Healdsburg Sales Tax Increase, Measure V (November 2012)

A City of Healdsburg Sales Tax Increase, Measure V ballot question was on the November 6, 2012, ballot for voters in the City of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, where it was approved.

Previously, the overall sales tax paid in Healdsburg was 8%. Measure V increased that to 8.5% for 10 years. This will generate approximately $1 million a year in new revenue for the city.

A simple majority was needed for approval.

Election results

Measure V
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		2,800	55.6%
No		2,235	44.4%

Final official results from the Sonoma County elections office (dead link).

Support

Supporters included:

• Mayor Gary Plass. He said, "We can’t balance the budget on employee cuts and salary cuts alone and with what the State of California is taking from us."

Opposition

Healdsburg has a $26 million shortfall in its pension fund. Opponents of the sales tax increase said that the way to remedy the city's financial problems is to deal with financial reality in terms of the pension problem and other employee costs, rather than go back to the taxpayers.

Ballot text

The question on the ballot:

	MEASURE V: "To stabilize City finances, offset declining revenues and the loss of redevelopment, and maintain and protect essential City services, shall the City of Healdsburg adopt an ordinance enacting a one-half of one percent transactions and use tax, automatically expiring in ten years, with annual audits and review, and with all funds spent locally for the benefit of Healdsburg residents?"

See also

• Sales tax in California

Footnotes

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This article about a local California ballot measure is a sprout.