State of California

Proposition 2 - Authorizes Bonds for Public School and Community College Facilities

Proposition 3 - Constitutional Right to Marriage

Proposition 4 - Authorizes Bonds for Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, and Protecting Communities and Natural Lands from Climate Risks

Proposition 5 - Allows Local Bonds for Affordable Housing and Public Infrastructure with 55% Voter Approval

Proposition 6 - Eliminates Constitutional Provision Allowing Involuntary Servitude for Incarcerated Persons

Proposition 32 - Raises Minimum Wage

Proposition 33 - Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property

Proposition 34 - Restricts Spending on Prescription Drug Revenues by Certain Health Care Providers

Proposition 35 - Provides Permanent Funding for Medi-Cal Health Care Services

Proposition 36 - Allows Felony Charges and Increases Sentences for Certain Drug and Theft Crimes

County of San Diego

 

Measure G - Fund Transportation, Infrastructure, and Safety Projects through a Half-Cent Sales Tax

City of San Diego

 
Measure C - Eliminate primary elections for members of the Board of Education for the San Diego Unified School District if two or fewer candidates qualify

Measure D - Strengthen the Independence of the Ethics Commission

Measure E - City of San Diego Sales Tax Increase

Other Cities

The following measures have not been analyzed by the LWV of San Diego:

Measure H - Development of recreational facility located in The Farm (Poway)

Measure J -  El Cajon Critical Services Measure (El Cajon)

Measure L - Measure Protecting La Mesa Essential Services without Increasing Tax Rates (La Mesa)

Measure P - Renewing half-cent transactions and use tax (Chula Vista)

Measure R - Special Parcel Tax (National City)

Measure S - Enacting a Half Cent Special Sales Tax for Fifteen Years to Support Fire Protection and Emergency Response Facilities and Services (Santee)

Measure T - One cent sales tax funding for city services (Lemon Grove)

For information on North County ballot measures, visit LWVNCSD.org.

How to evaluate tax measures

Many cities have ballot measures to raise or to retain a tax (sales, parcel, transaction and use tax). To evaluate the merits of the increase, voters need to assess the financial situation of the city, including how much debt the city has as well as how strong the financial reserves are. 

 

The current statewide sales tax is 7.25% of which 6.25%  goes to Sacramento, and 1% stays with the
local jurisdiction. San Diego County also has a half cent Transnet surcharge sales tax used for transportation projects.

In California, certain items are not subject to the sales and use tax – food; health-related items (professional services, prescription medicines); housing; general public activities such as museums, non-profit educational or religious organizations. Diapers and menstrual hygiene products are exempted.

 

Another question is whether the type of tax is appropriate. A sales tax is more regressive than an income tax, as it affects low income people more. The city may not have many choices about ways to raise income as property taxes have limited increases due to Proposition 13.

 

Is the tax permanent or does it “sunset” after a limited number of years ? Would this give taxpayers more control and accountability? 

What are the services or facilities that the tax would fund?  Is the tax earmarked for specific use or will it go into the general fund?  How important is the social need for those services or facilities?