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Vacaville, California, Sales Tax, Measure M (November 2016)
| Measure M: Vacaville Sales Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 20 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 |
| Vacaville, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Vacaville voters in Solano County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of imposing an additional 0.75 percent sales for 20 years to fund city services. |
| A no vote was a vote against imposing an additional 0.75 percent sales for 20 years to fund city services. |
Election results
| Measure M | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 22,495 | 63.29% | ||
| No | 13,046 | 36.71% | ||
- Election results from Solano County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Vacaville Essential Services Protection Measure. To protect essential city services such as police programs to fight domestic violence, child/elder abuse, gang activity and neighborhood crime; fire/paramedic services for quick emergency response times; street lighting for safety; and other city services, shall City of Vacaville Ordinance No. 1899 be approved to renew a sales/use tax at a 3/4- cent rate for 20 years, providing approximately $14,700,000 per year in locally controlled funding that stays in Vacaville?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Vacaville City Attorney:
| “ |
Background During the recent recession, the City of Vacaville experienced a decline in sales and property tax revenues. As a result, the City reduced its work force by 20%, decreased employee salaries and benefits, and curtailed expenditures on equipment, supplies, and services provided to persons living and working in Vacaville. Following these cutbacks, the City projected that its general fund would have deficits of $1.5 million in fiscal year 2013/2014 and $2.7 million in fiscal year 2014/2015 and in future years. In response, the Vacaville City Council placed a measure on the November 2012 ballot for a quarter-cent sales and use tax for 5 years, which was approved by 70% of the voters. The tax expires on March 31, 2018. The Measure The Vacaville City Council has placed this Measure on the ballot, asking voters to renew and modify the current sales and use tax, effective April 1, 2018. The Measure would continue the quarter-cent tax and increase it by an additional half-cent from 7.875% to 8.375% for 20 years. The tax is levied on the sale or use of tangible products purchased by residents and visitors to the City, such as clothing, household products, and other goods but not on things such as groceries and prescription drugs. Sales and use tax rates differ throughout California, ranging from 7.5% to 10%. As noted, the current rate in Vacaville is 7.875%. The City receives 1.25% of the revenue generated by the tax (1% from the Bradley-Burns Act and 0.25% from Measure M), with the remainder going to the State (6.25%), Solano County (0.25%), and the Solano County Public Library (0.125%). This Measure would increase the City’s share from 1.00% to 1.75%, which is a local tax that may not be taken or used by other agencies, such as the state and federal governments. Should that happen, the Measure provides that the tax will be reduced or not collected in order to offset such taking or use, thereby ensuring that the revenue remains in Vacaville to fund City services and facilities. Use of Proceeds The Measure is a general tax. Its revenue is used for general municipal purposes such as police and fire protection, gang suppression, ambulance service, street repair, park maintenance, recreation programs, public parks, sports fields, roadway improvements, the McBride Senior Center, the Walter V. Graham Aquatics Center, the Ulatis Community Center, the Vacaville Performing Arts Theater, and other services and facilities for Vacaville residents. Fiscal Impact The Measure continues the current tax and adds an additional half-cent for 20 years in order to maintain City services and facilities. Without the tax, the City forecasts its general fund will be depleted by 2019 thereby requiring further cost cutting and reductions in City services and programs. A “yes” vote is a vote to continue the current tax and to add an additional half-cent for 20 years. A “no” vote is a vote not to continue the current tax and add an additional half-cent. This Measure requires a simple majority of “yes” votes to take effect[2] |
” |
| —Vacaville 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]
- Len Augustine
- Robert A. Powell
- Kathleen Ramos
- S. Scott Reynolds
- Richard Rico
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
Vote YES on M to MAINTAIN SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUTSTANDING QUALITY OF LIFE IN VACAVILLE. In 2012, following several consecutive years of state funding takeaways and millions in cuts to city services and staff, over 70% of Vacaville voters approved Measure M, a modest increase to our local sales tax rate. For the past four years, Measure M has provided locally-controlled funding to preserve essential services that protect our safety and quality of life in Vacaville. THIS LOCAL FUNDING IS SET TO EXPIRE and Vacaville will again face multi-million dollar budget deficits affecting police and fire emergency response times, street repair and other essential services that keep Vacaville a safe and livable community. Voting YES on M will renew and enhance locally-controlled funding in Vacaville to:
Measure M Protects Vacaville Taxpayers by:
Join Vacaville’s most respected leaders and vote YES on M! www.YesonMforVacaville.org[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Timothy A. Bittle, Director of Legal Affairs, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
- George Guynn Jr., President, Solano County Taxpayers Association
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
NO on Measure M. it breaks promises made in 2012 when Vacaville asked voters to approve a “temporary” tax increase. The tax was needed, they said, to fill a temporary hole in Vacaville’s budget caused by the Recession. They said it would last ONLY FIVE YEARS. We trusted them and passed the tax. Now they want to break that promise, TRIPLE the tax, and extend it 20 YEARS! The Recession ended. Property values are higher than ever. Hundreds of new homes were added since 2012. Another 3,800 are underway. Property tax revenue is pouring in! Retail sales are booming. The Outlets are packed. Nut Tree Plaza added 17 new stores. So sales tax revenue is pouring in too! Why does the City want even more money? Because of another broken promise. During the Recession, taxpayers begged the City Council to bring city pensions under control by switching from CaIPERS to something else. The City Council said they’d consider it. Pensions are a major part of Vacaville’s budget. CalPERS has underperformed and lost money for years, heaping enormous annual costs on participating cities like Vacaville. Now the temporary tax is expiring and, although the State forced some reforms, Vacaville still clings to CalPERS guaranteed pensions. CalPERS pensions are based on final salary. Vacaville has over 100 employees whose total compensation exceeds $200,000/year ($1 million every 5 years EACH)! Vacaville experienced a financial downturn and asked voters to bail them out. We did, based on their promise that it would last ONLY FlVE YEARS. They should have learned from that experience and taken aggressive steps to prevent it from happening again. They didn’t. Whose budget should be cut to pay for their irresponsibility? Vacaville’s seniors and working families? No, the City should cut its budget. Vote NO on Measure M.[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Vacaville, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Vacaville 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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