Woodlake, California, Sales Tax, Measure R (November 2017)
| Measure R: Woodlake Sales Tax |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 7, 2017 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: Never |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 7, 2017 ballot measures in California Tulare County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Woodlake, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Woodlake voters in Tulare County, California, on November 7, 2017. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the city to levy an additional sales tax of 1 percent (one-cent), with revenue deposited into the city's general fund and with no automatic sunset date. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the city to levy an additional sales tax of 1 percent (one-cent), with revenue deposited into the city's general fund and with no automatic sunset date. |
Measure R proposed to raise the total sales tax rate in Woodlake from 7.75 percent to 8.75 percent. The state-mandated tax rate that applied throughout California as of 2017 is 7.25 percent, with revenue allocated to various purposes. As of October 2017, the Tulare County sales tax was 0.5 percent, and the average sales tax rate in the county was 7.75 percent.[1][2]
City officials estimated annual revenue from the sales tax measure at $430,000.[3]
Election results
| Measure R | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 293 | 64.25% | ||
| No | 163 | 35.75% | ||
- Election results from Tulare County Elections
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[3]
| “ |
To provide local funding to improve quality of life; parks and recreation programs; neighborhood police patrols; gang prevention programs; street maintenance; lighting, landscaping, and trails; and other essential services, shall City of Woodlake Ordinance No. 609, imposing a one percent general transactions and use tax with independent audits and citizens’ oversight, be adopted? Revenues are estimated at approximately $430,000 annually, indefinitely.[4] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Woodlake City Attorney.[5]
| “ |
Upon voter approval, section 7285.9 of the Revenue and Taxation Code authorizes a city to levy a general purpose retail transactions and use tax (“sales tax”) on tangible personal property. In order for the sales tax to be approved, a majority vote of the qualified voters of the city voting on this measure must vote in favor of the measure. If this measure is approved, Ordinance No. 609 of the City of Woodlake (“City”) will be implemented, imposing a transactions and use tax upon all retailers within the incorporated territory of the City at the rate of one percent (1% or one penny per dollar). The authority to levy the tax will be effective until repealed by a duly enacted ordinance. However, the City Council would have authority to temporarily suspend collection of the tax by resolution unanimously approved by all members of the entire City Council. The revenues derived from the sales tax must be placed in the City’s General Fund and may be used for any general city purpose, including but not limited to maintaining and/or improving: 9-1-1 emergency response and neighborhood police patrols; streets and roads repairs; support of senior and youth services; city parks; recreation facilities and programs; and any other city services for Woodlake residents. If this measure is approved, the ordinance will become operative but the retail transactions and use tax cannot be levied earlier than first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than one hundred ten (110) days after the adoption of the ordinance by the voters. All amendments subsequent to voter approval to Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code relating to sales and use taxes and which are not inconsistent with Part 1.6 and Part 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and all amendments to Part 1.6 and Part 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, shall automatically become a part of the ordinance implementing this measure. The proposed ordinance contains certain exemptions and exclusions from the computation of the amount of the transactions and use tax on certain transactions, including those exemptions already applicable under state law. This measure was added to the ballot by the City Council and makes no change to existing laws but will add to existing laws a citywide ordinance imposing the aforementioned transactions and use tax within the City of Woodlake. The electors entitled to vote on this measure are the registered voters residing within City of Woodlake. If the measure is not approved by a majority vote of the votes cast on the measure, the measure will fail and the tax will not be imposed.[4] |
” |
| —Woodlake City Attorney | ||
Support
Supporters
Woodlake Mayor Rudy Mendoza supported the measure and submitted the official argument in support.
Arguments in favor
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[5]
| “ |
We support ballot Measure R to raise the City of Woodlake’s sales tax by 1%. Woodlake has less to spend on police, public safety, and parks and recreation than any other city in Tulare County. The demand for services continues to rise, but limited revenues haven’t allowed the City to improve those services. Woodlake has been able to maintain a minimum level of services by cutting expenses, however, the demand for public safety, police, and parks and recreation has increased faster than Woodlake’s budget. Measure R will help us keep up with the growing demand for these services. Measure R will ensure that tax dollars raised in Woodlake will be used by the city to deal with our local needs. Measure R will ensure that all people that use our local services contribute to the sales tax, not just the citizens of Woodlake. Basic necessities like groceries and prescription medications won't be taxed. Visitors to Woodlake will pay their fair share, so residents won't shoulder the entire cost. Measure R will also ensure that revenues are spent wisely. Each year the City will be required to undergo an audit to make sure that the funds are being properly spent. The City will also establish a citizens’ advisory committee that will oversee the expenditures and make recommendations on how the funds should be spent. Woodlake is our home! Let's all work together to support our City and our Community. We ask you to vote YES on Measure R on November 7, 2017.[4] |
” |
| —Rudy Mendoza | ||
Opposition
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a unanimous vote of the Woodlake City Council on July 24, 2017.[6]
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Sale-Tax.com, "Woodlake, CA Sales Tax Rate," October 1, 2017
- ↑ Inside Gov, "CA Sales Tax Rates," accessed October 3, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tulare County Elections Office, "November 7, 2017 - Tulare County Elections: Measure Submitted to the Voters," accessed September 22, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tulare County Elections Office, "Voter’s Pamphlet Information Section," accessed October 25, 2017
- ↑ City of Woodlake, "Woodlake City Council Minutes," July 24, 2017
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