Politics & Government
Election Reforms: Should It Be Easier To Pass Taxes and Bonds?
Two proposed amendments to the state Constitution would lower voter thresholds on funding measures
Counties, special districts and other agencies may find it easier to pass funding measures if two proposed amendments to the state Constitution move forward.
The proposals would lower the threshold of votes required to approve bonds and special taxes from two-thirds to 55 percent.
Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 passed the state Assembly on Saturday with a 54-25 vote. ACA 8 would let communities pass infrastructure bond measures with the same 55 majority that now applies to school bonds.
The state Senate will take up ACA 11 on Wednesday. It would make similar changes to the votes required to pass special taxes.
The changes are inspired, in part, by the narrow failure of Measure J in Los Angeles last year. It would have continued a half-cent sales tax that pays for transit improvements, but fell just short of the required two-thirds vote with 66.11 percent of voters in favor of the measure.
In Alameda County, Measure B1 failed in November 2012 despite getting more than 65 percent of the vote. The measure would have hiked the county sales tax to raise $8 billion over 30 years for transportation projects.
In that same election, Measure A1 also failed with almost 63 percent of the vote. The county-wide parcel tax would have raised $112 million over 25 years for the Oakland Zoo.
Piedmont voters, however, approved Measure Y in November with 68 percent of the vote. It needed 66.7 percent to pass. The measure extended for another four years a parcel tax that has been in existence since 1980.
Voters in the Oakland Unified School District also approved Measure J with 84 percent of the vote. It needed 55 percent to pass. The measure allows the district to sell $475 million in bonds to pay for school improvements.
ACA 8 and 11 would include new accountability actions for local bond and revenue measures, according to the California Special Districts Association. These are the requirements:
- Specify all purposes of tax proceeds to voters;
- Include annual independent audits of the proceeds collected and programs funded;
- Establish a citizens’ oversight committee to review all expenditures and financial audits.
If approved by the Senate, the constitutional changes would then go on the ballot for California voters to decide on.
What do you think? Should it be easier to pass bonds and special taxes for roads, bridges, sewers and fire stations?
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