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Temecula, California, Sales Tax, Measure S (November 2016)
| Measure S: Temecula Sales Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Approved
|
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: Never |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Riverside County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Temecula, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Temecula voters in Riverside County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of imposing a sales tax of 1 percent to fund general city services. |
| A no vote was a vote against imposing a sales tax of 1 percent to fund general city services. |
Election results
| Measure S | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 19,711 | 51% | ||
| No | 18,935 | 49% | ||
- Election results from Riverside County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To maintain 9-1-1 emergency response times, prevent cuts to local paramedic/police/fire protection, school safety patrols, youth/after-school, senior, disabled services; improve freeway interchanges/reduce traffic; other general services; shall Ordinance 2016-06 of the City of Temecula be adopted establishing a one-cent sales tax providing $23,000,000 dollars annually, until ended by voters; requiring independent audits, no money for the State, all funds remaining local?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Temecula City Attorney:
| “ |
If enacted by the voters, Measure S, the Temecula 911 Emergency Response, Public Safety and Vital City Services Measure, would approve Ordinance No. 2016-06, Temecula Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance (the “Sales Tax Ordinance”) that would increase the City’s existing sales tax rate by 1% or one cent for every dollar of taxable sales of goods in the City, and on the taxable storage, use or consumption in the City of goods purchased. The total sales tax rate currently paid in the City of Temecula, which also includes the sales tax rate collected for the State of California and other public agencies is 8%. If the Measure is approved by the voters, the total sales tax rate in the City will increase to 9% subject to any changes in state law. The proposed tax is a general tax. The tax revenues from this tax will be deposited in the City’s general fund and may be used for any municipal purpose for the City of Temecula. It is estimated by the City’s Director of Finance that this proposed tax will raise approximately $23 million per year in general fund revenue for the City until ended by the voters. The proposed ballot measure was placed on the ballot by the City Council of the City of Temecula. The Sales Tax Ordinance provides that the tax will be collected by the State under State law in the same manner as the existing sales tax. The Ordinance further provides that each year the City’s independent auditors shall complete a Temecula Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance Compliance and Internal Control Audit Report that shall review whether the tax revenues collected pursuant to the Ordinance are collected, managed and expended in accordance with the requirements of the Sales Tax Ordinance adopted by the voters. Article XIIIC of the California Constitution, commonly known as Proposition 218, requires that the proposed tax be approved by a majority of the voters voting on the ballot measure. A “yes” vote on Measure S adopts the 1% Sales Tax Ordinance. A “no” vote will result in the 1% Sales Tax Ordinance not being adopted[2] |
” |
| —Temecula 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]
- Alice Sullivan, Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce President
- Howard Windsor, Retired Temecula Fire Chief
- Jim Domenoe, Retired Temecula Police Chief
- Diana Serrano, Temecula Citizen Corps Leader
- Peg Moore, Temecula City Founder
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
Vote YES ON S – Maintain Temecula’s public safety and quality of life services! We all live in Temecula because it offers a great quality of life. But did you know Sacramento politicians have taken $31,000,000 from Temecula over the past five years? With over 80% of calls to our fire department for medical emergencies and the State releasing parolees into our region, we must maintain our police/fire services and stop the Sacramento money grab. Vote YES ON S to keep our taxpayer dollars LOCAL! YES ON S keeps our neighborhoods safe and restores Temecula police staffing to recommended levels. YES ON S keeps our fire stations open and maintains emergency response services so firefighters and paramedics can continue to quickly respond and save lives. YES ON S maintains the quality of life services that make Temecula a desirable place to live, work, and do business: • Maintains 911 emergency and police response times • Prevents cuts to paramedic services, local police and fire protection – the City’s top priority • Maintains school safety patrols • Prevents cuts to services for the disabled and seniors Here’s what Measure S WON’T do: Measure S is NOT a tax on your home or property. Measure S is NOT applied to food purchased as groceries or prescription medication. Again -- by law, YES ON S requires every dime be used for our local services—none can be taken by Sacramento politicians for their own agenda. YES ON S gives you—the Temecula taxpayer – LOCAL CONTROL. YES ON S includes tough fiscal accountability, with independent financial audits and public oversight—ensuring funds are spent responsibly. Join a unanimous City Council, local businesses, firefighters and police officers in voting YES ON S.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Paul Jacobs
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
Temecula does not have a revenue shortfall; it has a spending problem. Voters are being asked to tax themselves and visitors an additional one-percent sales tax to finance a deficit of fiscal responsibility in city leadership. Temecula has a wealth of revenue streams producing a tax base most cities envy. We have a regional mall, upscale auto dealerships, numerous restaurants and a thriving tourism industry. City leadership has blundered the budget. Should voters reward Temecula’s fiscal irresponsibility? No! Rather than observing fiscal prudence to ensure essential public services, Temecula politicians embarked on amenity projects that are costly to maintain. There has been no adequate examination of structural spending habits. Instead, a consultant was hired to peddle a tax hike. The spendthrift city council is shamelessly selling this tax hike in a smokescreen of fear, citing Public Safety needs – even as statistics show Temecula to be one of the safest cities in the country. Rather than wisely budgeting funds to address future public safety needs, the city council instead built a cavernous $70-million Taj Mahal civic center – an embarrassing and glaring example of “big government.” Council luxury projects include an unbudgeted $1.3-million special needs play structure with a water feature. Meanwhile, the rehabilitation of the neighboring YMCA building and pool the City inherited has been defunded. That facility would have served many needs, including special needs. City leaders gave a multiyear, multimillion-dollar tax break to Medline, a corporation with $7 billion in annual revenue. Voters are now expected to subsidize this corporate welfare. If revenue is needed for public safety, the City can establish a paramedic fee rather than sticking residents and businesses with a perpetual 1% sales tax increase. Demand accountability. Vote No! Deny this city council a $23-million annual slush fund.[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Temecula, California.
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
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