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Measure O
City of Albany – Requirement to Zoning Changes Measure
Shall the measure authorizing the Albany City Council to amend the residential voter requirements for zoning changes to the R-1 zoned areas of the City established by Measure D (enacted by the Albany voters in 1978), without majority neighborhood voter approval, after following noticed public hearing and zoning ordinance amendment procedures prescribed by State Law and the Albany Municipal Code, be adopted?
Required Vote: 50%+1
Criteria:
1-Intent of the Measure and the duration.
2-Are there any financial effects if this measure passes? If so- how much?
3- If this passes, what or who will this measure specifically affect?
4-Does the measure deal with more than 1 issue? (Measures should deal with one or closely related subjects.)
5- What is the current situation that would remain if this measure does not pass?
*****Extraneous language unrelated to the matter which could be considered as deceptive to the voter.(-1 point).
Score: 3.9
Comments: The score was lowered from the maximum of five because of the lack of clarity as to why the measure was needed. Removing the opportunity for a public vote should demand an explanation. There is also no explanation regarding the financial impacts from the change. Only about 62 of the 75 words allowed to explain the measure were actually used. More clarity could have easily been provided to the voters regarding the benefits or need for the change to the city charter
Measure P
City of Albany – Street Paving and Storm Drain Parcel Tax Measure
Shall the measure updating the Street Paving and Storm Drain Special Tax, by adding very low-income rebates and low-income tax exemptions and rebates; applying the tax to possessory interests; and if a parcel over 500,000 square feet becomes exempt from this tax, adjusting the rate from $167.65 per equivalent residential unit to $0.0638 per lot square foot as provided in the measure, providing an estimated $1,400,000 annually until ended by voters, be adopted?
Vote Required: 2/3
Criteria:
1-Intent and structure of the tax (i.e. a % or rate for a sales or transfer tax, or a $ per parcel or square foot for a parcel tax).
2- Amount of tax generated per year and the duration of the tax.
3- Is this a Special or General tax? (The more specific it’s described, so that one can easily figure which it is, the more credit they get).
4- Where is the money specifically going? (particularly if a special tax).
5-Is there an existing or similar tax already in place? If so, that tax information should be included.
****** Extraneous language unrelated to the matter (-1 point )
Score: 3.7
Comments: The score was lowered from the maximum of five because of the lack of clarity as to how the tax would be administered and what the cost would be for property owners. The statement regarding “if a parcel over 500,000 square feet becomes exempt” causing an adjustment to the rate, would be baffling to a voter. 500,000 square feet is 11.47 acres. The claim that the tax would remain until “ended by voters” is deceptive because it implies there is a mechanism within the measure allowing the voters to terminate the tax. Instead, there is no probable way to end this tax other than the difficult citizen initiative process. Effectively this tax would probably be permanent. It is not revealed in the ballot language that Measure P will be subject to a CPI adjustment. This is a serious breach of public ethics because it can significantly increase the cost to taxpayers over time.
Measure Q
City of Albany – EMS, ALS, Fire Protection Parcel Tax Measure
Shall the measure updating the Emergency Medical Services, Advanced Life Support, and Fire Protection Special Tax on residential and commercial property, by adding low-income tax exemptions and rebates, and adjusting the rate from $0.0807 per square foot to the new rates as provided in the measure if a parcel over 500,000 square feet in size becomes exempt from this tax, providing an estimated $2,500,000 annually until ended by voters, be adopted?
Vote Required: 50%+1
Criteria:
1-Intent and structure of the tax (i.e. a % or rate for a sales or transfer tax, or a $ per parcel or square foot for a parcel tax).
2- Amount of tax generated per year and the duration of the tax.
3- Is this a Special or General tax? (The more specific it’s described, so that one can easily figure which it is, the more credit they get).
4- Where is the money specifically going? (particularly if a special tax).
5-Is there an existing or similar tax already in place? If so, that tax information should be included.
****** Extraneous language unrelated to the matter (-1 point )
Score: 3.5
Comments: The score was lowered from the maximum of five, similar to Measure P, because of the lack of clarity as to how it would be administered and what the cost would be to property owners. The statement regarding “if a parcel over 500,000 square feet becomes exempt” causing an adjustment to the rate, would be baffling to a voter. That’s 11.47 acres. The new rate is not even shown. The claim that the tax would remain until “ended by voters” is deceptive because it implies there is a mechanism within the measure allowing for the termination of the tax. Instead, there is no probable way to end this tax other than the difficult citizen initiative process. Effectively this tax would probably be permanent. It is not revealed in the ballot language that Measure Q will be subject to a CPI adjustment. This is a serious breach of public ethics because it can significantly increase the cost to taxpayers over time.
Measure R
City of Albany – Business License Tax Measure
Shall the measure supporting City of Albany general services, such as fire protection, public safety, environmental and community service programs, by increasing the City’s business license tax to those rates specified in the measure, levying the tax upon business gross receipts instead of number of employees, and updating local tax collection procedures, providing an estimated additional $600,000 annually, until ended by voters, with all funds remaining local which cannot be taken by Sacramento be adopted?
Criteria:
1-Intent and structure of the tax (i.e. a % or rate for a sales or transfer tax, or a $ per parcel or square foot for a parcel tax).
2- Amount of tax generated per year and the duration of the tax.
3- Is this a Special or General tax? (The more specific it’s described, so that one can easily figure which it is, the more credit they get).
4- Where is the money specifically going? (particularly if a special tax).
5-Is there an existing or similar tax already in place? If so, that tax information should be included.
****** Extraneous language unrelated to the matter (-1 point )
Score:3.2
Comments: The score was lowered from the maximum of five because of the lack of clarity as to what the new tax would be.. It is not revealed in the 75-word ballot language that Measure R will be subject to a CPI adjustment. This is a serious breach of public ethics because it can significantly increase the cost to taxpayers over time. The claim that the tax would remain until “ended by voters” is deceptive because it implies there is a mechanism within the measure allowing for the termination of the tax. Instead, there is no probable way to end this tax other than the difficult citizen initiative process. Effectively this tax would probably be permanent. Also stating that all funds shall remain local is extraneous verbiage designed to influence a positive vote. Where else would the City of Albany expend its funds?
Measure S
City of Albany Real Property Transfer Tax Measure
To support City of Albany general services, with funding that cannot be taken by Sacramento, including: street and park maintenance, recreation, public safety, and environmental programs, shall a measure adjusting the City’s real property transfer tax rate from $15.00 to between $10.00 and $30.00 per $1,000 purchased, depending upon the property’s purchase price, providing an additional $1,000,000 annually, until ended by voters, with all funds remaining local be adopted?
Vote Required: 50%+1
Criteria:
1-Intent and structure of the tax (i.e. a % or rate for a sales or transfer tax, or a $ per parcel or square foot for a parcel tax).
2- Amount of tax generated per year and the duration of the tax.
3- Is this a Special or General tax? (The more specific it’s described, so that one can easily figure which it is, the more credit they get).
4- Where is the money specifically going? (particularly if a special tax).
5-Is there an existing or similar tax already in place? If so, that tax information should be included.
****** Extraneous language unrelated to the matter (-1 point )
Score: 3.6
Comments: The score was lowered from the maximum of five because of the lack of clarity as to what the new rate would be and how it would be administered. This ballot language contains an exceptional amount of extraneous verbiage designed to influence passage. First, the claim that the tax would remain until “ended by voters” is deceptive because it implies there is a mechanism within the measure allowing for the termination of the tax. Instead, there is no probable way to end this tax other than the difficult citizen initiative process. Effectively this tax would probably be permanent. Second, stating that the funds cannot be taken by Sacramento is unnecessary. The State provides much of the funding to cities, so that Sacramento taking away locally derived funding is extremely improbable. Third, stating that the funds would remain local is also unnecessary. Where else would the City of Albany spend its funds? Fourth, the language lists several popular areas where the funds would be spent like parks and public safety. But as a general tax, the money could be entirely spent on other civic purposes.
Measure T
City of Albany – Street Trees & Streetlighting Parcel Tax Measure
Shall the measure to enact a special parcel tax on non-exempt property in the City at $0.0354 per lot square foot to maintain and improve public street trees and streetlighting to enhance local safety and sustainability, subject to an annual consumer price index adjustment up to 3%, exempting qualifying low-income residents, providing an estimated $775,000 annually until ended by voters, be adopted?
Vote Required: 2/3
Criteria:
1-Intent and structure of the tax (i.e. a % or rate for a sales or transfer tax, or a $ per parcel or square foot for a parcel tax).
2- Amount of tax generated per year and the duration of the tax.
3- Is this a Special or General tax? (The more specific it’s described, so that one can easily figure which it is, the more credit they get).
4- Where is the money specifically going? (particularly if a special tax).
5-Is there an existing or similar tax already in place? If so, that tax information should be included.
****** Extraneous language unrelated to the matter (-1 point )
Score:4.3
Comments: The score was lowered from the maximum of five because of the lack of clarity as to what non-exempt property is being included. Or why is this exemption issue even mentioned? Exempt property is normally excluded. The claim that the tax would remain until “ended by voters” is deceptive because it implies there is a mechanism within the measure allowing for the termination of the tax. Instead, there is no probable way to end this tax other than the difficult citizen initiative process. Effectively this tax would probably be permanent. It is noted that the CPI adjustment is mentioned for Albany’s Measure T but concealed in Measure R. But generally, this measure provides more straightforward and accurate information than most local ballot measures.
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