This is an archive of a past election.
See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/hm/ for current information.
LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
Humboldt County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
Measure G
Transactions & Use Tax
City of Arcata
Majority Approval Required

Pass: 4359 / 63.49% Yes votes ...... 2507 / 36.51% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures
Results as of Nov 5 12:44am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (18/18)
62.5% Voter Turnout (6866/11804)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |
Impartial Analysis from the City Attorney
If approved by a majority of the voters, Measure G would authorize an additional three-quarter percent (¾ %) transactions and use sales tax to be levied within the City of Arcata. This tax would be a general purpose tax, and all revenue raised from the tax would go into the City's general fund to be used for any municipal governmental purpose. Municipal governmental purposes include public works and police protection services identified in the ballot measure, and may include other governmental functions and services. The Measure would not bind the City to use the tax revenue for any particular services, facilities, or programs.

The ¾ % 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 Arcata (including State and local taxes) is 7¼%. If this Measure is approved, the sales tax in the City of Arcata would be 8%. The increased tax is estimated to generate approximately $1,500,000 per year.

Measure G contains fiscal accountability provisions, which include the creation by the City Council of a citizens' oversight committee to annually review the City's expenditure of 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 4, 2008 election, the ¾% sales tax would become operative on April 1, 2009 and would terminate 20 years after its approval.

THE ABOVE STATEMENT IS AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE G. IF YOU DESIRE A COPY OF THE ORDINANCE IMPOSING A SALES AND USE TAX TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, PLEASE CALL THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AT 822-5953 AND A COPY WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU AT NO COST, OR YOU MAY VIEW THE ORDINANCE (No. 1379) AT THE CITY'S WEB SITE: http://www.cityofarcata.org.

A YES vote approves the measure.

A NO vote rejects the measure.

Respectfully submitted,

s/ Nancy Diamond City Attorney, City of Arcata

   Partisan Information

Yes on Measure G - Arcata

This election is archived. Any links to sources outside of Smart Voter may no longer be active. No further links will be added to this page.
Links to sources outside of Smart Voter are provided for information only and do not imply endorsement.

Arguments For Measure G
A YES vote is a Community Working Together to invest in Arcata's future to fund critical and essential community services to make Arcata a better and safer place to live.

These additional sales tax revenues are important to the City of Arcata when you consider that just a fraction of a penny on the dollar will support:

Filling potholes, maintaining, and repairing city streets,

Increasing police staffing to improve downtown, Plaza, Valley West, city forest, and park safety,

Improving pedestrian and bicycle safety,

Enhancing community and neighborhood safety,

Providing safer sidewalks, pathways to schools, bicycle lanes and wheelchair access,

Consistent with Arcata's small town values, a Citizens' Oversight Committee will be established to conduct annual audits of all expenditures to ensure fiscal accountability and public participation.

State Government continues to take money from cities and counties to fund State programs and budget deficits. The proposed Sales Tax is the one way the City is able to replace those lost revenues to fund many of our essential services.

Please help keep Arcata a vibrant, safe and healthy place to live, work and raise our families. Vote YES on Measure "G."

s/ Mark E. Wheetley, Mayor
s/ Jonathan Speaker, Business Owner
s/ Earl Moranda, Former Arcata Police Officer, APD Volunteer
s/ Chris Rall, Executive Director, Greenwheels
s/ Alan Sanborn, Artist

(No arguments against Measure G were submitted)

Humboldt Home Page || Statewide Links || About Smart Voter || Feedback
Created: January 24, 2009 10:33 PST
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://www.lwvc.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.