Pass: 13,393 / 71.36% Yes votes ...... 5,374 / 28.64% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Impartial Analysis from E. CLARKE MOSELEY, City Attorney

MEASURE GG, the “Essential City Services Preservation and Protection Measure”, proposes to raise revenues which may be used for any general municipal purpose, including the funding of essential services such as fire and other emergency response services, pothole repair, street and storm drain maintenance, graffiti removal, on-duty police staffing, street lighting, park maintenance, emergency reserves maintenance and other general city services, by the establishment of a temporary 5-year one half of one percent (1/2%) general transactions (sales) and use tax.

EXEMPTIONS: The proposed (1/2%) tax does not apply to purchases of prescription medications nor does it apply to the purchase of grocery store food items like milk, meat, fish, vegetables, fruit or products made out of any such items, cereals, coffee, sugar, baby food, bread and other bakery products, nuts, condiments, candy, juices, bottled water and the like.

COLLECTION METHOD: The (1/2%) transactions and use tax is paid in addition to the existing sales tax and is collected at the same time and in much the same manner as the existing sales tax. The proposed (1/2%) tax would add approximately 50¢ to a retail purchase of $100 and less for purchases under $100.

NON-RESIDENTS PAY: Non-El Monte residents share in paying the tax for most over-the-counter retail purchases thereby helping to pay for their use of the City’s infrastructure and other services.

OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: Measure GG also provides for the formation of a “Transactions and Use Tax Fiscal Oversight Committee” to analyze and make recommendations as to the annual expenditure of revenues generated by the tax.

REVENUE GENERATED: It is estimated that Measure GG has the potential to generate approximately $4.4 million in revenue per year on average - funds which may be used to rebuild currently depleted emergency reserves while also preserving current infrastructure maintenance levels and other City service levels without more severe maintenance and service level cutbacks.

APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS: Measure GG requires approval by a simple majority of El Monte voters in order to be approved. A “Yes” vote is a vote in favor of approving the measure while a “No” vote is a vote against the approval of the measure.

SUNSET CLAUSE: The tax established under Measure GG is temporary and expires automatically in 5 years. It can only be extended by the holding of a new ballot measure election.

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure GG. If you desire a copy of the measure, please call the El Monte City Clerk at (626) 580-2016 at any time Monday through Thursday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and a copy will be mailed to you at no cost.

Dated: 8-14-2008

City of El Monte

El Monte Political Action Committee

Google News Search

• Links to Online Media