50429 / 73.9% Yes votes ...... 17848 / 26.1% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Effective this year, the State Legislature amended the California Revenue and Taxation Code to authorize local governments to seek voter approval for an increase in the local transactions and use tax (usually referred to as "sales tax"). Measure W, if approved by the voters, would adopt an ordinance increasing the sales tax by a quarter cent.

Revenue from the tax would be placed into a special account that could be used only to pay for the needs of the Police and Fire Departments, including salaries, equipment, and capital improvements, as provided for in an Expenditure Plan approved by the City Council. The revenue would be split evenly between the departments, although the Council could alter that division as departmental needs change. According to the Program Guidelines approved by the City Council for the use of the tax revenue, the division of funds between the departments would be in the proportion of 50% to Fire and 50% to Police and can never exceed 60% for one and 40% for the other. In addition, the City would hire an independent auditor to review revenue and expenditure annually to ensure that funds are used solely for public safety services as provided for in the Expenditure Plan, and that the City complies with established accounting regulations and practices. Pursuant to the Guidelines, the City would also establish a Citizens' Oversight Committee to provide additional independent review of revenue and expenditures. Every five years, the City Council would review the use of revenue from the tax and report on its effect on the provision of police and fire protection services.

A "yes" vote for Measure W is a vote to adopt the ordinance increasing the local transaction and use tax by one-quarter of one cent. A "no" vote is a vote against adopting the ordinance.

To pass, two-thirds of the votes cast on Measure W must be "yes" votes.

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure W. you desire a copy of Measure W, please call the Stockton City Clerk's office at (209) 937-8459, and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.

YES on W increases the number of firefighters by 40, 20 of which are paramedics. Medical experts agree that during a medical emergency, the brain starts deteriorating after five minutes. Fire experts agree a home fire can double in size every 30 seconds.

YES on W puts 40 more police officers on our streets to prevent gang and drug-related crimes in our community.

YES on W expands neighborhood-based policing to make our schools and parks safe.

YES on W addresses the drug problem in Stockton and provides for more prevention programs to keep our youth off drugs.

YES on W helps stem the growing problem of crime in our schools by increasing the number of officers. Protecting our children must be a top priority.

YES on W improves 9-1-1 response times to medical emergencies and fires, when a few seconds can mean the difference between life and death.

YES on W ensures strong fiscal accountability, through annual, independent audits and the fiscal oversight of a Citizens' Oversight Committee. The Measure also specifies that the funds would be exclusively used for frontline police and fire efforts.

YES on W allows citizens to have local control over public safety funding, assuring the protection of our community.

Vote YES on W.

Submitted by:
Committee for a Safer Neighborhood Police/Fire Measure
/s/ Edward Chavez, Former Chief of Police and Mayor-elect
/s/ Patricia Busher, Principal with Stockton Unified School District
/s/ Norah Lamond, Nurse
/s/ Gordon W. Gray, Stockton Police Officers Association
/s/ Gregory Biddle, Stockton Professional Firefighters Association

(No arguments against Measure W were submitted)