San Luis Obispo County, California, Transportation Sales Tax, Measure J (November 2016)
| Measure J: San Luis Obispo County Transportation Sales Tax |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 DefeatedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 9 years |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California San Luis Obispo County, California ballot measures County tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| San Luis Obispo County, California |
A transportation sales tax measure was on the ballot for San Luis Obispo County voters in San Luis Obispo County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of imposing a 0.5 percent sales tax for nine years to fund transportation improvements. |
| A no vote was a vote against imposing a 0.5 percent sales tax for nine years to fund transportation improvements. |
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure J.
Election results
| Measure J | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 43,714 | 33.69% | ||
| Yes | 86,038 | 66.31% | ||
- Election results from San Luis Obispo County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
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To improve our region’s transportation system by: Fixing potholes, repaving local streets, relieving traffic congestion; Improving street, highway and bridge safety; Making bike and transit improvements within and between communities; Increasing senior, veterans, disabled and student transit; and Providing safe routes to school. Shall San Luis Obispo County voters enact a half cent transportation sales tax, providing $25,000,000 annually for nine (9) years, requiring independent citizens’ oversight, where all funds stay local and 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 San Luis Obispo County Counsel:
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This measure will determine whether a half-cent sales tax within the county will be imposed for a period of nine (9) years in order to provide revenue for transportation improvements throughout the county. The measure is placed on the ballot by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors (“the Board”) and will become effective if two-thirds (2/3rds) of the voters vote “yes” on the measure. In 1987, recognizing a need for a mechanism to provide necessary funding for local transportation improvement needs, the Legislature enacted the Local Transportation and Improvement Act (Pub. Util. Code, § 180000; “the Act”). In accordance with the Act, on April 19, 2016, the Board designated the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments as the “Local Transportation Authority” for San Luis Obispo County (“the Authority”). Pursuant to Public Utilities Code section 180206, the Authority developed a countywide expenditure plan, entitled “The San Luis Obispo County Self-Help Local Transportation Investment Plan” (“the Plan”). The Plan was approved by the Board on July 12, 2016, and has been approved by a majority of the city councils representing a majority of the population residing within the incorporated areas of the county, as required by the Act. (Pub. Util. Code § 180206.) On July 13, 2016, pursuant to the authority provided by the Act and by Revenue and Taxation Code section 7251, the Authority adopted Ordinance No. 2016-01, approving the Plan and providing for the imposition of a half-cent (.5 cent) retail transaction tax for the purpose of funding transportation improvements within the county. If approved, this measure will add a half-cent to every dollar of an item purchased, with some exceptions. Currently, the sales and use tax rates are 7.5% in the unincorporated areas of the county and 8% in the cities of Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Paso Robles, and San Luis Obispo. The rates would increase to 8% and 8.5% respectively. The tax would terminate after a period of nine years. The measure is a “special tax,” not a “general tax.” Therefore, revenue generated by the tax may only be used for the purposes stated in the measure, which include fixing potholes, repaving streets, relieving traffic congestion; making bicycle and other transit improvements within and between communities; increasing senior, veteran, disabled, and student transit within the county; and providing safe routes to schools. The Plan, which is published in the ballot material for this election, includes the types of specific projects that would be funded by the tax. The Authority will commission an independent annual audit by a certified public accountant, which shall confirm that proceeds of the tax are spent only as specified in the measure and that funding is compliant with the Plan. A thirteen member (13) member “Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee” will be appointed. The committee will conduct an annual audit and prepare a report of revenue and expenditures, and progress made in implementing the Plan. A “yes” vote on this measure is a vote in favor of the imposition of a half-cent sales tax for the purposes set forth in the full-text of the measure. A “no” vote on this measure is a vote against the imposition of a half-cent sales tax for the purposes set forth in the full-text of the measure.[2] |
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| —San Luis Obispo County Counsel[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]
- Jorge Aguilar
- Clint Pearce
- Dave Romero
- Dee Lacey
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
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Measure J has been carefully crafted to address important transportation needs. Following are three reasons, why it's a smart decision for San Luis Obispo County. First: All of the funds raised by Measure J funds stay right here in San Luis Obispo County to pay for street, road and transportation improvements. Every dime. Second: Measure J is specifically designed to prevent state and federal politicians from getting their hands on these funds. This measure specifically dedicates all funds raised to transportation and traffic-related projects in San Luis Obispo County. Third: we can't count on the State Legislature to listen and act when it comes to smaller counties like San Luis Obispo. The Legislature has failed to make road improvements and repairs a priority for places like San Luis Obispo, instead sending our dollars to big cities like Los Angeles. By acting locally, we can assure that the revenue we raise here stays here. We don’t fault our locally elected representatives for being outvoted in the Legislature. Our representatives of both parties have made the case for fixing our deteriorating infrastructure in a timely fashion. They know that falling behind not only makes our roads less safe, but delaying needed repairs dramatically inflates future repair costs. That's why Measure J is so important. Every dime will go to our local San Luis Obispo County streets, roads and transportation needs, and save us from much more costly bills in the future. The Measure J plan is sound, and addresses needs county-wide to benefit all of our citizens. It has been carefully crafted to meet the most pressing needs first, with an eye to reducing overall future costs. That's the kind of good local management we deserve. Join us in supporting Measure J, a sound and locally-managed plan that will benefit us all.[2] |
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Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Andrea H. Seastrand
- Walter Nielsen
- Terri A. Stricklin
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
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Instead of fixing our roads, Sacramento politicians have taken our local gas tax dollars, as well as other transportation funds, and carelessly spent those dollars on failed programs and bureaucracies. Sacramento politicians have a spending problem not a revenue problem. They want you, the forgotten and overburdened taxpayer, to pay yet again. California is ranked 44th in road condition, making it one of worst in the nation. Yet Sacramento politicians have still not made transportation spending a priority. A State Senate report recently stated that 68% of California roads are in poor or nearly poor condition. The report also stated the total cost for currently unfunded repairs will be roughly $135 billion in the coming decade. Nonetheless, billions of taxpayer dollars continue to be wasted on programs such as the high-speed rail project -- now estimated to cost over $100 billion. Rather than spending these taxpaying dollars on repairing our crumbling roads, Sacramento politicians are asking you and me to foot the bill. Caltrans is bloated bureaucracy at its worst. Currently, the department is overstaffed by 3,300 architects and engineers that cost roughly $470 million per year. Caltrans' financial books are in such disarray that they have not been auditable to the satisfaction of the Legislative Analyst's Office and the State Auditor. But, instead of cleaning up and streamlining this failed bureaucracy, Sacramento politicians are simply asking us to pay more. Another tax increase is not the solution to our problem. Sacramento politicians need to prioritize spending, cut the waste and bureaucracy, and fix our roads. They need 'to feel the heat' of you, the forgotten taxpayer, in order to understand. VOTE NO ON MEASURE J.[2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of San Luis Obispo County, California.
Recent news
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See also
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External links
Footnotes
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