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Suisun City, California, Sales Tax, Measure S (November 2016)
| Measure S: Suisun City Sales Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 10 years |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Solano County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Suisun City, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Suisun City voters in Solano County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of enacting an additional 1 percent sales tax for 10 years to fund general city services. |
| A no vote was a vote against enacting an additional 1 percent sales tax for 10 years to fund general city services. |
Election results
| Measure S | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 6,497 | 69.03% | ||
| No | 2,915 | 30.97% | ||
- Election results from Solano County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To provide funding, that cannot be taken by the State, to maintain Suisun City services that make neighborhoods safer including: rapid 911 emergency responses, neighborhood police patrols, youth crime/gang prevention, fire prevention/protection, fixing potholes, maintaining City streets/streetlights, maintaining City parks/street trees, and other vital City services, shall Suisun City enact a one-cent (1%) sales tax for ten years, providing $1,800,000 annually, with annual audits, citizens’ oversight, all funds spent locally in Suisun City?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Suisun City Attorney:
| “ |
The Suisun City Council has placed Measure S on the November 8, 2016 ballot to ask the City’s voters to approve a 1% retail transactions and use (sales) tax for ten years. Measure S would authorize a general tax and its proceeds would be deposited in the City’s general fund for general government purposes to be spent as the City Council shall in its discretion, from time to time, determine. These uses may include, but are not limited to, fire and police, street maintenance and streetlights, parks, recreational programs, other public services and obligations of the City. City staff estimates that Measure S would annually raise $1,800,000. The current 7.625% “sales tax” has three components: the 7.5% statewide sales tax, the 0.125% Solano County sales tax, and the current 0% City retail transactions and use tax. If Measure S is approved, the “sales tax” would increase by 1% resulting in a total 8.625% “sales tax.” With some exceptions, both the sales tax and transactions and use tax are levied on the sale or use of tangible personal property sold at retail. Retailers collect both at the same time of sale and remit the funds to the State Board of Equalization, which then remits those funds to the City. Measure S requires an annual audit by the City’s independent auditor concerning its proceeds in addition to the regular independent annual audit of the City’s general fund. Measure S establishes a five- member oversight committee that would review expenditures of tax proceeds. This type of general tax measure requires voter approval. While the City Council may amend Measure S’s provisions to clarify the measure’s purpose and intent, the tax rate may only be increased by a vote of the People at a future election. A “YES” vote is a vote to approve a 1% retail transactions and use (sales) tax for ten years as described above. A “NO” vote is a vote against a 1% retail transactions and use (sales) tax as described above. The transactions and use tax in Measure S would take effect only if it receives a majority “YES” vote at the November 8, 2016 general municipal election and it would last for ten years, unless extended by a vote of the People at a future election. The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure S. If you desire a copy of the ordinance, please call the Suisun City Clerk’s Office at (707) 421-7302 and a copy will be provided to you at no cost.[2] |
” |
| —Suisun City Attorney[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]
- Pedro Mendoza Sanchez, Mayor
- Jane Day, Councilwoman
- Michael Anthony Segala, Councilman
- Michael J. McMurry, City Treasurer
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
Measure S ensures Suisun City will not lose police officers or see reduced neighborhood police patrols. Measure S protects and strengthens Suisun City’s most vital services. It protects your property values. Measure S bolsters:
With Measure S, Suisun City will stay a great place to live, raise a family, retire, own a business or just plain visit. Suisun City is a great hometown. But it hasn’t always been. Once, Suisun City was the last place you’d want to raise a family. It had empty storefronts, dilapidated buildings. The old Crescent neighborhood was where drugs were sold openly in front of our children. It wasn’t nice. Suisun City was voted the Worst City in the Bay Area. That was in 1988. Then, a group of Suisun City leaders began meeting and planning how to turn Suisun City around. They created Suisun City’s Blueprint Plan - showing what Suisun City could be - if we worked together. The results are seen today. A safer Suisun City. A hidden gem. Measure S ensures Suisun City stays this way. The Suisun City we live in today is unrecognizable from its former self. That’s how much change occurred since 1988. But, Suisun City’s way of life is threatened. Suisun City’s financial situation is serious. Stemming from the brutal economic recession and funding that State government stripped from cities. Suisun City is one of hundreds of cities that face enormous pressures. Because Measure S resources cannot be taken by the State, Suisun City keeps its most vital services - those that keep our families safe and our neighborhood protected. Please join hundreds and hundreds of Suisun City’s community, neighborhood and business leaders. Vote Yes on Measure S. Keep Suisun City Safe.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- George Guynn Jr., President, Solano County Taxpayers Association
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
Measure S breaks the promise the council and staff made when they pushed to bring Wal-Mart to Suisun about nine years ago to solve all Suisun’s financial problems. Now with Wal-Mart open about a year, council wants more money. The vice-mayor admitted at a council meeting that this tax is a hard sell due to years of assurances to the public that all is well by council members to keep being re-elected. While most of the council has been in office twenty-two to thirty years, only downtown has received most of the taxpayer’s money and services. Even worse, under redevelopment, most of the money taken from property taxes, normally used to maintain the streets and infrastructure, was used to spend on downtown and the council’s developer friends. Furthermore, the City Manager was hired to spend ninety-five percent of her time on redevelopment. Yet, redevelopment ended over three years ago and she still has a job. She should be terminated! The current Police Chief beat up a senior citizen falsely accused of assault in front of TV news cameras and the Chief, former Chief (who is now Police Chief, Bell, Ca), Mayor, and Council are all now in Federal Court wasting your money over this. After thirty years, council still hasn’t maintained existing roads and infrastructure. Why should we trust them with more money? This is a regressive tax, hurting the poor more, and can be spent on anything. If council wants a sales tax, it should be a specific tax requiring a two-thirds vote. That way, it is harder to waste the money. Don’t make Suisun like the county, Michael Johnson 2 $388,400/year retirement! VOTE NO ON MEASURE S.[2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Suisun City, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Suisun City Local sales tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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