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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 03192013 - C.34RECOMMENDATION(S): ADOPT an amendment to the 2013 State Legislative Platform with respect to policy position #43 related to locally-approved special taxes, as recommended by the Legislation Committee. The amendment would add the words "library" and "transportation" to the list of programs and services for which the Board of Supervisors would support a reduction of the 2/3 vote requirement for passage. The amendment would also specify the reduction in the 2/3 vote requirement to 55% of voters voting for the measure: The amended policy would read: SUPPORT a reduction in the 2/3rd vote requirement to 55% voter approval for locally-approved special taxes that fund health, education, economic, stormwater, library, transportation and/or public safety programs and services. FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact to the County General Fund. APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 03/19/2013 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor ABSENT:Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Contact: L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: March 19, 2013 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: June McHuen, Deputy cc: C.34 To:Board of Supervisors From:Legislation Committee Date:March 19, 2013 Contra Costa County Subject:Amend Adopted 2013 State Legislative Platform BACKGROUND: At their February 25, 2013 meeting, the Legislation Committee considered the matter of recommending to the Board of Supervisors an amendment to the adopted 2013 State Legislative Platform, with regard to policy #43 concerning the 2/3 vote threshold for locally-approved special taxes, to include “library” and “transportation” related taxes, and to specify the vote approval requirement of 55%. The Committee voted to approve the amendment. Background At its January 22, 2013 meeting, the Board of Supervisors considered the Draft 2013 State Legislative Platform and approved the Platform, as amended. The amendments adopted by the Board of Supervisors at the January meeting included changes to policy #43 so that it reads in the Adopted 2013 State Platform: 43. SUPPORT a reduction in the 2/3rd vote requirement for locally-approved special taxes that fund health, education, economic, stormwater and/or public safety programs and services. Discussion by some members of the Board of Supervisors suggested including the policy areas of “library” and “transportation” taxes in the mix of tax measures for which the Board of Supervisors would support lowering the vote threshold. An additional suggestion was to specify the reduction in the 2/3rd vote requirement to be 55% for approval of a measure. The Legislation Committee approved these changes and recommends to the Board of Supervisors an amendment to the Adopted 2013 State Platform that would read: 43. SUPPORT a reduction in the 2/3rd vote requirement to 55% voter approval for locally-approved special taxes that fund health, education, economic, stormwater, library, transportation and/or public safety programs and services. =========================================================================================== Currently pending in the Legislature are the following bills related to a reduction in the 2/3rd vote requirement for special taxes: SCA 4 AUTHOR: Liu (D) TITLE: Local Government Transportation Project: Voter Approval INTRODUCED: 12/03/2012 DISPOSITION: Pending LOCATION: Senate Governance and Finance Committee SUMMARY: Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to provide that the imposition, extension, or increase of a special tax by a local government for the purpose of providing funding for local transportation projects requires the approval of a specified percentage of voters voting on the proposition. STATUS: 02/14/2013 To SENATE Committees on GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE and RULES. SCA 3 AUTHOR: Leno (D) COAUTHOR(S): Wolk (D), Pavley (D), Hill (D), Buchanan (D), Ammiano (D), Corbett (D), Price (D), DeSaulnier (D), De Leon (D), Evans (D), Yee (D), Gordon (D) TITLE: Taxation: Educational Entities: Parcel Tax INTRODUCED: 12/03/2012 DISPOSITION: Pending LOCATION: Senate Governance and Finance Committee SUMMARY: Conditions the imposition, extension, or increase of a parcel tax by a school district, community college district, or county office of education upon the approval of voters if the proposition meets specified requirements. STATUS: 02/07/2013 To SENATE Committees on GOVERNANCE & FINANCE and ELECTIONS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. SCA 7 AUTHOR: Wolk (D) COAUTHOR(S): Leno (D), Williams (D) TITLE: Public Libraries INTRODUCED: 12/03/2012 DISPOSITION: Pending LOCATION: Senate Governance and Finance Committee SUMMARY: Amends the constitution relative to public libraries. Relates to ad valorem tax rates. Creates a certain exception to a specified limit for a rate imposed by a city, county, city and county, or special district to service bonded indebtedness incurred to fund public library facilities. Authorizes the imposition, extension, or increase of a special tax imposed for the purpose of funding public libraries. STATUS: 02/07/2013 To SENATE Committees on GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE and ELECTIONS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. SCA 8 AUTHOR: Corbett (D) TITLE: Transportation Projects: Special Taxes: Voter Approval TITLE: Transportation Projects: Special Taxes: Voter Approval INTRODUCED: 12/14/2012 DISPOSITION: Pending LOCATION: Senate Governance and Finance Committee SUMMARY: Provides that the imposition, extension, or increase of a special tax by a local government for the purpose of providing funding for transportation projects requires the approval of 55% of its voters voting on the proposition. STATUS: 02/14/2013 To SENATE Committees on GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE and RULES. SCA 9 AUTHOR: Corbett (D) TITLE: Local Government: Economic Development: Special Taxes INTRODUCED: 12/18/2012 DISPOSITION: Pending LOCATION: Senate Governance and Finance Committee SUMMARY: Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to provide that the imposition, extension, or increase of a special tax by a local government for the purpose of providing funding for community and economic development projects requires the approval of a specified percentage of its voters voting on the proposition. STATUS: 02/07/2013 To SENATE Committees on GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE and ELECTIONS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. ACA 3 AUTHOR: Campos (D) TITLE: Local Government Finance: Public Safety Services INTRODUCED: 01/22/2013 DISPOSITION: Pending LOCATION: ASSEMBLY SUMMARY: Authorizes the imposition, extension, or increase of a special tax for funding fire, emergency response, police, or sheriff services, upon the approval of 55% of the voters voting. Creates an additional exception to the 1% limit for a rate imposed by a city, county, or special district to service bonded indebtedness incurred to fund certain fire, emergency response, police, or sheriff buildings or facilities, and equipment that is approved by 55% of the voters of the city, county, or special district. STATUS: 01/22/2013 INTRODUCED. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: If this amendment is not adopted, the adopted 2013 State Platform policy position #43 will not include the policy areas of "library" and "transportation," nor will it specify the voter approval threshold of 55%. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: None.