax within the City of Pleasant Hill. It is estimated that Measure “K” will provide an additional $4,000,000 in annual funding. This tax would be a “general tax,” meaning that revenues raised from the tax would go into the City’s general fund to pay for any lawful City program, improvement, or service such as maintenance of streets, sidewalks and storm drains and construction of a new library. California Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.9 authorizes the City to levy a general transactions and use (sales) tax at a rate of one-half percent (1/2%) so long as the tax is approved by a majority of the voters voting in an election on that issue. If approved, the tax would become effective on April 1, 2017 and expire on March 31, 2037, unless extended by Pleasant Hill voters voting at a subsequent election. The tax would be paid in addition to current sales taxes and would be collected at the same time and in the same manner as existing sales taxes. All revenues raised by the tax would belong to the City and would not be shared with the State or any other agency. Measure “K” requires annual independent audits to verify that tax revenues are collected, managed and expended in accordance with its terms. Measure “K” also establishes a “Pleasant Hill Transactions and Use Tax Oversight Committee” to review the collection and expenditure of tax revenues and to make recommendations to the City Council as appropriate. The number, qualifications and duties of Committee members shall be established by the City Council. By placing Measure “K” on the ballot, the City complies with Article XIIIC of the California Constitution (Proposition 218), which requires a majority of the voters to approve an ordinance which establishes a general tax. A “yes” vote on Measure “K” will authorize the 1/2% transactions and use (sales) tax. A “no” vote on Measure “K” will not authorize the 1/2% transactions and use (sales) tax. [2] |
” |
| —Pleasant Hill City Attorney[1] | ||
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:[1]
- Susan Weaver, President, Safe Streets & Library, Yes on K 2016
- Sue Noack, Pleasant Hill Mayor
- Joe Stokley, Local Pleasant Hill Business Owner
- Steve Oldenbourg, Co-Founder, Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education
- Chuck Murphy, Chair, PH Traffic Safety Commission
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
YES on K Improves Neighborhood and City Streets by providing funding to address $19,000,000 in infrastructure repair for potholes, failing streets, sidewalks, and bike paths. YES on K Maintains Our Quality of Life services and will replace our 55-year old Pleasant Hill Library so that it is SAFE and meets TODAY’S health, safety, fire, and seismic standards for the security of our community and library users. YES on K addresses $9,000,000 in storm drain improvements needed to prevent flooding. For the past 10 years, Sacramento politicians have taken over $20,000,000 from Pleasant Hill! By law, every penny of Measure K money must continue to be spent on our LOCAL Pleasant Hill services, and cannot be taken by the State. YES on K creates LOCAL funds for LOCAL needs – providing a reliable source of local funding and making infrastructure repairs now, before they become more expensive in the future. YES on K includes Tough Fiscal Accountability Guarantees including Independent Citizens Oversight, mandatory annual financial audits to monitor spending and yearly reports to the community — guaranteeing funds are spent responsibly and as promised. YES on K ensures that out of town shoppers share the cost. Here’s what Measure K will NOT do: Measure K is NOT a tax on your home or property. Measure K does NOT apply to purchases of groceries or prescription medication. YES on K is supported by Pleasant Hill residents from all neighborhoods and walks of life, who value our community and want to keep property values high. Join a unanimous City Council and business and civic leaders committed to fixing our streets, sidewalks, and storm drains, and providing the safe library that we expect by voting YES on K. For factual information, visit www.pleasanthillca.org/MeasureK. Remember to VOTE LOCAL this election season![2] |
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Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Norman Vanhole, Treasurer, Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
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Pleasant Hill has avoided its responsibilities for years. Instead of maintaining streets, storm drains and buildings, the city gave employees raises and benefits. The current city budget shows annual compensation, including benefits, averages $151,207 per employee. This average is even higher when you include the $1.64 million in UNBUDGETED increases given AFTER Council approved the budget. Measure K can be spent on anything. There’s no guarantee it would be spent on maintenance or a new library.
Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth (PHCRG) is an all-volunteer, non-partisan, non-profit group that promotes fiscal responsibility and transparency in local government. We work to ensure residents receive good value for their tax dollars. Measure K is a blank check to a city that hasn’t done its homework. Vote NO on Measure K! www.PHCRG.org [2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Pleasant Hill, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Pleasant Hill Local sales tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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