41,315 / 70.2% Yes votes ...... 17,513 / 29.8% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

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Under the ordinance, 40% of the tax revenues must be used for Police purposes and, with certain possible exceptions during fiscal years 2004-2007, must be specifically used for the following: police patrol and traffic control services; gang enforcement, school resource services, and bicycle patrols; Downtown, Railroad Square and Prince Greenway police services; and police support services, including facilities and equipment.

40% of the tax revenues must be used for Fire Department purposes, and, with the exceptions applicable to Police revenues, must be specifically used for the following: hiring additional firefighters; establishment of additional Fire Department paramedic units; and construction and relocation of fire stations and the purchase of specialized equipment for Fire Department use.

The remaining 20% of the tax revenues must be used for gang prevention and youth programs, and, with the exceptions applicable to Police revenues, must be specifically used for the following: improving in-school gang prevention and intervention programs; adding new programs in neighborhoods affected by high levels of gang activity, which emphasize, among other things, community safety; providing additional after-school and summer programs which, among other things, stress academic and social success; providing grants to organizations for youth and parenting programs which, among other things, focus on gang and antiviolence education. Tax revenues for gang prevention and youth programs may be used for new focus areas and providing new programs within existing focus areas under the City's Neighborhood Revitalization Program.

Because of State revenue reductions to cities, the ordinance authorizes the Council to use a portion of the tax revenues to fund nine police officer positions and two Fire Department emergency response companies, but only during the current and next fiscal year. Should the State fail to reinstate certain lost and borrowed revenues owed to cities, the Council may also use tax revenues to fund these positions in fiscal year 2006-2007. The ordinance requires that, during the continuation of the tax, the City's annual funding of the Police and Fire Departments and gang prevention and youth programs may not be below the funding of those uses and purposes approved in the City's budget, as adopted on June 17, 2004, adjusted annually by changes in the area's cost of living index, unless a lower level of funding is approved by the affirmative vote of six Council Members.

The tax terminates 20 years from its effective date.

Ordinance 3680 should be reviewed for details on the tax, particularly City Code sections 3-26.120 and 3-26.160.

s/ Brien J. Farrell
City Attorney

Forum

• Monday, October 4, 7:45pm, Santa Rosa City Council Chambers, 100 Santa Rosa Ave
• Taped Rebroadcasts (Measures M and O)
  On Community Access Channel 70 10/6 at 11pm; 10/9 at 9:00pm; 10/10 at 12:30pm; 10/11 at 7pm; 10/16 at 9:00pm; 10/17 at 12:30pm. Taped Rebroadcasts
  On Community Access Channel 72 10/5 at 9:30pm; 10/8 at 1:30pm; 10/12 at 9:30pm; 10/15 at 1:30pm; 10/19 at 9:30pm; 10/22 at 1:30pm; 10/26 at 9:30pm.

The City of Santa Rosa is facing a serious Public Safety crisis. It is a crisis brought about by the State Legislature's taking away your tax dollars to balance its budget, by increased demand for fire and emergency services, and by increased criminal activity.

Auto thefts and domestic violence incidents have increased. Gang incidents have nearly quadrupled + with three gang related homicides already this year. The Police Department has been forced to eliminate 18 positions including the Neighborhood and Downtown Enforcement Teams, Career Criminal Apprehension, and Investigative Support Section which targets gang and narcotics problems.

Medical emergencies are up. Emergency incident calls alone have increased from an average of 6,000 per year in 1983 to 16,970 in 2003.

Under the current budget the Fire Department has eliminated programs, staff positions, equipment and supplies, and discontinued fire apparatus replacement. Additionally, one fire engine company, one ladder truck & rescue company, and nine firefighter positions are scheduled to be cut.

We are in this crisis because the State Legislature has taken $3,600,000 each year from Santa Rosa for the last ten years to balance its budget, The effectiveness of our Police and Fire Departments will dramatically decline, unless we create a revenue source the Legislature cannot raid.

Measure O imposes a 1/4 of a cent sales tax on anyone who spends money in Santa Rosa over the next 20 years. It can only be used for fire, police and gang-prevention related programs. Measure O requires a citizens' oversight committee to ensure the revenue is not diverted and is spent correctly.

When we tax ourselves the Legislature cannot take it from us. Voting for Measure O can ensure thatwe will have adequate police and fire protection now and in the future.

Vote Yes on Measure O

s/ Janet Condron
Santa Rosa Councilmember

s/ Carol Dean
West Side Neighborhood Advocate

s/ Edwin F. Flint
Police Chief, Santa Rosa

s/ Bruce H. Varner
Fire Chief, Santa Rosa

s/ Mark Ihde
Sonoma County Sheriff-Retired

Councilwoman Condron has a lot of nerve endorsing this tax considering what she has done while in office. She is the type that would hand out subsidies until we are bankrupt. In 2002 she endorsed Proposition 46, a $2 billion state bond issue which put the state deeper into debt so that people like her could give out more subsidies.

We suggest voters get rid of all incumbent council members who are up for reelection. The behavior of Mr. Martini has been particularly egregious.

REDWOOD EMPIRE TAX COMMITTEE
s/ William W. Pisenti, President

One thing we should keep in mind is that the sales tax is a regressive tax. It hits the moderate and lower income working people the hardest. To increase it would provide a net benefit to the wealthy among us and would be the poorest of public policies. If anything the sales tax should be lowered to 5%like it was not that long ago.

This is all part of the larger liberal scheme. First, they aggressively increase spending on social programs, entitlements and government subsidies of all kinds. Then, when the money runs out they threaten the public with layoffs of teachers, police and firefighters unless new taxes are approved.We suggest voters not be taken for suckers. Reject this tax and instead get rid of the public officials who waste our money.

There is a lack of accountability in local government and much of what goes on is an affront to common sense. We see government subsidies and/or fee deferrals being provided for everything from apartment buildings to luxury hotels and office buildings. We see taxpayer money given to the Catholic Church so they can baby-sit shiftless drunks in new multimillioin dollar homeless facilities.

One of the most damning disclosures came when the city manager revealed a multimillion dollar Community Development Department subsidy. Permit fees charged developers were set so artificially low that the cost of processing the permits by the department was not recovered. About $5 million in tax dollars including sales tax money was used to make up the deficit incurred. Effectively ordinary taxpayers were subsidizing large development interests. It is precisely this type of behavior that makes these elected officials unworthy of any tax increases.

REDWOOD EMPIRE TAX COMMITTEE
s/ William W. Pisenti, President

This crisis has occurred because the State Legislature has taken 36 million from the City of Santa Rosa in the last ten years to balance its budget.

The Police Department has been forced to eliminate 18 positions including the Neighborhood and Downtown Enforcement Teams, Career Criminal Apprehension, and Investigative Support Section which targets gang and narcotics problems.

Under the current budget the Fire Department has eliminated programs, staff positions, equipment and supplies, and discontinued fire apparatus replacement. Additionally, one fire engine company, one ladder truck/rescue company, and nine firefighter positions are scheduled to be cut.

Measure O adds a 1/4 of a cent sales tax to goods purchased in Santa Rosa by anyone over the next 20 years. It can only be used for fire, police and gang-prevention related programs. Measure O requires a citizens' oversight committee to ensure the revenue is not diverted and is spent correctly.

The effectiveness of our Police and Fire Departments will dramatically decline, unless we create a revenue source the Legislature cannot raid.

When we tax ourselves the Legislature cannot take it from us. Voting for Measure O can ensure thatwe will have adequate police and fire protection now and in the future.

Vote Yes on Measure O
s/ Bill Carle
Santa Rosa School Board

s/ Donna M. Zapata
Latino Community Leader

s/ Rev. James E. Coffee
Pastor, Community Leader

s/ Jack Macy, Chair
Santa Rosa Chamber