Siskiyou County, California, Sales Tax Increase, Measure G (November 2016)
| Measure G: Siskiyou County Sales Tax Increase |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
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| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: Never |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Siskiyou County, California ballot measures County tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Siskiyou County, California |
A sales tax increase was on the ballot for Siskiyou County voters in Siskiyou County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of increasing the sales tax by an additional 0.25 percent, with revenue going into the county's general fund with the stated purpose of funding a new county jail. |
| A no vote was a vote against increasing the sales tax an additional 0.25 percent. |
Election results
| Measure G | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 12,124 | 60% | ||
| Yes | 8,081 | 40% | ||
- Election results from Siskiyou County Clerk's Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
The Siskiyou County General Retail Sales Tax Measure. To go toward the Siskiyou County General Fund and be used to pay for the servicing of the construction loan liability funding the construction of the new County jail, shall the County of Siskiyou enact a quarter - percent (0.25%) sales tax for the term of the construction loan for the benefit of the County General Fund and constructing the new County jail?[2] |
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Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Siskiyou County Counsel:
| “ |
On July 18, 2016, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to place Measure "G" on the November 8, 2016 ballot. If approved by a majority of the electorate, this Measure would authorize a one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) general transactions and use tax (i.e. "sales tax") within Siskiyou County and would be imposed on retail transactions involving sale and use of personal property. California Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285 authorizes the County to levy a transactions and use/sales tax at a rate of one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) so long as the tax is approved by at least two-thirds of the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors and a majority of the voters voting in an election on that issue. If approved, the sales tax would become effective on April 1, 2017. The tax would be paid in addition to current sales taxes, and would be collected at the same time and in the same manner by the State Board of Equalization, and remitted to the County of Siskiyou for general purposes to be placed in the County General Fund and could be used to service the construction loan liability for the construction of the new County jail. The tax would be in effect from April 1, 2017 and for the term of the construction loan financing the new County jail project, and would then expire automatically at the end of the loan term, unless extended by the voters. All revenues raised by the tax would belong to the County and would not be shared with the State or any other agency. By placing Measure "G" on the ballot, the County complies with Section 7285 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code, which requires that an election be held when a county board of supervisors seeks voter approval of a new sales tax for general purposes. A "YES" vote on Measure "G" will authorize the sales tax. A "NO" vote on Measure "G" will not authorize the sales tax.[2] |
” |
| —Siskiyou 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]
- Jon E. Lopey, Sheriff-Coroner
- Lisa L. Nixon, Siskiyou County District 4 Supervisor Elect
- J. Kirk Andrus, Siskiyou County District Attorney
- Martin G. Nicholas, Weed Police Chief
- Tim Stearns, Attorney/Member, Mt. Shasta City Council
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
Protect the citizens of Siskiyou County-and vote YES on Measure G! Siskiyou County needs a new jail to hold criminals accountable for their crimes committed in our communities Join Sheriff Lopey, all law enforcement, local businesses and the citizens of Siskiyou County and vote YES on Measure G to keep the new jail project alive. Without your YES vote on G-we will lose 27 million dollars in State funds, and be forced to build a new jail on our own in the future--without state assistance. Denial of initiative will endanger future generations and will lead to Increased crime rates. Violent offenders are released daily due to lack of jail beds.
victimizing our citizens and children Crime rates are impacted by major interstate, state, and US highways traversing Siskiyou County. Grand jury reports have repeatedly cited jail overcrowding, infrastructure and other shortfalls and leaving the County vulnerable to civil liability. Measure G requires a general vote for a 0.25% county wide sales tax. Your YES vote on Measure G to build a new jail will positively impact public health and safety for many decades to come, and we will not have to return the $27 million in state funds to help build this jail! For every $4.00 of taxable merchandise you spend it will only cost 1 penny to protect Siskiyou County Citizens. There are no reasonable alternatives to this new jail project-Measure G is our best and most affordable option. We cannot afford to let this opportunity be lost. Please vote yes to safe streets & communities! We ask you to vote YES on Measure G and support the new jail for Siskiyou County! [2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Andy Fusso, Siskiyou Forward Movement PAC
- Paul Palfini, Weed Resident
- Paul Beck, Mt. Shasta Resident
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
Propositions 13 and 218 require a 2/3 vote for special taxes. County supervisors made an end run around this principle to bring this back to the ballot. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayer’s Association said: “This proposal is offensive. Tax elections should not be manipulated by promising the voters a specific purpose while not requiring the 2/3 vote needed to pass a “special tax” (that is, a tax for a specific purpose)”. Remember leveraged buyouts in the timber industry, and that time your home equity disappeared? Well, those Wall Street people are the same ones profiting when the state shifts prisoners here. Fancy financing “lease-revenue” bonds for jails and prisons have one state agency paying another state agency premium interest using your tax dollars, and pretending that’s “revenue” – it’s not! Sabotaging county finances starts with draining millions from seven different reserves, then piles on even more high interest debt to finish raising the $210,000 per bed, $858 per square foot jail building costs. There’s no money for the new costs of running it. We can tell what’s going on, and it’s not right. Seeing the history here of unsupported crime statistics and loose financial controls, can we believe this grand design is the only answer? The jail needs replacement, but instead we have costly plans for constant expansion, tripling its size while businesses leave and the county population shrinks. People in rural counties know each other. We’ll stop crime with common sense – dealing with mental illness and addiction through strong intervention and incentives, one person at a time. That’s labor intensive and will create jobs. Massive jail expansion, dumping state prison problems on us, is just a ridiculously expensive gift to Wall Street. Don’t fall for it - vote NO and send the message loud and clear - again![2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Siskiyou County, California.
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
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