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San Francisco committee forwards 0.5% sales-tax ballot measure to fund public safety programs for children and seniors
Summary
The Budget and Finance Committee voted to forward an amended ordinance placing a half-of-one-percent (0.5%) local sales-and-use tax on the Nov. 8, 2011 ballot to create a special revenue fund for public safety programs serving children and senior citizens; the committee advanced the measure to the full Board without objection.
The Budget and Finance Committee advanced an ordinance on a 0.5% local sales-and-use tax to the full Board on Tuesday, directing that the measure be placed on the Nov. 8, 2011 municipal ballot to fund public safety programs and services for children and senior citizens in the City and County of San Francisco.
The measure would add Article 16(a) to the San Francisco Business and Tax Regulations Code, create a special revenue fund and add Administrative Code section 10.100.321. The ordinance directs the State Board of Equalization to administer the tax in accordance with parts 1.6 and 1.7 of Division 2 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code. The clerk read the ordinance to the committee before members debated next steps.
"This proposal, as you know, emerged from the discussions around our five-year financial plan," Greg Wagner, the Mayor's Budget Director, told the committee, saying the measure is intended as part of a strategy to restore long-term fiscal stability. Wagner said the amendments made by the committee were designed to ensure that, combined with any state sales-tax actions, San Francisco's sales-tax rate through the five-year planning horizon would not exceed the level in effect prior to July 1.
Chair Carmen Chu summarized the proposal's scope and timeline during committee discussion, and described the measure in the transcript as "a $0.05 sales tax" while also noting the ordinance text read by the clerk describes a "half of 1%" tax; the ordinance language specifies a half of one percent (0.5%) for a period of 10 years. Greg Wagner confirmed the measure would extend for 10 years.
The clerk opened the item for public comment; no members of the public signed up to speak and public comment was closed. An unidentified committee member who introduced the amendments moved to advance the item with a recommendation. Chair Chu said the committee could send the amended ordinance to the full Board "without objection," and the item was forwarded as a committee report to the Board meeting scheduled for the same day.
If the full Board approves the ordinance for the ballot, the measure will appear for voter consideration at the Nov. 8, 2011 municipal election. The committee record notes the measure is intended to fund public safety programs and services targeted to children and senior citizens; specifics of the expenditure plan were described as part of the ordinance text and would be implemented through the special revenue fund if approved by voters.
Clerk Victor Young and staff from SFGTV were present for the special meeting, and the committee adjourned after advancing the item.
