HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06032014 - D.15RECOMMENDATION(S):
AUTHORIZE conducting a public opinion poll to determine voter preferences and support for a potential countywide
sales tax that would support public safety, emergency response, health care services, and other critical needs in
Contra Costa County..
AUTHORIZE working with Contra Costa’s legislative representatives to obtain legislation to enable Contra Costa
County to place a sales tax measure on the ballot.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost to the County General Fund to conduct a public opinion survey shall not exceed $45,000.
BACKGROUND:
Contra Costa County is rebounding from several years of decreased property tax revenues as a result of the sharp
decline in the real estate market. Despite this, Contra Costa’s responsible fiscal management led to a recent upgrade
in its credit rating to the highest rating possible - ‘AAA’.
During the sharp fall in real estate values, the County was forced to decrease expenditures in public safety, fire, and
emergency medical services even though the need for those services did not decrease. The gradual rebound in
property tax revenues has not yet provided enough funding to bring services back to the needed level.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 06/03/2014 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
NO:Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Contact: Supervisor John Gioia (510)
374-3231
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: June 3, 2014
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc: Robert Campbell, Auditor-Controller
D.15
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Supervisors John Gioia and Karen Mitchoff
Date:June 3, 2014
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Exploration of Potential Countywide Sales Tax
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
> A number of Bay Area counties have supplemented their property tax revenues with locally approved sales taxes in
order to fund needed county services.
In November 2012, Santa Clara County approved a one-eighth cent sales tax for 10 years with 56.61% of the voters
to fund:
Law enforcement and public safety;
Trauma and emergency room services;
Health coverage for low-income children;
Economic development and job creation;
Housing for the homeless; and
Programs to help students stay in school;
Also in November 2012, San Mateo County approved a one-half cent sales tax for 10 years with 65.4% in support to
fund critical services such as:
Fire services
911 dispatch
Emergency room availability for low income children/seniors/disabled
Alameda County has a dedicated one-half cent sales tax for health which was originally approved by 71.1% in 2004
which specifically funds trauma and emergency medical services throughout the county.
The passage of these sales taxes in Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda counties has provided additional general
purpose revenue that Contra Costa County does not have.
The goal of a proposed sales tax in Contra Costa would be to primarily raise additional revenue for needed public
safety such as law enforcement and prosecution; fire and emergency medical services; and healthcare.
It is appropriate to conduct a public opinion survey to determine voter preferences and support for such a countywide
sales tax.
Since two of the 19 cities in Contra Costa County (El Cerrito and Moraga) are currently at the maximum 9.5% sales
tax rate, legislation is needed to enable the County to place a sales tax measure on the ballot. Assemblymember
Nancy Skinner (Chair of Assembly Budget Committee) has indicated support for carrying legislation to raise the
sales tax cap in order to enable the County to place a sales tax measure on the ballot.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County will not be authorized to pursue legislation to supplement property tax revenues with locally approved
sales taxes in order to fund needed county services.
CLERK'S ADDENDUM
Speakers: Sara Schmitz, resident of Danville; Alex Alifaris, Contra Costa Taxpayers Association; Seung Choo,
California Nurses Association (CNA), Deborah Bayer, resident of Richmond; Dr. Laurel Hodgson, Doctors
Medical Center; Richard Fisher, resident of Richmond; Florence Franet, resident of Walnut Creek; Eduardo
Martinez, resident of Richmond; Marilyn Langlois, Richmond Progressive Alliance; M.L. Mellander, resident of
El Sobrante; DeeAnn Barnes, National Union of Health Care Workers; Irene Thompson, resident of San Pablo;
Brenda Bagy, Local One; Eric Zell, Chair of Doctors Medical Center Governing Board; Tom Vaillancourt,
resident of Danville; Maria Sahagun, CNA; Rich Travis; Laura Innocent, Doctors Medical Center (DMC);
Deborah Campbell, Vice-chair West Contra Costa Health District Board; Vince Wells, President Local
Firefighters’ Local 1230.