Politics & Government

Election Reforms: Should It Be Easier To Pass Taxes and Bonds?

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.

In Berkeley, Measures N and O both failed despite getting well more than 50 percent of the vote. The measures would have approved general obligation bonds for city pools and park and recreation programs. Both needed two-thirds votes.

However, Measure M was approved with 73 percent of the vote. It raises $30 million in general obligation bonds for street and infrastructure improvements.

Measure Q also passed with 84 percent. The measure extended the city's 7.5 percent utility users tax. 

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.
The amendments would reverse a portion of Prop. 13, a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1978 that limited property taxes and set the two-thirds requirement for tax measures. 

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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