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Humboldt County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
Measure O
Eureka Sales Tax Increase for Public Services
City of Eureka
Majority Approval Required

Pass: 4,686 / 54.68% Yes votes ...... 3,884 / 45.32% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures
Results as of Nov 29 4:38pm
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Shall the Eureka Municipal Code be amended to add a one-half of a 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 the City Attorney
This ballot measure, if adopted by the voters, would enact a one-half of one percent (1/2%) increase to the sales tax rate in the City of Eureka.

This tax would be a general purpose tax, and all revenue generated from the proposed sales tax increase would be deposited into the City's General Fund and, accordingly, all monies collected pursuant to the sales tax increase would be used by the City to pay for general City operations and programs 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 ½% 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 existing sales tax. Currently, the sales tax in Eureka is 8.5%. A yes vote would increase the sales tax rate in the City of Eureka from 8.5% to 9%. The increased tax is estimated to generate approximately $3.2 million per year.

Measure O contains fiscal accountability provisions, which include the creation by the City Council of a citizen's oversight committee to annually review the City's expenditure of the revenues generated by the tax. The composition of the oversight committee and its specific duties would be established by the City Council.

If approved by a majority of the voters at the November 2, 2010 election, the ½% sales tax would become operative on April 1, 2011 and would terminate after 5 years.

s/ Sheryl Schaffner, City Attorney

   Official Information

Full Text of Proposed Measure PDF
News and Analysis

North Coast Journal

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Arguments For Measure O
VOTE YES ON MEASURE "O"!
A YES vote means that you support the services and programs provided by our Fire and Police Departments. 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 minimal increase in local sales tax in order to raise nearly $3 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 during these difficult economic times.

FACTS:

  • Sunset: This authorization will expire after 5 years.

  • Accountability: A citizen's oversight committee will annually review the City's expenditure of these revenue generated by the tax; and the City 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.

The City of Eureka is a wonderful living environment, but the ability of your City government to maintain essential public services such as police protection, fire suppression, emergency medical, road maintenance, environmental programs, zoo, and parks is being threatened.

Help us to help you. Please, VOTE "YES" on Measure "O", and support your City in its efforts to deliver to you the most essential public services.

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

By:

Councilmember Jeff Leonard

Councilmember Mike Jones Councilmember Linda Atkins

Councilmember Frank Jager

(No arguments against Measure O were submitted)

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Created: January 6, 2011 14:57 PST
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