Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Solano County, California, Sales Tax Increase, Measure H (June 2016)
| Measure H: Solano County Sales Tax Increase |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| June 7, 2016 |
| Status: |
 DefeatedMajority required: 50% |
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 5 years |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot June 7, 2016 ballot measures in California Solano County, California ballot measures County tax on the ballot Sales tax in California |
| See also |
| Solano County, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Solano County voters in Solano County, California, on June 7, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of enacting 0.5 percent sales tax for five years, thereby increasing the total sales tax rate in the county to 8.125 percent, 7.5 percent of which was mandated by the state. |
| A no vote was a vote against enacting the proposed 0.5 percent sales tax, leaving the total sales tax rate in the county at 7.625 percent, 7.5 percent of which was mandated by the state. |
Measure H is a general sales tax, which means it was designed to allow the county to spend Measure H revenue on any government purpose.
Measure H was accompanied on the ballot by a non-binding, advisory vote asking voters if they want to spend revenue from this sales tax measure exclusively on transportation improvements and maintenance. In California, local sales tax measures can be either general sales taxes, with revenue deposited into the general fund to be used for any government purpose, or special sales taxes, with revenue earmarked for a specific purpose only. According to state law, general sales tax measures require a simple majority for approval, while special sales taxes require a two-thirds (66.67%) vote for approval. Since special taxes are much harder to get approved, some cities and counties use a combination of measures: (1) a general sales tax and (2) a non-binding advisory measure asking about the use of revenue from the sales tax. This is the case with Measure H and Measure G.
Election results
| Solano County, Measure H | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 52,982 | 55.71% | ||
| Yes | 42,120 | 44.29% | ||
- Election results from Solano County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Shall the people of Solano County enact a one-half percent sales tax for general governmental purposes such as maintenance and repair of local streets and roads, pothole repairs, road safety projects, senior and disabled mobility and other essential services within the seven cities and unincorporated area for 5 years with annual audits made available to the public showing how all revenue was spent the previous year?"[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Solano County Counsel:
| “ |
The County of Solano has proposed a general transactions and use tax (sales tax) of one-half of one cent per dollar (0.50%). The tax would be levied for no more than five years unless extended by the voters. State law authorizes the County to levy a general sales tax if the ordinance proposing the tax is approved by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Board of Supervisors and the tax is approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the entire county voting in the election. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the tax on February 9, 2016. If a majority of the voters in the County who vote on this measure vote "Yes," the measure will pass and the sales tax will be levied. The estimated annual revenue generated by this general tax, which is listed on the ballot in the Fiscal Impact Statement, would be deposited into the General Fund and would be available for general governmental purposes, including maintaining and repairing local streets and roads, repairing potholes, implementing road safety projects, addressing senior and disabled mobility issues and other essential services. The revenue from the tax would be annually appropriated by the Board of Supervisors for general governmental purposes. This measure does not restrict the use of the tax revenue to any specific purpose. The tax would be paid in addition to the current sales tax. Like the current sales tax, the tax would be imposed on all retailers in the incorporated and unincorporated territory of the County for the selling of tangible personal property, subject to certain exemptions and exclusions identified in the measure. An independent citizens' oversight committee would review the receipt and expenditures of the tax revenue, including the County's annual independent audit, in conjunction with the County's budget process. The committee may make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding expenditures from the tax. If approved, the tax would take effect immediately on June 7, 2016 and become operative on October 1, 2016. The tax will terminate in five years unless a majority of voters reauthorize the tax at a subsequent election. [2] |
” |
| —Solano 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:[4]
- Supervisor Erin Hannigan
- Supervisor Jim Spering
- Supervisor John Vasquez
- Supervisor Linda Seifert
- Supervisor Skip Thompson
The Napa/Solano Central Labor Council also endorsed a "yes" vote on Measure H.[5]
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[4]
| “ |
Measure H will provide short-term funding that will be directed to our local cities for streets and roads repair in your neighborhood. All revenue raised by this measure is required by law to stay in Solano County. Together, Measure H and Measure G will fix our local streets and roads, improve road safety, and support transportation for seniors and people with disabilities. Measure H is the safe, reliable, temporary funding we need and includes the following public protections:
Measure G directs all funds raised by Measure H to be used to fix potholes, repair and maintain local streets and roads, improve road safety, and provide transportation for seniors and people with disabilities. The Solano 2014 Annual Pothole Report shows that 50% of local streets and roads are in poor or at risk condition and are getting worse. Due to cuts in state funding, Solano County has less than half the amount of money needed to maintain our roads and not enough funding to improve them. To address this urgent need, the mayors of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville, and Vallejo requested that Measure H be placed on the ballot to provide the funding they need to fix roads and improve road safety. We urge you to join us and vote YES on Measure H.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure: [6]
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure: [6]
| “ |
Building and maintaining roadways is a major function of local governments. City streets are the responsibility of each city. Roads outside cities are the responsibility of the County. Adequate funding should be in every agency's budget. Solano's cities and the county have neglected their responsibilities for too long! This proposed five year one-half percent countywide sales tax increase has us taxpayers covering their negligence. Relying on a temporary tax to solve a long-standing problem is not responsible. The County admits that funds budgeted for road maintenance have never met the actual needs. Furthermore, temporary taxes almost always wind up becoming permanent taxes. We've been there. But not again. This is a General Tax. Revenues can and will be used by cities and the county for anything they want. There is no way to guarantee it will be spent on roads. The accompanying Advisory Measure is just that — advisory -- a "feel good" ploy with absolutely no teeth. Previous general sales tax measures presented to the public for purposes such as road conditions, pothole repair, maintenance of streets, medians, and streetlights, have been passed and are still in effect in several Solano cities: Benicia 1%, Fairfield 1%, Vacaville .25%, and Vallejo 1%. Measure H would add an additional .5% on top of those existing taxes. Californians are already taxed 69 cents per gallon in Federal and State gas taxes. Isn't that enough? Each city and the County should be placing a special tax on their ballots, just for streets and roads. That's the honest way. Why is this general tax on the ballot? Simple. A general tax is easier to pass, requiring only a majority vote. And by promising cities a cut of the money without doing any of the work, every city council backs it. Vote NO on Measure H.[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Solano County, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Solano County sales tax Measure H. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Related measures
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Solano County, "Measure H Question," accessed May 21, 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.
- ↑ Solano County Elections, "Impartial Analysis of Measure H," accessed May 20, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Solano County, "Measure H Argument in Favor," accessed May 21, 2016
- ↑ The Reporter, "Labor Council endorses candidates, measures," May 19, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Solano County, "Measure H Argument Against," accessed May 21, 2016
| |||||
