Virtually all ballot measures titles are written with biased language – not the complete information that a voter needs to know about the that actual results of the measure or where the money will REALLY go!
A team from non-partisan former Civil Grand Jurors has developed a 1-5 rating system to evaluate the accuracy and transparency of ballot titles – NOT to weigh the merits of the measures.
HERE IS A TEST TO SEE IF YOU HAVE BEEN DUPED ….
The ballot title for Measure W was as follows:
| “ | Shall a County of Alameda ordinance be adopted to establish a half percent sales tax for 10 years, to provide essential County services, including housing and services for those experiencing homelessness, mental health services, job training, social safety net and other general fund services, providing approximately $150,000,000 annually, with annual audits and citizen oversight? |
After reading this did you think you were voting on a special tax for the purpose of helping the homeless ?
Well…if you did then you joined the rest of us because you have been duped ! This measure is a general tax measure ( the words ” and other general fund services ” ) makes it a general tax measure. This means that any or all of the taxes generated by this measure can be spent on literally anything the county wants ….. raises, a new park, pension funds, the library,etc … and NOT $1 has to be spent on the homeless issues listed on the measure .
A specific tax measure requires 2/3 vote to pass while a general tax measure only requires a 50% +1 to pass. More people are inclined to vote for a specific tax thinking the money will only be spent on that purpose than for a general tax measure where the money can go to anything.
Measure W ballot title could have been written like this and it would have been more accurate and complete :
“Shall a County of Alameda ordinance be adopted to establish a 1/2% sales tax for 10 years with audits and citizen oversight?
The amount of tax generated/year = $150 million
It is a General tax needing 50%+1 to pass with other county sales taxes already in place.
The money to be spent on any general or essential service which may include housing and services for those experiencing homelessness, mental health services, job training, social safety net.
BALLOT WATCH DOG 