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Union City Sales Tax Extension, Measure JJ (November 2014)
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A City of Union Sales Tax Extension, Measure JJ ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of Union in Alameda County, California. It was approved.
Measure JJ authorized the city of Union to extend a 0.5 percent sales tax for the general purposes of the city.[1]
The tax was originally approved by over 60 percent of voters in 2010 under the name Measure AA.
Election results
| Measure JJ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 8,920 | 73.74% | ||
| No | 3,177 | 26.26% | ||
Election results via: Alameda County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The question on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To prevent severe cuts to, and maintain essential services such as police, fire, paramedic, library, streets, parks and other services, shall Union City adopt an Ordinance extending the existing voter approved Measure AA sales tax with no increase in tax rate, requiring a citizen’s oversight committee, annual independent audits, and all funds for Union City and no funds for the State of California?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of Measure JJ was provided by the office of the city attorney:[1]
| “ |
The City Council of the City of Union City is submitting to the voters the question of whether to approve an ordinance that would temporarily extend an existing one-half of one percent (0.50%) - or one half-cent to the price of an item that costs a dollar - transactions and use tax within the City. If approved, Measure JJ would continue an existing tax approved by the voters in November 2010. The extension would be for ten years. Technically, the existing “sales tax” is a combination of “sales and use tax” and “transactions and use tax.” With some exceptions, both are levied on the sale or use of tangible personal property sold at retail. Retailers collect the tax at the time of sale and remit the funds to the State Board of Equalization, which administers the tax. Because Measure JJ does not limit the use of tax revenue, it is a “general tax,” not a “special tax” that restricts the funds to specific purposes. The tax proceeds cannot legally be taken away by the State. Currently, the tax on retail sales in Union City is 9.50% of the purchase price. Measure JJ does not increase the current tax rate; it only extends the voter-approved Measure AA sales tax for another ten years. The tax would automatically terminate after ten years unless extended by the voters. If approved, one hundred percent of the proceeds of this local tax would continue to go to the City’s general fund and will be available to support the full range of municipal services, including but not limited to police, fire, paramedic, library, streets, parks and recreation services, including youth, family and senior programs. If this tax extension is not approved by the voters, the City will have to reduce essential services and cut programs. A “Yes” vote is a vote to approve the extension of the voter-approved Measure AA one half-cent sales tax for ten years, with oversight on the revenue and expenditure of funds from the tax by a committee of members of the public. A “No” vote is a vote to not extend the existing tax and the existing tax would no longer be collected. Measure JJ would be approved if it received a simple majority of “Yes” votes. The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure JJ. If you desire a copy of the proposed ordinance, please call the City Clerk's office at 510-675-5448 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.[2] |
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| —Benjamin T. Reyes II, Union City Attorney, and Kristopher J. Kokotaylo, Union Deputy City Attorney[1] | ||
Related measures
Union City Sales Tax Increase, Measure AA (November 2010)
See also
- Local sales tax on the ballot
- City tax on the ballot
- Alameda County, California ballot measures
- November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California
External links
Footnotes
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