HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07161985 - 2.1 1
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Phil Batchelor, Contra
FROM: County Administrator
Costa
DATE: July 11 , 1985 County
SUBJECT: Santa Barbara County New Oil Tax J'
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION
1 . Accept report concerning progress being made by Santa Barbara County
in establishing a new oil tax on oil processing in that County.
2 . Continue to gather information and conduct research towards implement-
ing a gas and oil tax in Contra Costa County.
BACKGROUND
On April 9, 1985 the Board referred to this office a Cal-Tax News article
relating to Santa Barbara County' s consideration of imposing an oil
processing tax. We have contacted the Office of the County Administrative
Officer in Santa Barbara to obtain more information on this matter.
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has conducted two public
hearings to receive input on establishment of an oil processing tax. The
public testimony was nearly unanimous in its opposition to the concept as
described in the draft ordinance presented at the hearings. On May 28 ,
1985 the Board voted to postpone a decision on putting the tax proposal on
the November, 1985 ballot.
SUMMARY
It appeared to staff of Santa Barbara County that the concept of an oil
processing tax as presented in the draft ordinance would not accomplish the
County' s objectives in view of the anticipated socioeconomic mitigation
program being included as a condition in issuing new development permits.
They anticipate an extremely difficult and costly legal battle with the oil
companies in the event that the voters ever approve an oil tax.
Our office has been informed by a representative of Pacific Gas and
Electric Company that if our County were to implement a gas and oil tax,
P. G. & E. would request permission from the Public Utilities Commission to
increase user charges sufficient to offset P. G. & E. ' s increased costs
resulting from implementation of the tax.
CONCLUSION
It was recommended that the Board of Supervisors in Santa Barbara County
defer the concept of an oil processing tax designed to mitigate the impact
of oil development activities in order to allow sufficient time for the
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: XX YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S) X k�A,,,_
ACTION OF BOARD ON July 16, 1985 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT III, .IV ) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS
ONQTHE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Counsel ATTESTED �_ i- le - 19Z
Clerk Of the Board ~` PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Community Development SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
County Administrator — --- --- ---------- - --
M382/7-83 BY ' DEPUTY
Z.
current socioeconomic impact monitoring system to be implemented and
evaluated. It is felt this is a more direct and defensible method to
produce needed revenues to offset the impact of oil development. If the
socioeconomic system proves to be either too unwieldy, inefficient or
limited in scope, then an oil processing tax could be considered at a later
date.