Tax on California Oil Initiative (2012)
| Not on Ballot |
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
Several Tax on California Oil Initiatives (#11-0004, #11-0033, #11-0044, #11-0096) were approved for circulation in California as initiated state statutes. To earn spots on the state's 2012 ballot, sponsors of the various initiatives would have had to collect 504,760 signatures.
However, no signatures were filed in support of any of the versions.
Often, when multiple versions of a similar initiative are filed, each version has the same sponsor. However, there were three separate sets of sponsors for three of the "Tax on Oil" initiatives, and the underlying proposals were significantly different.
- Peter Mathews and his colleagues submitted Versions #11-0004 and #11-0044.
- Philip D. Sales II submitted Version #11-0033.
- John Burton submitted Version #11-0096. With respect to his version, Burton says, "This would be an ongoing source of revenue from an industry that doesn't pay its burden."[1]
A "Sustainable California State Bank" Initiative was also approved for circulation. This measure (like #11-0004, #11-0033, #11-0044 and #11-0096) would have imposed a tax on oil, and used it to fund a state-run bank.
Text of measure
11-0004
The letter requesting a title and summary for #11-0004 was signed by Peter Mathews, Frank Dawoodjee, and Paul Garver, and was received by the Attorney General of California's office on March 14, 2011.
Ballot title:
Official summary:
- "Imposes 15 percent tax on value of each barrel of oil extracted in California. Allocates oil tax revenue to non-capital educational funding: 30 percent to K-12; 48 percent to community colleges; 11 percent each to California State University and University of California. Prohibits producers from passing tax on to refiners, gasoline stations, or consumers. Prohibits loan of oil tax revenues to General Fund. Prohibits reduction of regular education funding based on additional revenues from tax."
Summary of estimated fiscal impact:
(This is a summary of the initiative's estimated "fiscal impact on state and local government" prepared by the California Legislative Analyst's Office and the Director of Finance.)
- "Increased state revenues from a new charge on oil extraction of around $2 billion to $3 billion per year, dedicated to education."
11-0033
The letter requesting a title and summary for #11-0033 was signed by Philip D. Sales II.
Ballot title:
Official summary:
- "Imposes 10 percent tax on value of oil and natural gas extracted in California to supplement funding for education. Allocates 10 percent of tax revenues to grants for college and vocational students, and remainder to classroom education funding as follows: 10 percent to University of California; 20 percent to California State University; 20 percent to community colleges; and 40 percent to K-12. Prohibits reduction of existing education-funding levels based on these additional tax revenues. Prohibits passing tax through to consumers by way of higher fuel prices."
Summary of estimated fiscal impact:
(This is a summary of the initiative's estimated "fiscal impact on state and local government" prepared by the California Legislative Analyst's Office and the Director of Finance.)
- "Increased state revenues from a new oil and gas severance tax of $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion per year. These revenues would be allocated to education and would likely result in increased state funding of various education programs."
11-0044
The letter requesting a title and summary for #11-0044 was signed by Peter Mathews and Paul R. Garver.
Ballot title:
Official summary:
- "Imposes 15 percent tax on value of oil and natural gas extracted in California to supplement education funding, for purposes of reducing class size, reducing tuition, restoring classes cut, providing instructional materials and hiring teachers and professors. Allocates tax revenues as follows: 11 percent to University of California; 14 percent to California State University; 38 percent to community colleges; 37 percent to K-12. Prohibits reduction of existing education-funding levels based on these additional tax revenues. Prohibits passing tax through to consumers by way of higher fuel prices."
Summary of estimated fiscal impact:
(This is a summary of the initiative's estimated "fiscal impact on state and local government" prepared by the California Legislative Analyst's Office and the Director of Finance.)
- "Increased state revenues from a new oil and gas severance tax of around $3 billion per year. These revenues would be allocated to education and would likely result in increased state funding of various education programs."
11-0096
The letter requesting a title and summary for #11-0096 was signed by John Burton.
Ballot title:
Official summary:
- "Imposes 12.5 percent tax on value of oil and natural gas extracted in California. Allocates revenues one-third to higher education (half to California State University, half split between University of California and community colleges) and two-thirds to general fund. Provides new education funds shall augment, not count toward, existing education funding requirements. Dedicates 10 percent of new education funds to student grants. Requires California State University to use portion of funding for nursing programs. Prohibits passing tax on to consumers through higher fuel prices."
Summary of estimated fiscal impact:
(This is a summary of the initiative's estimated "fiscal impact on state and local government" prepared by the California Legislative Analyst's Office and the Director of Finance.)
- "Increased state revenues of about $3 billion per year initially, with two-thirds (about $2 billion) going to the state General Fund and one-third (about $1 billion) allocated to specific higher education purposes. Of the General Fund revenue increase, roughly half would likely go to higher funding for schools and community college districts, with the remainder available for any state purpose."
Path to the ballot
- See also: California signature requirements
These path-to-the-ballot details pertain to Version #11-0096:
- John L. Burton submitted a letter requesting a ballot title on December 13, 2011.
- The ballot title and ballot summary were issued by California's attorney general's office on February 16, 2012.
- The 150-day circulation deadline for #11-0096 was July 16, 2012.
- No signatures were filed by the deadline.
These path-to-the-ballot details pertain to Version #11-0044:
- Peter Mathews and Paul R. Garver submitted a letter requesting a ballot title on September 30, 2011.
- The ballot title and ballot summary were issued by California's attorney general's office on November 21, 2011.
- The 150-day circulation deadline for #11-0044 was April 19, 2012.
- No signatures were filed by the deadline.
These path-to-the-ballot details pertain to Version #11-0033:
- Philip D. Sales II submitted a letter requesting a ballot title on August 31, 2011.
- The ballot title and ballot summary were issued by California's attorney general's office on October 21, 2011.
- The 150-day circulation deadline for #11-0033 was March 19, 2012.
- No signatures were submitted.
For all versions:
- 504,760 valid signatures are required for qualification purposes.
- Regardless of what the 150-day circulation deadline is, to qualify for the November 6, 2012 ballot, if the number of signatures submitted is such that the full-check verification method must be deployed, the signatures would have had to be turned in by March 2, 2012.
Version #11-0004 did not collect its signatures by its deadline of September 30, 2011 and is therefore a dead letter.
External links
- Letter requesting a ballot title for Initiative 11-0004
- Letter requesting a ballot title for Initiative 11-0033
- Letter requesting a ballot title for Initiative 11-0044
- Letter requesting a ballot title for Initiative 11-0096
Footnotes
