City of Blue Lake Utility Users Tax, Measure T (November 2014)

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A City of Blue Lake Utility Users Tax, Measure T ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of Blue Lake in Humboldt County, California. It was approved.

Measure T authorized the city to impose a utility users tax on city residents at a rate of 4 percent. The tax was capped at a maximum of $2,000 per year. This tax was designed as a general tax, which means revenue was set to go into the city's general fund to be used for any governmental purpose.

Election results

Blue Lake City Measure T
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		230	56.23%
No		179	43.77%

Election results via: Humboldt County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot:

“

To help ensure that the City of Blue Lake has the funds necessary to support the quality of life its residents have come to expect through such essential services as adequate law enforcement, park and recreation programs, and the maintenance and repair of local streets and public facilities, among others, shall the City place a four percent (4%) Utility Users Tax (Resolution No. 1033) on all electricity and gas usage in the City, beginning March 1, 2015, and automatically terminating five years later?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure T:

“	Measure T asks the voters whether the City of Blue Lake should adopt a utility users tax. The tax would be imposed for five years at the rate of four percent (4%) of the usage of electrical energy services and gas services. Measure T is submitted to the voters by the Blue Lake City Council. The tax would be computed on the basis of monthly usage and service charges and be collected by the service provider. For each service user the combined total tax would be capped at $2,000 per fiscal year. As proposed, Measure T would include several tax exemptions. First, service users who receive California Alternative Rates for Energy (“CARE”) are exempt from paying this tax. Second, public agencies and schools are also exempt under the Measure. In addition, tax exemptions can be established for specific classes of persons or utilities through an ordinance or resolution passed by the Council. The City Council has determined that additional funds are necessary to fund essential City services including but not limited to adequate law enforcement, parks and recreation programs, maintenance of streets and public facilities, and other services provided by the City’s General Fund. The City estimates the tax will raise $38,000 annually. Tax monies collected under Measure T would be deposited into the City’s General Fund and could be used by the City to pay for any of the above mentioned City services. Utility users tax revenues can only be spent on City services. Rejection of the tax may result in reductions of City services due to budget constraints. This Measure requires approval of a majority of voters. If adopted by the voters at the November 4, 2014 election, Measure T would go into effect upon adoption; however, taxes under the Measure would not be imposed until March 1, 2015. The tax would automatically expire five years after becoming operative, on March 1, 2020. The tax could not be extended or increased without additional voter approval. A YES vote approves the measure. A NO vote rejects the measure.	”
—Nancy Diamond, Blue Lake City Attorney

See also

• California Utility User Taxes
• Utility users tax
• Local utility tax and fees on the ballot
• Humboldt County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• Humboldt County Registrar of Voters Office website