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Humboldt County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
Measure Q
Sales Tax Extension
City of Eureka

Majority Approval Required

Pass: 4751 / 66.6% Yes votes ...... 2382 / 33.4% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Nov 4 11:42pm
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Full Text

Shall the Eureka Municipal Code be amended to extend a one-half of one percent (0.50%) supplemental transaction and use tax to fund essential services such as police, fire medical response, street maintenance, environmental programs, zoo, parks and recreation with the following restrictions? The supplemental transaction and use tax will expire after five years, unless reauthorized by the voters. A citizen's oversight committee shall be established to conduct annual audits of all expenditures generated by the tax to ensure fiscal accountability and public participation.

Impartial Analysis from City Attorney
This ballot measure, if adopted by the voters, would continue the one-half of one percent (1/2%) increase to the sales tax rate in the City of Eureka that was approved by the voters in 2010 through Measure O.

This tax is a general purpose tax, and all revenue generated from the continuation of the proposed sales tax would be deposited into the City's General Fund and, accordingly, all monies collected would be used by the City to pay for essential general City operations and services including police protection, fire suppression, emergency medical response, street maintenance, environmental programs, parks and recreation, and zoo operations. As such, this ballot measure proposes a "general purpose tax," rather than a "special purpose tax," and requires a simple majority vote for adoption.

The proposed 1/2% sales tax would be levied in addition to the current sales tax and would be collected at the same time and in the same manner as the Measure O increase. Due to the passage of Measure O, the sales tax in Eureka is currently 8.25%. A yes vote would continue this sales tax rate in the City of Eureka.

The current tax generated approximately $4.1 million this past fiscal year.

Measure Q contains fiscal accountability provisions, which include the continuation of the citizen's oversight committee, created by the City Council with the passage of Measure O, to annually review the City's expenditure of the revenues generated by the tax. The composition of the oversight committee and its specific duties are established by the City Council.

If approved by a majority of the voters at the November 4, 2014 election, the 1/2% sales tax would become operative on July 1, 2016 and would terminate after five (5) years.

A "yes" vote is a vote to continue the increase in the sales tax rate in the City of Eureka by one-half of one per cent (1/2%) at 8.25%.

A "no" vote is a vote to allow the sunset of Measure O reverting the sales tax rate in the City of Eureka to 7.75%.

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure Q. If you desire a copy of the ordinance, please call the elections office at (707) 441-4144 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you. The proposed ordinance can also be viewed on the City's website at: http://www.ci.eureka.ca.gov.

/s/ Cyndy Day-Wilson City Attorney City of Eureka

 
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Arguments For Measure Q Arguments Against Measure Q
VOTE YES ON MEASURE "Q"! A YES vote means that you support the services and programs provided by our Fire and Police Departments. In 2014, nearly 90% of these funds went directly to Public Safety staffing and programs. A YES vote means you value Sequoia Park Zoo, safe parks, recreation, and programs to protect the environment. A YES vote on this measure means a continuation of Measure O that was approved by voters in 2010. The sales tax will raise $4 million annually for 5 years to help fund critical city services. A YES vote means you are taking an active role in protecting our quality of life in Eureka. FACTS:

Sunset: This authorization will expire after 5 years.

Accountability: A citizen's oversight committee will annually review the City's expenditure of the revenue generated by the tax; and the City shall post to their website, a detailed spending plan and an annual report from the City of revenues collected and how the funds have been spent.

Fairness: The ½ cent sales tax is a fair way to provide funding for critical city services. A significant portion of the money will come from taxable purchases made by people who live outside of Eureka. ALL 100% of this ½ cent sales tax will remain in Eureka to serve our residents and businesses.

Your City government is committed to maintaining essential public services such as police protection, fire suppression, emergency medical, road maintenance, environmental programs, zoo, and parks. Please, VOTE "YES" on Measure "Q", and support your City in its efforts to deliver to you these essential public services.

A unanimous City Council of Eureka recommends a "yes" vote on Measure "Q".

/s/Councilmember Marian Brady /s/Councilmember Linda Atkins /s/Councilmember Mike L. Newman /s/Councilmember Melinda Ciarabellini /s/Councilmember Chet Albin

No arguments against Measure Q were submitted.

Full Text of Measure Q
RESOLUTION NO. 2014-28

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUREKA CALLING FOR THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014, FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE VOTERS A QUESTION RELATING TO AN EXENSION OF A SUPPLEMENTAL TRANSACTION AND USE TAX

WHEREAS, under the provisions of the Charter a General Municipal Election shall be held on November 4, 2014, for the election Municipal Officers; and

NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUREKA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. That pursuant to the requirements of the Charter, there is called and ordered to be held in the City of Eureka, California, on Tuesday, November 4,
2014.

SECTION 2. That THE City Council, pursuant to its right and authority, does order submitted to the voters at the General Municipal Election the following question:

Shall the Eureka Municipal Code be amended to extend a one-half of one percent (0.50%) supplemental transaction and use tax to fund essential services such as police, fire medical response, street maintenance, environmental programs, zoo, parks and recreation with the following restrictions?

The supplemental transaction and use tax will expire after five years, unless reauthorized by the voters.

A citizen's oversight committee shall be established to conduct annual audits of all expenditures generated by the tax to ensure fiscal accountability and public participation.

SECTION 3. That the ballots to be used at the election shall be in form and content as required by law.

SECTION 4. That the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to coordinate with the County of Humboldt County Clerk to procure and furnish any and all official ballots, notices, printed matter and all supplies, equipment and paraphernalia that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct the election.

SECTION 5. That the polls for the election shall be open at seven o'clock a.m. of the day of the election and shall remain open continuously from that time until 8 o'clock p.m. of the day of the election and shall pursuant to Election Code § 10242, except as provided in § 14401 of the Elections Code of the State of California.

SECTION 6. That in all particulars not recited in this resolution, the election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections.

SECTION 7. That notice of the time and place of holding the election is given and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the election, in time, form and manner as required by law.

SECTION 8. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original Resolutions.

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Eureka in the County of Humboldt, State of California, on the 3rd day of June, 2014 by the following vote:

AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS BRADY, ATKINS, NEWMAN, CIARABELLlNI, ALBIN

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:


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