Full text of Measure G
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018, TO SUBMIT TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ A COUNTYWIDE MEASURE OF WHETHER AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A ONE-HALF CENT INCREASE IN THE SALES TAX ON TRANSACTIONS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE COUNTY FOR A PERIOD OF TWELVE YEARS SHOULD BE ADOPTED AND CONSOLIDATING SAID SPECIAL COUNTY ELECTION WITH THE GUBERNATORIAL GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 6, 2018
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Santa Cruz County desires to submit to the voters of the County of Santa Cruz at a Special Election a measure authorizing the Board to amend County Code to increase by one-half cent for a period of twelve years the Retail Transactions and Use Tax (Sales Tax) for transactions in the unincorporated area of the County; and
WHEREAS, the current Sales Tax in the unincorporated area was established in 1956 at 1.25% and has not been increased since; and the current Sales Tax in the unincorporated area totals 8.5% and is lower than every city within the County; and
WHEREAS, the Sales Tax is enacted solely to raise revenue for the general governmental purposes of the County and not for purposes of regulation or of raising revenue for regulatory purposes, in that all of the proceeds from the tax shall be placed in the County’s general fund and be used for the usual current expenses of the County; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors has determined it is in the best interest of the County and its residents to submit to the voters a measure authorizing the Sales Tax on transactions in the unincorporated area of the County to be increased for a period of twelve years at a rate of one-half cent for general purposes to provide funding for essential County services such as sheriff, fire, emergency response, local street maintenance and pothole repair, integrated mental health, substance use disorder and health care services, homelessness programs, parks, youth and senior programs, economic development and job creation, affordable housing and other essential County services; and
WHEREAS, subsection (b) of section 2 of Article XIII C of the California Constitution and section 53723 of the California Government Code require that before the County may impose a general tax, the tax must be submitted to the voters and approved by a majority vote of the voters; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary that a special County election be held in accordance with law for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters of the County a measure on whether to approve the proposed one-half cent Sales Tax increase on transactions in the unincorporated area of the County.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AND ORDERED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Cruz as follows:
1. That a special election shall be and the same is hereby called and ordered to be held throughout the County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters of the County the following ballot measure question:
Unincorporated Area Retail Transaction and Use Tax. To continue funding 9-1-1 emergency response, paramedic, sheriff, fire, emergency preparedness, local street repairs, mental health services, homelessness programs, parks, economic development and other general county services, shall the County of Santa Cruz be authorized to increase by ordinance the sales tax on retail transactions in the unincorporated area of the County by one-half cent for twelve years, providing approximately $5,750,000 annually, subject to annual audits and independent citizens oversight?
Yes________ No________
2. The Board of Supervisors submits to the qualified voters the Ballot Measure Question as set forth in Paragraph 1 of this resolution and designates and refers to said measure as the measure to be set forth on the ballots for use in said election.
3. This special County election shall be held and conducted, and the votes thereat received and canvassed, and the returns thereof made and the result thereof ascertained and determined in accordance with law.
4. This special County election shall be and is hereby consolidated with the Gubernatorial General Election to be held throughout the County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, in all respects and all as required by and pursuant to law.
5. In accordance with the provisions of California Elections Code section 9160(b), the County Counsel is hereby directed to prepare an impartial analysis of this measure.
6. In accordance with the provisions of California Elections Code section 9150(c), the County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector is hereby directed to prepare a fiscal impact statement of this measure.
7. Arguments for and against this measure may be submitted in conformance with California Elections Code section 9161 and following.
8. The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors shall file a copy of this Resolution with the County Clerk.