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Smart Voter
Riverside County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
Measure W
Sales Tax Increase
City of Blythe

Majority Approval Required

Fail: 671 / 36.15% Yes votes ...... 1,185 / 63.85% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of November 21 7:51am, 100.00%% of Precincts Reporting (4/4)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Shall the City of Blythe increase its sales tax by one-half of one percent (0.5%) for a period of five years?

Impartial Analysis from City Attorney
As declared and reaffirmed by the Blythe City Council, the City continues to face a state of fiscal emergency due to the severe impact of the economic collapse caused by the Great Recession of recent years, as well as the collapse of the housing market, continuing California state takeaways, and insufficient tax revenues to cover government expenses. In response to this fiscal emergency, the City Council is asking the City's voters to vote on Measure "W."

If approved by the voters, Measure "W" would increase the City's sales tax, currently set at 8%, by 1⁄2 of 1% for a period of five years. At this new rate, a transaction amounting to $100 would generate an additional $.50 cents in City revenue in addition to the $8 currently collected. Like the 8% sales tax currently being collected, the proposed increase would be imposed upon the sale of tangible personal property sold at retail within the City.

All proceeds of the tax will be deposited into the City's General Fund to be used for all general municipal governmental purposes at the City's discretion, such as for public safety services, street and sidewalk repairs, upkeep and development of the City's parks, water delivery and treatment, and other local governmental functions.

This measure provides that the 1⁄2 of 1% sales tax increase would expire in five years.

Measure "W" was placed on the Ballot by the Blythe City Council. It will be adopted if it is approved by a majority of the voters voting on the measure.

By: Christian Bettenhausen, City Attorney

 
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Arguments For Measure W Arguments Against Measure W
Arguments in favor of Measure "W" include:
  • The Blythe City Council unanimously approved the placement of the sales tax increase on the ballot;
  • The City needs revenue to deliver the needed services and infrastructure the resident's demand, like roads, police protection, fire protection, recreation center activities, senior center activities, promoting our City, and cleaning our City;
  • This increase will sunset (go away) in five years;
  • The Blythe Volunteer Fire Chief, Billy Kem said, "the citizens of Blythe will benefit from the quality of life improvements that will come from the additional resources";
  • The City of Blythe has reduced its workforce by 48% and operating supplies by 16% since 2008;
  • City officials argue this revenue is vital to providing the necessary City services;
  • If measure "W" does not pass, the continued likelihood of additional cuts is inevitable;
  • Two of the biggest problems that face the City of Blythe are the lack of funding to address their negative fund balance or negative cash and the road improvement funding, the proponents argue.

The sales tax would increase from 8.0% to 8.5%; this .5% increase would be approximately $600,000 of revenue to address the above needs. This would be paid by, not only Blythe residents, but also those who pass through our City. For every $1 spent, it would be $.05 or, on average, $22 per year/per resident.

Below are the supporters who signed the official voter pamphlet in favor of Measure "W":

By: Bill Kem, Fire Chief of Blythe Volunteer Fire Department
Doris Morgan, Senior Advocate
Angie Patel, Past President of the Blythe Chamber of Commerce
Sam Patel, Business Owner
Gloria Saldana, Business Owner

(No arguments against were submitted)


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