Fairfield, California, Sales Tax, Measure P (November 2016)
| Measure P: Fairfield Sales Tax |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 15 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 |
| Fairfield, California |
A sales tax measure was on the ballot for Fairfield voters in Solano County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of extending the existing 1 percent city sales tax for 15 years to fund general city services. |
| A no vote was a vote against extending the existing 1 percent city sales tax for 15 years to fund general city services. |
Election results
| Measure P | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| 25,128 | 68.99% | |||
| No | 11,293 | 31.01% | ||
- Election results from Solano County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To renew expiring funding without increasing tax rates, shall the Ordinance be adopted extending the existing 1% sales tax for fifteen years to preserve approximately $16 million in local annual funding for the City of Fairfield that the state cannot take away to support neighborhood police patrols, firefighting and rapid 9-1-1 emergency response, crime prevention programs, fixing potholes and repairing neighborhood streets, parks and recreation, and other general services, with mandatory audits and independent oversight? [2] |
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Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Fairfield City Attorney:
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Ballot Measure P asks the voters of the City of Fairfield to adopt an ordinance (the “sales tax ordinance”) that would extend for fifteen years the City’s existing sales tax rate of 1.0%, which is part of the total 8.625% sales tax rate imposed in the City. The City’s authority to collect the existing sales tax rate of 1.0% will expire March 31, 2018. If Measure P is approved, the City’s authority to collect the existing sales tax rate of 1.0% will continue until March 31, 2033. The City’s sales tax rate of 1.0% is a general tax. These tax revenues are deposited in the City’s general fund and may be used for any municipal purpose. It is estimated by the City’s Finance Director that the City’s sales tax rate of 1.0% raises approximately $16 million per year in general fund revenues for the City. The tax is subject to an independent annual financial audit that reviews whether the tax is collected, managed and expended in accordance with the requirements of the sales tax ordinance. In addition, the expenditure of the City’s sales tax revenues is subject to review by an independent Fairfield Taxpayer’s Committee established by the City Council. A full copy of the text of the sales tax ordinance is printed in these ballot materials. Article XIIIC of the California Constitution, commonly known as Proposition 218, requires that the proposed extension of the City’s sales tax rate of 1.0% must be approved by a majority of the voters voting on the measure. A “yes” vote on Measure P authorizes the City to continue to collect the existing sales tax rate of 1.0% until March 31, 2033. A “no” vote will result in the tax expiring on March 31, 2018. [2] |
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| —Fairfield 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]
- Unknown
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
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Vote YES on P to PROTECT FAIRFIELD WITHOUT RAISING TAXES! YES on P preserves LOCAL funding for LOCAL needs in Fairfield - NO funds can be taken by Sacramento! YES on P RENEWS expiring local funding for POLICEI FIRE and RAPID 9-1-1 EMERGENCY RESPONSE. In 2012 nearly 70% of Fairfield voters approved local funding to prevent devastating cuts to police patrols, fire protection, fast emergency response, pothole and street repair, programs for youth, seniors and more. Over the past four years these funds have been used to protect vital city services from cuts. An independent Citizens' Oversight Committee and annual audits have confirmed that funds were used as promised. Unless Measure P is approved by local voters, this funding is set to expire and Fairfield will lose $16 million annually or 20% of Fairfield’s general fund budget. This would require deep cuts including the loss of 30-40 police positions, closing a fire station, reduced street maintenance and repair and closure of city facilities including youth and recreation centers. Voting YES on P will renew locally-controlled funding without increasing taxes to:
Measure P requires an INDEPENDENT CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE and MANDATORY ANNUAL AUDITS to ensure funds continue to be spent properly. BY LAW, NO MEASURE P FUNDS CAN BE TAKEN BY THE STATE. Join Fairfield’s business and community leaders, police officers and firefighters in voting YES on P to PROTECT FAIRFIELD WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES![2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Central Solano Citizen/Taxpayer Group
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
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Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. In 2012 Fairfield put Measure P, a 1 percent sales tax, on the ballot. Among its promises was to restore police and fire protection to full strength and to take care of our deteriorating streets. Citizens agreed and passed P. Police and fire services were restored...and then some. The City soon replaced much of the police fleet with new SUVs. They added two new motorcycles. They instituted a project called the Homeless Intervention Team - two policemen seeking out and talking with homeless people - a task better suited to Social Services than gun-toting officers. They re-opened a fire station. Good. They rebuilt the reserve fund. Good. But they continued old boondoggles like buying lobbyists in Washington, DC and Sacramento. They poured millions of dollars into the new train station overpass. Streets? Before P, the City spent about $2 million each year patching up the worst potholes. Nearly all of this money was from federal and state gasoline excise taxes. Public Works estimated that it would take about $13 million annually to do it right. Measure P produces about $16 million each year. The City puts a bit more than $2 million of this new revenue into the streets program - a total of $4.2 million, not $13 million. Most goes into into re-sealing streets in the newer neighborhoods, not fixing our older crumbling streets. Instead of the new tax money buying time to get the budget under control, it was back to business as usual. They never intended the tax to expire after 5 years! They’re coming at us again - another P - now for 15 years. Does anyone think the City will try to reduce spending this time? Fool me again? NO![2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Fairfield, California.
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
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