9,097 / 77.6% Yes votes ...... 2,630 / 22.4% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

you believe that Rancho Cordova should be incorporated into a city on the terms set forth in the proposal.

A NO vote of this measure means:

you believe the area should remain unincorporated and have Sacramento County continue to provide local services.

A general description of the proposed city:

That territory south of the centerline of the American River and north and south of Highway 50, generally bounded on the west by Bradshaw Road and on the east by Sunrise Boulevard to Sanders Drive, north of a line through Mather Field to its connection to the Folsom Canal and Sunrise Boulevard. And territory southerly along Sunrise Boulevard to Jackson Highway, and east to Grant Line Road; northeasterly along Grant Line Road to a point that jogs west and then north to White Rock Road, west on White Rock Road and north along parcels lines on Aerojet property as an easterly boundary and along the Folsom South Canal as a westerly boundary; including territory south of Highway 50 along parcel lines east to Hazel Avenue.

Incorporation will have no identifiable financial impact upon residents or businesses. The incorporation will not increase taxes. Property, utility, transient occupancy taxes, other taxes, assessments, fees, and parcel charges currently levied will remain the same. The revenue from these taxes and parcel charges will be transferred to the new city and the city will be responsible for providing services supported by these revenues.

Services provided include: general municipal government, law enforcement, planning, building inspection, public works and animal control. Some servicesmay be provided through contract. The incorporation does not propose to change services provided by special districts.

An independent comprehensive fiscal analysis found the proposed city to be economically feasible. This analysis was based upon the new city providing the same level of service as that currently provided by the County of Sacramento.

If approved by the voters, the incorporation would:

• Provide that the name of the city be the City of Rancho Cordova.
• Create a general law city with an appointed CityManager, effective July 1, 2003.
• Provide for the election of a City Council of five members elected at-large.
• Establish a first year appropriation limit of $34,250,000.
• Beginning in Fiscal Year 2003-04, and continuing through an agreed upon term, the City and the County shall share the City's portion of all secured and unsecured ad valorem property taxes levied and collected pursuant to State law to comply with the revenue neutrality agreement between the City and the County.
• Approve the Tax Sharing Agreement between the City and the County.
• Confirm that existing ordinances, land uses, utility taxes, transient occupancy taxes, fees, and assessments be continued by the new city at the same rate and manner unless changed by the City Council.

The Sacramento Bee

Cityhood vote could shape image

October 23, 2002

Rancho Cordova is a community with a proud history and great promise for the future, but we face some critical issues.Wemust find real solutions to the issues of crime, drugs, traffic congestion, water quality, and community blight if we are going to create economic opportunity and improve our property values.

Today, residents of Rancho Cordova are governed by elected officials who do not live in our community. Our hard-earned tax dollars are siphoned off to other areas of the countywhile our problems go unattended.Wecan no longer afford to wait for the county to address our issues.

If we vote yes on Measure W our tax dollars will stay in our neighborhoods. As a city we would control the revenue we collect. We could hire more police to patrol are neighborhoods, build a community and youth center, or create business improvement districts to revitalize our commercial core. For the first time in our history, Rancho Cordova citizens would decidewhat is best for Rancho Cordova. The quality of life in Rancho Cordova is good, and it will improve when we finally have the power and local control necessary to plan for future growth, attack gang violence, keep drug dealers away from our children, control graffiti and provide better security for our homes and business.

The time has come for Rancho Cordova to govern itself and control our destiny. Stand up for your community, join us and vote Yes on Measure W.

/s Anthony Pescetti, California State Assemblymember

/s Roger Benton, Folsom Cordova Unified School Board

/s Ed Short, Sacramento County Taxpayers League

/s Jane Daly, Vice President, Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce

/s Mike Mitchum, President, Cordova Community Council