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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
San Mateo County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
Measure T
Business License Tax
City of Brisbane
2/3 Approval Required

Pass: 1,316 / 70.3% Yes votes ...... 556 / 29.7% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures
Results as of Jan 24 10:42am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (3/3)
78.9% Voter Turnout (307,350/389,718)
Information shown below: Arguments |

Shall a special business license tax for capital improvements be imposed on any business in the City having gross receipts in excess of $10,000,000, at a rate of seven and one-half cents per $100 of gross receipts, subject to certain maximum limits and reduced by any sales taxes that may be paid by that business to the City?

  
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Arguments For Measure T
Brisbane's business license fees are currently among the lowest in San Mateo County, having not changed since 1977. The result is a growing inequity between fees paid and the cost of services provided.

Measure T is a fair and needed change. The Measure will establish a special tax that can only be used for capital projects. Proposition 218 requires a 2/3 vote to pass any special tax.

  • There will be no impact to nearly 95% of businesses.

  • The business license tax rate was last changed over 30 years ago.

  • The change in business license fees will be phased in over three years to give these large businesses time to budget for the change.

When Measure T is fully implemented by 2011, it will generate approximately $450,000 annually which can only be used for capital projects, such as sewer, water, storm drain improvements or a new library building.

  • Approval of Measure T will adjust the business license fee of only a small group of the largest businesses in the City. Only businesses which generate over $10,000,000 in annual gross receipts will be subject to the special tax. All other businesses are exempt.

  • The new rate would be 7.5¢ per $100.00 of total sales. Sales tax revenue received by the City from a business would be subtracted from that business' license tax.

  • Businesses impacted by this special tax currently contribute less than 1% to the cost of City services through the Business License, while the top 20 sales tax contributors pay for over 25% of our services.

All business license revenues stay in Brisbane and will be used to preserve and improve the quality of life enjoyed by the residents and businesses of our City.

Join us in voting YES on MEASURE T

/s/ Michael G. Barnes, Mayor City of Brisbane

/s/ Sepi Richardson, Mayor Pro Tem City of Brisbane

/s/ Cyril G. Bologoff, Councilmember City of Brisbane

/s/W. Clarke Conway, Councilmember City of Brisbane

(No arguments against Measure T were submitted)

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Created: January 24, 2009 10:42 PST
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