38,559 / 79.8% Yes votes ...... 9,777 / 20.2% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

This measure would authorize the City to continue to spend the proceeds of the Parks Maintenance Tax, Library Relief Tax, Emergency Medical Services Tax, and the Emergency Services for Severely Disabled Persons Tax, all of which were previously approved by the voters. Under Article XIIIB of the California Constitution a city is limited to appropriating (i.e. authorizing expenditure of) the amount of taxes (adjusted by inflation) that it spent in the 1986-1987 fiscal year. This limit may only be exceeded if the voters approve the excess expenditures by a majority vote. This constitutional restriction on appropriations (expenditures) is in addition to the constitutional requirement that special taxes must be approved by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the people. Although the appropriations (expenditure) limit was raised by the voters to allow continued expenditure of the proceeds of these taxes when the taxes were approved, voter authorization to raise the spending limit must be renewed every four years. A city has two years to again obtain voter approval of this expenditure. After that the tax proceeds would have to be returned to the taxpayers within two years. This measure seeks to raise the expenditure limit by the aggregate amount of all four taxes. Submitting the measures individually would cost $5,000 per measure and could confuse voters since the net effect of the measures is to raise the City's expenditure limit by the amount of taxes previously approved by the voters.

Financial Implications
This measure would not increase taxes nor adopt a new tax. It would authorize the City to continue to spend tax funds previously approved by the voters for the purposes specified in those voter-approved tax measures for fiscal years 2005 through 2008.

s/MANUELA ALBUQUERQUE, Berkeley City Attorney

City of Berkeley Official Web Page for Measure N

The State of California requires that all cities periodically ask voters for permission to spend tax revenue that was previously approved. Years ago, funding for the City's libraries, parks, and emergency medical services were approved by more than two-thirds of Berkeley voters. However, to continue collecting and spending these funds, Berkeley voters must vote yes on Measure N.

Measure N does not create a new tax or increase taxes by one penny.

Measure N only authorizes the City to continue using existing tax dollars to fund Berkeley's libraries, parks, and emergency medical services.

If Measure N does not pass, the City will lose millions of dollars in already approved tax revenue - forcing dramatic reductions in city services.

It's unanimous - Vote Yes on Measure N.
s/TOM BATES, Mayor, City of Berkeley
s/BETTY OLDS, Councilmember
s/GORDON J. WOZNIAK, Councilmember
s/MAUDELLE SHIREK, Vice Mayor, City of Berkeley
s/SARA MacKUSICK, Vice Chair, Budget Commission

(No arguments against Measure N were submitted)