Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District, California, Measure I, Sales Tax Extension (March 2020)

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District Measure I
Election date March 3, 2020
Topic District tax
Status d Defeated
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 extension measure was on the ballot for Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District voters in Sonoma and Marin counties, California, on March 3, 2020. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported extending the district's existing 0.25 percent sales tax through March 31, 2059.

A "no" vote opposed extending the district's existing 0.25 percent sales tax past March 31, 2029.

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure I.

Election results

Sonoma County Measure I
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		157,590	53.60%
No		136,438	46.40%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot question

The ballot question was as follows:

“

To continue relieving traffic congestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions (having carried 1.5-million passengers by providing quality transportation alternatives to Highway 101), connecting stations with pathways, expanding rail service to Healdsburg/Cloverdale as grants become available, shall an extension of the existing Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District 1/4-cent voter approved sales tax, at the same rate, generating approximately $40,000,000 annually for an additional 30 years, subject to audits and citizens’ oversight, that the State cannot take away, be adopted?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the offices of the Marin County Counsel and Sonoma County Counsel:

“ Measure I asks voters whether the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (“SMART”) should extend its existing 1⁄4-cent sales tax for an additional period of 30 years through March 31, 2059. Measure I was placed on the ballot by unanimous vote of the SMART Board of Directors. SMART is a rail district created by the Legislature in 2003 to evaluate, plan, and implement passenger rail service from Cloverdale in Sonoma County to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal in Marin County. The geographic area of SMART includes all of Sonoma and Marin Counties. Voters approved the existing 1⁄4-cent sales tax in November 2008. Over the past 10 years, the tax has funded the construction and commencement of operation of a commuter rail transit system that extends from Larkspur in Marin County to Airport Boulevard in Sonoma County. The current tax will expire in 2029. If approved, Measure I would extend the tax (with no increase in rate) for an additional 30 years, providing approximately $40,000,000 annually. The tax would continue to be collected as it is now, in the same manner as a state-imposed sales tax. Measure I would also update the existing Expenditure Plan, which governs how the funds raised by the tax can be spent. Since Measure I continues a special purpose tax, monies collected will be placed in a special fund and may be spent only for the purposes set forth in the Expenditure Plan incorporated into the full text of the measure. These purposes include: providing for the ongoing operation, maintenance, and financing of the current system; refinancing existing debt service; enhancing and prioritizing safety, education, and community outreach programs; and funding capital projects that will provide for and increase the existing level of service, operation, and future expansion of both the passenger and freight rail train system and ancillary bicycle/pedestrian pathways in Sonoma and Marin Counties. Measure I would continue the accountability safeguards in the existing tax which include annual audits by an independent accountant and independent oversight by a Citizens Oversight Committee established by the Board of Directors. Measure I would also authorize SMART to re-issue or restructure its existing revenue bonds, pursuant to Public Utilities Code section 105220, to expedite the commencement of the expanded passenger train service, bicycle/pedestrian pathway, and related transit improvements. Any bonds issued or restructured would be paid back with the proceeds of the tax. The tax proposed by Measure I will become effective only if approved by a two-thirds majority of those voting on the measure. A “yes” vote on Measure I will authorize SMART to extend the existing tax through March 31, 2059. A “no” vote on Measure I will prohibit SMART from extending the tax, and the existing tax would continue in effect until March 31, 2029. ”

Full text

The full text of the measure is available here.

Support

Stay Green, Keep SMART 2020, also known as Yes on I, led the campaign in support of Measure I.

Supporters

The campaign Stay Green, Keep SMART 2020 provided a list of endorsements on the campaign's website, which is available here.

Officials

• U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-2)
• U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-5)
• Sen. Mike McGuire (D-2)
• Asm. Jim Wood (D-2)

Tribes

• Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

Organizations

• Friends of SMART
• North Bay Labor Council
• North Bay Leadership Council
• Save the Bay Action Fund

Arguments

The following was the official argument in support of Measure I:

“ In 2008, Marin and Sonoma Counties voters had the foresight to create SMART. You voted for a modern train system to bridge county lines and connect to the ferry in Larkspur. You wanted a green transportation system, a way to travel without sitting in traffic – taking cars off Highway 101. SMART has delivered on that promise – despite serious obstacles. When the recession hit in 2009, the bond market crashed, slashing more than $100 million in projected revenue. Despite this setback, SMART still got a world class transportation system up and running by winning $328 million in regional, state and federal matching funds. So far, SMART has carried over 1.6 million passengers, including over 5,900 passengers who require wheelchair access and 159,000 bicyclists. In December, SMART opened the Larkspur station to connect to the ferry. In January, SMART revamped the commuter schedule to run trains every 32 minutes. Now, SMART is at a crossroads. Measure I is critical to SMART’s future. Measure I would extend SMART’s ¼ of one cent sales tax with No tax increase. Measure I would ensure SMART’s financial stability and allow restructuring of construction debt. This would save $12.2 million annually, fully funding operations from Larkspur to Windsor – and with state and federal help on to Healdsburg and Cloverdale – for the next 30 years. Vote Yes on Measure I to: Help reduce congestion on Highway 101 and local roads; Support SMART service to additional cities; Increase the frequency of SMART trains; Build more bicycle and walking paths connecting SMART stations; Fund safety enhancements along the rail line; Add additional parking to SMART stations. We finally have a modern train system for Marin and Sonoma Counties. Let’s keep it rolling. Join seniors, environmentalists, business and community leaders – vote Yes on Measure I. ”

Opposition

NotSoSmart, also known as No on I, led the campaign in opposition to Measure I.

Opponents

• Molly Gallaher Flater, CEO of Gallaher Homes
• Ken Churchill, director of New Sonoma

Arguments

The following was the official argument in opposition to Measure I:

“ SMART built less than 2/3 of the promised rail-line and 1/3 of the bike paths. They do not have the funds to finish, and are now asking for more money for overhead. Measure I Is a Tax Increase Of $2.4 Billion over 30 years, and will not fund additional rail-line or bike paths. It will not even cover SMART’s operating expenses when recessions occur over 39 years. SMART has done no analysis to show that their Diesel trains reduce greenhouse gas emissions or traffic. We have. Recent analysis has shown that buses and cars carrying the same number of riders would have lower GHG emissions than SMART. Compared to similar trains, SMART has the largest taxpayer subsidy, at $100 per round trip per rider, in the nation. For every 2 riders on SMART, there are more than 1,000 non-riders paying for 90% of the costs. SMART’s schedules conflicts with the Larkspur ferry’s, causing average wait times of 39-minutes for southbound riders and 54-minutes for northbound riders. SMART is halfway through the Measure Q sales tax period, with $389 million additional taxes projected through 2029 and SMART already needs more money. SMART claims extending its debt payoff saves money, but while annual payments decrease, total debt increases by $47.4 million. The agency has a history of misleading voters and is now asking for another $8,370 per household over 30 years. We can be smarter with our tax dollars. Vote No on Measure I. ”

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

This measure was put on the ballot through a unanimous vote of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District Board of Directors on November 6, 2019.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2020
• District tax ballot measures
• Local sales tax ballot measures
• Sonoma County measures

• Marin County measures

California

• March 3, 2020 measures in California
• Local ballot measures, California
• Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District, California

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas

External links

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic
• Sonoma County Elections Office website