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Ventura County, California, Sales Tax Increase, Measure AA (November 2016)
| Measure AA: Ventura County Sales Tax Increase |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 DefeatedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 30 years |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Ventura County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Ventura County, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Ventura County voters in Ventura County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the county to impose an additional 0.5 percent sales tax for 30 years. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the county to impose an additional 0.5 percent sales tax for 30 years. |
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of this measure.
Election results
| Measure AA | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 140,600 | 42.09% | ||
| Yes | 193,449 | 57.91% | ||
- Election results from Ventura County Registrar of Voters
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To help preserve Ventura County’s quality of life by: fixing potholes, repaving streets, repairing bridges; improving traffic flow and safety on 101 and 118; keeping senior, veteran, disabled, and student bus fares affordable; increasing bicycle and pedestrian safety; protecting waterways and beaches from polluted runoff and restoring watersheds; shall Ventura County’s sales tax be increased by one-half cent for thirty years, raising $70 million annually, with independent oversight and audits, and with all funds benefiting local residents?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Ventura County Counsel:
| “ |
The Ventura County Transportation Commission (“Commission”) is a public agency comprised of elected officials representing the cities and the County, plus two public members. Measure “AA” is an ordinance of the Commission (acting as the Ventura County Local Transportation Authority under state law) placed on the ballot by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors at the request of the Commission. The ordinance, described below, is being submitted to the voters for approval and will become effective and operative only if a two-thirds majority of the voters who cast ballots vote “yes” on the measure. The ordinance would impose a retail sales and use tax of one-half cent throughout Ventura County, which would remain in effect for 30 years. The tax would be in addition to any existing or future state sales tax. Revenues of the tax imposed by this ordinance would be: dedicated solely to transportation purposes in Ventura County; placed in a separate account; and used exclusively to fund transportation projects and programs set forth in the Ventura County Transportation Investment/Expenditure Plan (“Plan”). The Plan includes projects and programs such as repairing local streets, improving regional roads, improving traffic flow and safety on Highways 101 and 118, keeping senior, veteran, disabled and student bus and rail fares affordable, increasing pedestrian and bicycle safety, protecting waterways and beaches, and enhancing safe and reliable commuter/passenger rail service. The ordinance would allow the Commission to amend the Plan pursuant to law and as provided in the Plan, including to account for additional funds, unexpected revenues and unforeseen circumstances. The ordinance would require that all revenues of the tax, less required State Board of Equalization costs and administrative costs (which the ordinance would cap at 1 percent of total revenues), be expended solely in accordance with the Plan. The revenues provided by the ordinance are intended to supplement, not replace, existing funding for transportation improvements and services. Accordingly, the ordinance would require the Commission to annually publish a public report on how revenues of the tax have been spent and progress on implementing the Plan. Funds and expenditures will annually be subject to an audit and a review by a taxpayer oversight committee. “Pay as you go” is the preferred method of financing transportation projects and programs under the Plan. However, the ordinance would also authorize the Commission to use bond financing under certain circumstances. The maximum bonded indebtedness outstanding at any one time cannot exceed the estimated proceeds of the tax. The ordinance also establishes an appropriations limit of $495 million for fiscal year 2017-2018, adjusted thereafter pursuant to law. All expenditures of the tax revenues are subject to the appropriations limit. If the measure is approved, it will become operative upon the initiation of revenue collection, which the Commission anticipates will be April 1, 2017.[2] |
” |
| —Ventura County Counsel[3] | ||
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:[3]
- Julia Brownley (D-26), congresswoman
- Geoff Dean, Ventura County Sheriff
- Jeff Gorell, former assemblymember
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]
| “ |
Measure AA will make critical investments in Ventura County’s future. Our transportation system is under serious strain. There is too much traffic congestion on our highways, too many potholes in our streets, and transit services are struggling to maintain service. The longer we wait to make necessary improvements, the worse these problems will become and the more expensive it will be to fix them. Measure AA includes strict accountability provisions and independent annual audits. It establishes a Citizens’ Oversight Committee and a Ventura County Transportation Trust Fund to ensure all funds are used for local transportation priorities and cannot be taken by Sacramento or Washington, DC. Measure AA will improve the 101 freeway, which cannot handle the number of cars on the road during peak rush hour traffic. Measure AA will ensure that traffic flow and safety are improved at all times, bottlenecks are reduced, potholes are quickly repaired, and on- and off-ramps are upgraded. Measure AA will improve vanpools and public transit that our growing population of seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities rely on to remain independent. Measure AA will ensure funding to protect Ventura County’s waterways and beaches from the harmful pollution caused by street runoff. Measure AA will help strengthen our economy, help local businesses, and create good jobs. Economists estimate that the freeway, local streets and public transit projects alone will create thousands of local jobs directly and indirectly and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues for our small, medium and large businesses. Please join us, along with many elected officials, public safety leaders, educators and the Southern California Automobile Club in supporting Measure AA.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]
- Peter Foy, Ventura County supervisor
- Elton Gallegly (R), former U.S. Representative
- Rob McCoy, Thousand Oaks City Councilman
- Kelly Long, Pleasant Valley School District board trustee
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]
| “ |
When government says it wants to impose a “TEMPORARY 30 YEAR” tax, that usually means it’s time for taxpayers to hold on to their wallets - and not let go. This year, the Ventura County Transportation Commission is sponsoring a $3 billion tax increase, made up of a thirty-year increase in the sales tax that it says will fund “transportation.” Ventura County certainly has transportation needs, and investment in infrastructure is important. But this sounds a lot more like the terribly flawed high speed rail project California voters were sold just a few years ago. Back then, we were given vague promises and optimistic forecasts about the project coming in on time and under budget. But that wasn’t true. And the high speed rail boondoggle just keeps getting worse. The VCTC proposal wants to spend $191 million on trains and another $191 million on more empty buses. The VCTC plan also calls for $99 million in new bike lanes and pedestrian trails. It is also estimated that most cities in Ventura County will receive only 50 percent of the funds generated by the tax increase. Is that fair? Our concern is that the Ventura County Transportation Commission plan is full of generalities and short on specifics. We need to demand accountability in government and responsibility from our representatives – not more taxes and larger government. This is one tax increase too many and for too long. WE SHOULD JUST SAY NO![2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Ventura County, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Ventura County Local sales tax. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Ventura County Clerk and Recorder, "Local Measures November 8, 2016 Presidential General Election," accessed October 17, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Ventura County Clerk and Recorder, "Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlet," accessed October 24, 2016
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