League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Mendocino County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Measure C County Vital Services Transactions and Use Tax County of Mendocino County Ordinance - Majority Approval Required Fail: 8983 / 30.23% Yes votes ...... 20735 / 69.77% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure C

Arguments Against Measure C

Vote YES on Measure C to protect and maintain vital public services in Mendocino County. A YES vote on Measure C will provide critically needed local funds to pay for vital services, including public safety, libraries, roads, and local programs to help our senior citizens, children, and the disabled. With the economic recession, local revenues have fallen dramatically. Continuing State budget cuts, State takings of local funds and partisan gridlock in Sacramento threaten our ability to provide essential public services. Vote YES on Measure C to protect local public safety services. When you call 911 you expect a response, but our local first responders are struggling to provide the vital services we all depend on. Vote YES on Measure C to protect public health services. State cutbacks have targeted services to the most vulnerable members of our society + seniors, children and the disabled + making it harder to provide services at a time when more and more people need a helping hand. Vote YES on Measure C to protect Mendocino County libraries. Libraries and the bookmobile are local community centers for broadband, culture, literacy and learning. Measure C will help protect our local quality of life and will assure that visitors and residents alike pay for vital county services, including roads and public safety. It is only right that visitors pay their fair share in maintaining services and keeping our county safe and desirable as a destination. Most importantly, Measure C will provide a source of local revenue that Sacramento politicians can not touch.. By law, every dollar raised from Measure C will be spent locally to provide critically needed local public services Vote YES on Measure C to fund vital Mendocino County services. Vote YES on Measure C to protect our children, seniors and the disabled. Please vote YES on Measure C for a better future for Mendocino County! s/ Carre Brown Chair, Mendocino County Board of Supervisors s/ Daniel Edwards President, Mendocino County Deputy Sheriff's Association s/ Cathy Frey Executive Director, Alliance for Rural Community Health s/ Jim Hurst Fort Bragg Businessman / Community Volunteer s/ Roger Adamson Treasurer, Friends of the Willits Library Rebuttal to Arguments For Vote NO on Measure C + Mendocino County's "Pension Bailout Tax" Proponents blame everyone but the County, but ours is the most indebted County per resident in California. Interest expense consumes more of our County's budget than in any other County. Almost all our County's $400 million debt (as of last reports) is caused by gross mismanagement of retirement benefits. It's this entirely avoidable self-created debt that's destroying County services. Our County should stop going deeper into debt. But instead officials want us to pay more taxes. Measure C Won't Fund Services. Proponents say "by law, every dollar raised by Measure C will be spent (on) services". That's shameful! Proponents know the law says no such thing. County debt payments will increase from $10 million to $20 million in five years + 90% to pay pensions. Measure C will bail out pension debt + not produce services. This isn't Liberal v. Conservative. We all expect our County to fulfill four financial duties: Tell us the truth, be competent and transparent, protect our County's financial strength, and don't force unfair burdens on the kids. Measure C fails those duties. Tough Love. Measure C does nothing about our real problem. Most County officials deny reality and are creating massive pension debt. Measure C's main result would be to let this continue. A NO Vote on Measure C says "County + tell us how you'll stop creating debt + it can be done! Then we'll talk about taxes". See http://www.YourPublicMoney.Com for more information. s/ John G. Dickerson MBA, Financial Analyst, YourPublicMoney.Com, Redwood Valley s/ Ted Stephens MBA-Finance & Masters Tax, Financial and Retirement Planner, Yorkville s/ Deborah H. White MS Statistics, Professor of Mathematics + Mendocino College, Ukiah s/ Paul Dolan Partner, Mendocino Wine Company, Hopland s/ Marie Eggers (Gilardin) Producer + "Time of Useful Consciousness" Radio, Public & Community Radio, Greenfield Ranch

At a time when working families and seniors on fixed incomes are struggling to make ends meet the County wants more of your money! In addition to one fee increase after another, they now want to increase the sales tax to almost 10%. Mendocino County's problem is not a shortage of revenue. It is too much spending, poor decision making, no planning, and a lack of accountability! Where will the money go? Proponents say this tax increase will preserve "vital services". It won't. There is nothing in this measure that guarantees how the extra money would be spent. The County owes $200 million because of mismanagement of its Pension Fund. It shouldn't owe a dime. County debt payments will increase $10 million over the next 5 years because of this mismanagement. That's where your increased taxes would go. It isn't fair to raise taxes paid by private sector workers to pay County salaries and retirements that are much more than their own. The County refuses to be accountable for this mess and clean it up. Until they do they don't deserve another dime. s/ Margie Handley President, Employer's Council of Mendocino County Rebuttal to Arguments Against Don't be fooled! A YES vote on Measure C will provide critically needed local funds to pay for local services. Measure C is a prudent response to protect our rural quality of life in the face of cutbacks to vital services forced by the recession, state budget cuts and state raids on local funds. Without Measure C we will see further reductions in local services and even deeper cuts to the programs we all depend on. A YES vote on Measure C will provide funding for public safety, libraries, roads and local programs that help our senior citizens, children, and the disabled. Retirement funds nationwide, including Mendocino County, have suffered losses but Mendocino County rates favorably with comparable jurisdictions. Mendocino County is acting responsibly + with over a 13% reduction in workforce and 10-16% permanent salary cuts for all Department Head and Management positions. Retirement benefits trail most California counties. Retirement funds are cautiously invested and managed. Measure C will help protect public safety, road funding and public health programs, including vital mental health services that have been cut to dangerous levels. Critics want to punish "the County" + but cuts to vital services hurt everyone. Vote YES on Measure C to provide local funding for local programs. By law, every dollar raised by Measure C must be spent locally for vital public services. Vote YES on Measure C to protect core services you expect from your local government + public safety + public health + safe roads. Measure C is necessary to protect our quality of life. Please support your community + VOTE YES on MEASURE C s/ Tom Allman Sheriff, Mendocino County s/ Camille Schrader Executive Director, Redwood Children's Services Inc. s/ Jim Hurst Fort Bragg Businessman / County Volunteer s/ Pearl R. Watts Past President, Friends of Coast Community Library s/ Cathy Frey Executive Director, Alliance for Rural Community Health

Full Text of Measure C

COUNTY OF MENDOCINO VITAL SERVICES TRANSACTIONS (SALES) AND USE TAX ORDINANCE ORDINANCE NO.4266 ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 5.160 OF TITLE 5 TO THE MENDOCINO COUNTY CODE IMPOSING A COUNTY VITAL SERVICES TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX Section 5.160.030. Purpose. This ordinance is adopted to achieve the following, general purposes, and directs that the provisions hereof be interpreted in order to accomplish those purposes: 1. To impose a retail transactions and use tax in accordance with the provisions of Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code and Section 7285 of Part 1.7 of Division 2 that authorize the County to adopt this tax ordinance which shall be operative if a majority of the electors voting on the measure vote to approve the imposition of the tax at an election called for that purpose. 2. To enact a retail transactions and use tax ordinance that incorporates provisions identical to those of the Sales and Use Tax Law of the State of California insofar as those provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements and limitations contained in Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. 3. To enact a retail transactions and use tax ordinance that imposes a tax and provides a measure therefore that can be administered and collected by the State Board of Equalization in a manner that adapts itself as fully as practicable to, and requires the least possible deviation from, the existing statutory and administrative procedures followed by the State Board of Equalization in administering and collecting the California State Sales and Use Taxes. 4. To enact a retail transactions and use tax ordinance that can be administered in a manner that will be, to the greatest degree possible, consistent with the provisions of Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, minimize the cost of collecting the transactions and use taxes, and at the same time, minimize the burden of record keeping upon persons subject to taxation under the provisions of this ordinance. Section 5.160.040. Contract With State. Prior to the operative date, the County shall contract with the State Board of Equalization to perform all functions incident to the administration and operation of this transactions and use tax ordinance; provided, that is the County shall not have contracted with the State Board of Equalization prior to the operative date, it shall nevertheless so contract and in such a case the operative date shall be the first day of the first calendar quarter following the execution of such a contract. Section 5.160.050. Transactions Tax Rate. For the privilege of selling tangible personal property at retail, a tax is hereby imposed upon all retailers in the incorporated and unincorporated territory of the County at the rate of one-half cent (0.5%) of the gross receipts of any retailer from the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail in said territory on and after the operative date of this ordinance. Section 5.160.060. Place of Sale. A. For the purposes of this ordinance, all retail sales are consummated at the place of business of the retailer unless the tangible personal property sold is delivered by the retailer or his agent to an out-of-state destination or to a common carrier for delivery to an out-of-state destination. The gross receipts from such sales shall include delivery charges, when such charges are subject to the state sales and use tax, regardless of the place to which delivery is made. B. In the event a retailer has no permanent place of business in the State or has more than one place of business, the place or places at which the retail sales are consummated shall be determined under rules and regulations to be prescribed and adopted by the State Board of Equalization Section 5.160.070. Use Tax Rate. An excise tax is hereby imposed on the storage, use or other consumption in the County of tangible personal property purchased from any retailer on and after the operative date of this ordinance for storage, use or other consumption in said territory at the rate of onehalf cent (0.5%) of the sales price of the property. The sales price shall include delivery charges when such charges are subject to state sales or use tax regardless of the place to which delivery is made. Section 5.160.080. Adoption of Provisions Of State Law. Except as otherwise provided in this ordinance and except insofar as they are inconsistent with the provisions of Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, all of the provisions of Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code are hereby adopted and made a part of this ordinance as though fully set forth herein. Section 5.160.090. Limitations On Adoption Of State Law And Collection Of Use Taxes. In adopting the provisions of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code: A. Wherever the State of California is named or referred to as the taxing agency, the name of this County shall be substituted therefor. However, the substitution shall not be made when: 1. The word "State" is used as a part of the title of the State Controller, State Treasurer, State Board of Control, State Board of Equalization, State Treasury, or the Constitution of the State of California; 2. The result of that substitution would require action to be taken by or against this County or any agency, officer, or employee thereof rather than by or against the State Board of Equalization, in performing the functions incident to the administration or operation of this Ordinance. 3. In those sections, including, but not necessarily limited to sections referring to the exterior boundaries of the State of California, where the result of the substitution would be to: (a.) Provide an exemption from this tax with this tax with respect to certain sales, storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property which would not otherwise be exempt from this tax while such sales, storage, use or other consumption remain subject to tax by the State under the provisions of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, or; (b.) Impose this tax with respect to certain sales, storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property which would not be subject to tax by the state under the said provision of that code. 4. In Sections 6701, 6702 (except in the last sentence thereof), 6711, 6715, 6737, 6797 or 6828 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. B. The word "County" shall be substituted for the word "State" in the phrase "retailer engaged in business in this State" in Section 6203 and in the definition of that phrase in Section 6203. Section 5.160.100. Permit Not Required. If a seller's permit has been issued to a retailer under Section 6067 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, an additional transactor's permit shall not be required by this ordinance. Section 5.160.110. Exemptions And Exclusions. A. There shall be excluded from the measure of the transactions tax and the use tax the amount of any sales tax or use tax imposed by the State of California or by any city, city and county, or county pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law or the amount of any state-administered transactions or use tax. B. There are exempted from the computation of the amount of transactions tax the gross receipts from: 1. Sales of tangible personal property, other than fuel or petroleum products, to operators of aircraft to be used or consumed principally outside the County in which the sale is made and directly and exclusively in the use of such aircraft as common carriers of persons or property under the authority of the laws of this State, the United States, or any foreign government. 2. Sales of property to be used outside the County which is shipped to a point outside the County, pursuant to the contract of sale, by delivery to such point by the retailer or his agent, or by delivery by the retailer to a carrier for shipment to a consignee at such point. For the purposes of this paragraph, delivery to a point outside the County shall be satisfied: (a.) With respect to vehicles (other than commercial vehicles) subject to registration pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, aircraft licensed in compliance with Section 21411 of the Public Utilities Code, and undocumented vessels registered under Division 3.5 (commencing with Section 9840) of the Vehicle Code by registration to an out-of- County address and by a declaration under penalty of perjury, signed by the buyer, stating that such address is, in fact, his or her principal place of residence; and (b.) With respect to commercial vehicles, by registration to a place of business out-of+County and declaration under penalty of perjury, signed by the buyer, that the vehicle will be operated from that address. 3. The sale of tangible personal property if the seller is obligated to furnish the property for a fixed price pursuant to a contract entered into prior to the operative date of this ordinance. 4. A lease of tangible personal property which is a continuing sale of such property, for any period of time for which the lessor is obligated to lease the property for an amount fixed by the lease prior to the operative date of this ordinance. 5. For the purposes of subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this section, the sale or lease of tangible personal property shall be deemed not to be obligated pursuant to a contract or lease for any period of time for which any party to the contract or lease has the unconditional right to terminate the contract or lease upon notice, whether or not such right is exercised. C. There are exempted from the use tax imposed by this ordinance, the storage, use or other consumption in this County of tangible personal property: 1. The gross receipts from the sale of which have been subject to a transactions tax under any state-administered transactions and use tax ordinance. 2. Other than fuel or petroleum products purchased by operators of aircraft and used or consumed by such operators directly and exclusively in the use of such aircraft as common carriers of persons or property for hire or compensation under a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued pursuant to the laws of this State, the United States, or any foreign government. This exemption is in addition to the exemptions provided in Sections 6366 and 6366.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the State of California. 3. If the purchaser is obligated to purchase the property for a fixed price pursuant to a contract entered into prior to the operative date of this ordinance. 4. If the possession of, or the exercise of any right or power over, the tangible personal property arises under a lease which is a continuing purchase of such property for any period of time for which the lessee is obligated to lease the property for an amount fixed by a lease prior to the operative date of this ordinance. 5. For the purposes of subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this section, storage, use, or other consumption, or possession of, or exercise of any right or power over, tangible personal property shall be deemed not to be obligated pursuant to a contract or lease for any period of time for which any party to the contract or lease has the unconditional right to terminate the contract or lease upon notice, whether or not such right is exercised. 6. Except as provided in subparagraph (7), a retailer engaged in business in the County shall not be required to collect use tax from the purchaser of tangible personal property, unless the retailer ships or delivers the property into the County or participates within the County in making the sale of the property, including, but not limited to, soliciting or receiving the order, either directly or indirectly, at a place of business of the retailer in the County or through any representative, agent, canvasser, solicitor, subsidiary, or person in the County under the authority of the retailer. 7. "A retailer engaged in business in the County" shall also include any retailer of any of the following: vehicles subject to registration pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, aircraft licensed in compliance with Section 21411 of the Public Utilities Code, or undocumented vessels registered under Division 3.5 (commencing with Section 9840) of the Vehicle Code. That retailer shall be required to collect use tax from any purchaser who registers or licenses the vehicle, vessel, or aircraft at an address in the County. D. Any person subject to use tax under this ordinance may credit against that tax any transactions tax or reimbursement for transactions tax paid to a County imposing, or retailer liable for transactions tax pursuant to Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code with respect to the sale to the person of the property the storage, use or other consumption of which is subject to the use tax. Section 5.160.120. Amendments. All amendments subsequent to the effective date of this ordinance to Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code relating to sales and use taxes and which are not inconsistent with Part 1.6 and Part 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and all amendments to Part 1.6 and Part 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, shall automatically become a part of this ordinance, provided however, that no such amendment shall operate so as to affect the rate of tax imposed by this ordinance. Section 5.160.130. Enjoining Collection Forbidden. No injunction or writ of mandate or other legal or equitable process shall issue in any suit, action or proceeding in any court against the State or the County, or against any officer of the Sate or the County, to prevent or enjoin the collection under this ordinance, or Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, of any tax or any amount of tax required to be collected. Section 5.160.140. Ability to Share Tax Revenue. Nothing in this ordinance shall prohibit the County from entering into agreements with the Cities of Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Willits, and Point Arena to share a percentage of the increase of the voter approved tax proceeds. Section 5.160.150. Severability. If any provision of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. Section 5.160.160. Sunset. The Tax imposed by this Chapter shall be imposed for ten years from the Operative Date of the tax as set forth in this ordinance and, thereafter, shall no longer be imposed. Section 5.160.170. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption by the Board, or upon adoption by a majority vote of the electorate."