Westminster, California, Sales Tax Increase, Measure SS (November 2016)
| Measure SS: Westminster Sales Tax Increase |
|---|
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 5 years |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Orange County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Westminster, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Westminster voters in Orange County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of imposing a one percent sales and transactions tax to fund general city services, thereby increasing the total sales tax rate in the city to 9 percent. |
| A no vote was a vote against imposing a one percent sales and transactions tax to fund general city services, thereby leaving the total sales tax rate in the city at 8 percent. |
Election results
| Measure SS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 16,867 | 60.59% | ||
| No | 10,970 | 39.41% | ||
- Election results from Orange County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To address state takeaways of local funds, protect property values, drinking water supplies and prevent cuts to: 9-1-1 response times; police officers/firefighters/paramedics; drug/gang prevention, domestic violence/sex crimes/human trafficking units; and other general city services, shall an ordinance establishing a 1% transactions and use (sales) tax, expiring December 31, 2022, providing estimated $13.9 million annually, requiring audits, citizens’ oversight, all funds remaining in Westminster, be adopted?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Westminster City Attorney:
| “ |
If approved by a majority of voters, this measure would adopt an ordinance imposing a one percent (1%) transactions and use tax in the City of Westminster. This tax would operate for a period of six years. This transactions and use tax was placed on the ballot by the Westminster City Council on June 22, 2016. The tax would be administered for the City by the State Board of Equalization, which also administers state and local sales and use taxes. Generally, the tax would be applied in the City along with existing state and local sales and use taxes. With respect to sales and leases of vehicles, vessels and aircraft, the transactions and use would apply not based on the point of sale, but on the location where the vehicle, vessel or aircraft will be registered. All proceeds of the tax would be placed in the City’s general fund, except for any administrative expenses of the State Board of Equalization. The funds are available to the City for any lawful municipal purpose. The measure requires an independent annual financial audit of the revenue generated by this measure and how the revenue is used. The measure also requires an annual community report be created and provided to every Westminster household. This report will detail how much revenue is being generated and how funds are being used. Finally, the measure requires the City Council to appoint an oversight committee that will convene twice a year to review and discuss the use of the revenue generated by this measure. Collection of the tax would begin on the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than 110 days after the adoption of this ordinance by both the voters and by the City Council. A “yes” vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the transactions and use tax for a period of six years. A “no” vote is a vote against authorizing the transactions and use tax. [2] |
” |
| —Westminster 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]
- Diana Lee Carey, Westminster City Councilmember & Educator
- Jill Dominguez, Neighborhood Watch Captain & Westminster Resident/Tax Payer
- Don Anderson, Citizens Financial Task Force Member
- Ken Kaiden, Westminster Auto Dealers Association
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
VOTE YES ON MEASURE SS! MEASURE SS will provide locally funding, that cannot be taken by the State, and give Westminster police the resources they need to combat crime, crack down on gangs, drugs homelessness, and keep our families safe. DID YOU KNOW?
IN AN EMERGENCY SECONDS COUNT YES on Measure SS will help protect Westminster’s 911 emergency and medical response services that protect residents from crime, provide medical assistance, and save lives. NOTHING HURTS HOME VALUES MORE THAN HIGH CRIME RATES YES on Measure SS will protect our home values by maintaining neighborhood police patrols and crime prevention programs. FIGHT GANGS AND DRUGS YES on Measure SS will prevent devastating cuts to gang and drug prevention programs and continue after school programs that keep children and youth off the streets and away from the dangers of gangs and drugs. HOLDING THE CITY COUNCIL ACCOUNTABLE MEASURE SS includes STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY and FISCAL SAFEGUARDS including independent citizens’ oversight, public spending reports and annual independent audits to make sure that every cent of Measure SS is used effectively, efficiently and as promised to voters. ALL MEASURE SS funds are required by law to REMAIN LOCAL and can only be used in Westminster. PROTECT OUR FAMILIES, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, and OUR HOMES. Join your Westminster Police Officers, Emergency Responders and Neighborhood Leaders in voting YES on Measure SS[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Robert W. Mc Cray, Westminster Resident and Taxpayer
- Carolyn Cavecche, CEO, Orange County Taxpayers Association
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
Measure SS will give Westminster one of the highest sales tax rates in Orange County This tax increase will hit taxpayers in every aspect of our lives: Buying gasoline Shopping for clothes or vitamins Eating out in a restaurant Buying school or office supplies Shopping for items for your home This tax increase will even follow you wherever you buy a car, even if that is not in Westminster. Westminster businesses will suffer as they lose customers to businesses in other cities, Don’t be mislead, this is a general tax that goes directly into the general fund. It cannot be used for a specific purpose, no matter what you are being told. It can be used for salary increases, increases to pension benefits, anything the city council decides. Westminster taxpayers already pay a utility tax on telephone use, electricity, gas, water and cable TV. For years city councils have passed yearly budgets that have not been balanced, yearly pension payments have been increasing by millions of dollars, and the city has been paying to defend themselves in federal lawsuits. Now the politicians want the taxpayers to step up and pay more, almost 14 million dollars more every year. Tell City Hall to live within their means and Vote No on Higher Taxes.[2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Westminster, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Westminster 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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