Scotts Valley, California, Measure Z, Sales Tax Increase (March 2020)

Scotts Valley Measure Z
Election date March 3, 2020
Topic Local sales tax
Status a Approved
Type Referral	Origin Lawmakers
List of California measuresCalifornia Proposition 13 (March)California Proposition 14California Proposition 15California Proposition 16California Proposition 17California Proposition 18California Proposition 19California Proposition 20California Proposition 21California Proposition 22California Proposition 23California Proposition 24California Proposition 25Submit

A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Scotts Valley voters in Santa Cruz County, California, on March 3, 2020. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the city to eliminate the 0.50% general sales tax and impose a new rate of 1.25%, thereby increasing the total tax rate to 9.75%.

A "no" vote opposed authorizing the city to eliminate the 0.50% general sales tax and impose a new rate of 1.25%, thereby maintaining the rate of 9.00%.

A simple majority was required for the approval of Measure Z.

Election results

Scotts Valley Measure Z
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		3,353	64.28%
No		1,863	35.72%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot question

The ballot question was as follows:

“

To protect Scotts Valley’s quality of life, maintain financial stability, avoid significant cuts and support city services, such as local 9-1-1 dispatch and emergency police response; wildfire/ emergency preparation; recruiting/ retaining experienced police officers; city road, storm drain and parks maintenance; and other general services, shall a 1.25% sales tax be adopted, eliminating the existing 0.50% sales tax and generating approximately $3,300,000 annually for twelve years, with all funds spent locally?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Scotts Valley City Attorney:

“ The City Council of the City of Scotts Valley has placed a measure on the ballot asking voters to eliminate the existing 0.50% sales tax and adopt a 1.25% sales tax within the City. The proposed tax would collect one and a quarter of a cent for every dollar of taxable sales of goods in the City, which is three-quarters of a cent more than the existing tax. The proposed sales tax, like the current sales tax, would be imposed upon the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail establishments within the jurisdictional limits of the City as well as upon the storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property purchased from any retailer in the jurisdictional limits of the City. All revenue generated from the proposed sales tax increase would be deposited into the City’s General Fund and, accordingly, all monies collected pursuant to the sales tax increase would be used by the City to pay for general City operations and services, including, police, emergency preparedness, parks and street maintenance. As such, this ballot measure proposes a 'general purpose tax' rather than a 'special purpose tax' and requires a simple majority vote for adoption. The sales tax rate for the City of Scotts Valley is currently 9.00%. If the ballot measure is adopted, the sales tax rate would increase to 9.75% beginning July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2032. A 'yes' vote on this Measure is a vote in favor of eliminating the existing 0.50% sales tax and adopting a 1.25% sales tax, resulting in a new sales tax of 9.75%. A 'no' vote on this Measure would maintain the current sales tax rate of 9.00%. This Measure will be adopted if it is approved by a majority of voters voting on the ballot measure. ”

Full text

The full text of the measure is available here.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Scotts Valley City Council.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2020
• Local sales tax on the ballot

• Santa Cruz County measures

California

• March 3, 2020 measures in California
• Local ballot measures, California
• Scotts Valley, California

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas

External links

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic
• Santa Cruz County Elections Office website