103,292 / 31.9% Yes votes ...... 220,712 / 68.1% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Proceeds from the tax would be allocated to the County of Sacramento and the cities of Sacramento, Folsom, Citrus Heights, Galt, and Isleton on the basis of the current monthly base sales tax allocation to each jurisdiction by the State Board of Equalization, and adjustable quarterly based on actual total quarterly allocation of base sales taxes. Revenue derived through passage of Measure M would be general purpose funds, expendable in conformity with the discretionary budget powers of the governing board of each recipient jurisdiction. Measure M also provides for establishment of an advisory committee by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. The advisory committee would be charged with completion of an annual audit and published report on the manner of expenditure of proceeds generated by the tax.

Measure M requires approval by a majority vote of the qualified voters of the County of Sacramento voting in the election on the issue.

Measure M will ensure we keep the expanded law enforcement that has cut crime rates throughout the city and county.

Thanks to federal grants, our community-oriented policing program has put over 300 additional officers on the streets. Today, you see police and sheriff's deputies at our schools, in community services centers and working neighborhood "beats" - not just in response to 911 calls.

Crime has been cut 15% in the City of Sacramento and 6% in the county thanks to these additional officers. Related community partnerships have driven out drug dealers, cleaned up abandoned cars and neglected buildings and eliminated other nuisances that destroy property values.

But our success can't continue without Measure M. The Legislature has siphoned $110 million from local cities and the county for state operations. Over the past seven years, local officials have cut spending by $151 million and sharply curtailed many programs.

So far, we've avoided cutting law enforcement. With federal grants about to expire, however, those 300 positions may be cut.

Vote Yes on Measure M to prevent reduction of police and sheriff's services in our neighborhoods.

Vote Yes on Measure M to support fire services throughout Sacramento County.

Vote Yes on Measure M to provide a higher level of protection for at-risk children.

Vote Yes on Measure M because it protects taxpayers: It expires in six years. It tells local officials we want our money spent on public safety. It requires money to be spent where it's collected, ensuring all communities get their fair share. It requires annual publication of an independent audit of how the money is spent.

Business leaders, church and neighborhood groups, labor unions and community leaders all ask you to keep Sacramento safe. Vote Yes on Measure M.

s/Greta Cannon
Former Chair,
Sacramento County Commission on Aging

s/Roy E. Brewer
Former President,
Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

s/Glen Craig
Sheriff of Sacramento County

s/Shirley Johnson
President of
Colonial Park Arts and Recreation Effort

s/John McGinness
President,
Volunteers in Victim Assistance

Measure M is a $30,000,000 tax increase for general fund spending--pure and simple.

Measure M is not needed. Existing property tax and sales tax revenues are way up and welfare spending is way down. Instead of asking for a tax increase, why doesn't government start being more efficient with the money it has?

Measure M is bad for Sacramento's economy! That's why business organizations and small business owners oppose Measure M. The negative impact on the local economy is also why the Folsom City Council passed a resolution opposing the tax.

Measure M will make Sacramento's tax the third highest in the state! Even worse, it will raise the sales tax rate in Sacramento County to 8%--a half percent higher than every other surrounding county. Businesses, and the jobs they bring to the community, will locate outside Sacramento.

Measure M does nothing to reduce government waste and mismanagement. It does nothing to reduce crime. It does nothing to improve our economy.

That's why taxpayers Oppose Measure M.

Raising taxes is not the answer! Vote No on Measure M!

s/Jonathan Coupal
Director of Legal Affairs,
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

s/Joe Sullivan
Executive Director,
Sacramento County Taxpayers League

s/John Biermans
Small Business Owner

s/Ted Costa
CEO,
People's Advocate Inc.

s/Felicia Elkinson
President,
Council of Sacramento Senior Organizations

Let's look at the facts. In 1993, the politicians begged us to increase the sales tax for more law enforcement. We agreed. Proposition 172 raises over $50 Million for the county each year. Now the politicians want more. Measure M asks for yet another sales tax increase - a staggering $30 Million annually.

Where will the money go? No one knows! Measure M provides no guarantee that the money will be used for any specific program - not cops, not schools. What we do know is that the tax increase will go into local government's general funds. The politicians say that they will decide how to spend the money after the election!

Does the county need the money? No. Every government bureaucracy pleads poverty. But Sacramento County holds a multi-million dollar reserve. More important, the politicians have refused to stop illegal taxes and excess fees. In this era of surpluses (the State of California has a $4.4 billion dollar surplus), it makes no sense to raise taxes. That's why measure M is opposed by Paul Gann's Citizens Committee and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Will a tax increase hurt the Sacramento economy? Yes. If measure M passes, Sacramento County will have the third-highest tax rate in the state. More important, the tax rate will be higher than other surrounding counties, driving away some businesses and deterring new businesses from coming to Sacramento.

The Sacramento Bee calls Measure M a "flawed tax-hike proposal." Seniors oppose Measure M because sales tax increases hit seniors on fixed incomes especially hard.

Who supports Measure M? Politicians.

Remember, you have no guarantee that your higher taxes will go towards law enforcement. Measure M is a blank check with no guarantees - vote No.

s/Jonathan Coupal
Director of Legal Affairs,
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

s/Joe Sullivan
Executive Director,
Sacramento County Taxpayers League

s/John Biermans
Small Business Owner

s/Ted Costa
CEO,
People's Advocate Inc.

s/Felicia Elkinson
President,
Council of Sacramento Senior Organizations

The choice is simple.

If Measure M fails, Sacramento city and county will lose funding for 341 sheriff's deputies and police officers.

s/Arturo Venegas, Jr.
Chief of Police, City of Sacramento

s/Glen Craig
Sheriff of Sacramento County