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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
San Luis Obispo County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
Measure O-04
Continue Utility Users Tax at current rate
City of Grover Beach

4120 / 82.0% Yes votes ...... 903 / 18.0% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures
Results as of Dec 2 2:25pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (5/5)
Information shown below: Official Information | Impartial Analysis |

Shall an Ordinance be adopted to validate and reenact the City of Grover Beach's existing Utility Users Tax at its current rate and to require voter approval before the rate of that tax may be increased?

Official Sources of Information
Impartial Analysis from City Attorney
Background. In 1986 California?s voters approved Proposition 62 to require voter approval of local general taxes. California courts found Proposition 62 unconstitutional and the City therefore did not seek voter approval of a 1991 ordinance imposing a utility users tax (UUT). The California Supreme Court has overturned those earlier decisions and upheld Proposition 62. The City Council now proposes this measure to allow the voters to validate the 1991 UUT ordinance.

With limited exceptions, every person who uses electric, gas, telephone, or cable television service in the City pays a UUT of 1% of utility charges for these services. The UUT is collected via utility bills. The UUT accounts for 2.8% of the City?s ongoing General Fund revenues. The City uses UUT proceeds to provide police and fire protection, recreation, street rehabilitation and other community services funded through the City?s General Fund.

The Measure. The measure would validate and readopt the UUT ordinance and validate taxes previously collected under that ordinance. The Measure does not increase the rate of the UUT or make any changes to the existing UUT. The City Council is authorized to repeal or reduce the UUT or to amend the ordinance in other ways that do not increase taxes. However, any future increase in the UUT would require voter approval.

s/ Martin D. Koczanowicz
City Attorney City of Grover Beach

  
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Created: December 15, 2004 13:36 PST
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