A 'YES' vote would approve the proposed increase in sales tax.
City of DixonMeasure N Ordinance - 2/3 Approval Required
City of Dixon
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Shall the measure imposing a one-half percent (0.5%) sales tax in the City of Dixon, limited to a ten-year term, generating an estimated $1,400,000 annually, and limiting the expenditure of such funds to street maintenance and roadway improvements, such as the Parkway Boulevard overcrossing be adopted?
What is this proposal?
Details — Official information
YES vote means
NO vote means
A'NO' vote is a vote against the proposed sales tax increase.
Impartial analysis / Proposal
City Attorney, City of Dixon
Impartial Analysis of Measure N
City of Dixon Streets Transactions and Use Tax
California Elections Code section 9280 requires the City Attorney to prepare an analysis of any proposed ballot measure showing the effect of the measure on existing law and describing the operation of the measure.
The City Council of the City of Dixon (“City”) has authorized Measure N to be placed on the ballot, which would impose an additional 0.5 percent transactions and use tax on the gross receipts of retail sales in the City, for 10 years. Transaction and use taxes are collected in the same manner as sales taxes.
The City’s existing sales tax is set at 7.375 percent, near the statewide minimum. The City directly receives only 1 percent of all sales tax revenues collected. The majority of sales tax revenues go to the state of California, and the remainder is allocated towards county programs and transportation funds.
If Measure N is adopted, the City would receive all of the additional tax revenue. The City has projected that a 0.5 percent increase in sales tax would result in approximately $1.4 million in annual revenue.
Measure N is proposed as a special sales tax for street maintenance and roadway improvement purposes. The measure, therefore, requires approval by at least two-thirds of City voters for it to go into effect. As a special tax, all revenues will be placed in a special fund for street improvement projects, rather than the City's general fund. The City's Transportation Advisory Commission would serve as an oversight committee to monitor and report on the City's expenditures during the 10 year duration of the tax.
All expenditures must be for street maintenance and roadway improvements within the City. Proceeds from the tax would be used to reduce the backlog of pavement maintenance projects and fund roadway improvements, with priority given to the Parkway Boulevard overcrossing project.
A 'YES' vote would approve the proposed increase in sales tax.
A'NO' vote is a vote against the proposed sales tax increase.
/s/ Douglas White, City Attorney
City of Dixon
The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure N. If you desire a copy of Measure N, please contact the City Clerk at (707) 678-7000 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.
Published Arguments — Arguments for and against
Arguments FOR
Argument in Favor of Measure N
Tired of Dixon's deteriorating streets and potholes? Vote YES on N!
Measure N proposes to raise the City of Dixon sales tax by 0.5%. If Measure N passes, consumers will pay an extra penny for every $2 spent on goods in the City, and an extra 50 cents for each $100 spent in the City. All of the revenues generated by Measure N will be placed in a restricted account, only to be used on street maintenance in the City of Dixon, and roadway improvements, such as the construction of the Parkway Boulevard rail overcrossing.
Measure N will increase the City's sales tax from 7.375% to 7.875%. The increased rate would still be noticeably lower than the rates in nearby cities of Suisun, Vacaville, Benicia, Vallejo and Fairfield. No other community in Solano County has a sales tax under 8%. Measure N will expire in 10 years and annual expenditures will be monitored by the City's Transportation Advisory Committee.
Funding the maintenance and construction of the City's roads depends on Measure N. Our community currently has a backlog of transportation projects, with costs exceeding $14 million. Without Measure N the City will continue to have little resources for road improvements while the number of potholes increase.
The additional transportation funds will also increase the City's opportunities for matching state and federal transportation grants. With Measure N, the City will qualify as a self-help community allowing the City to be more competitive in our grant applications.
We need to fix our roads now instead of waiting years when it will just cost us more. Protect our streets and roadways. Vote YES on Measure N.
/s/ Mayor Thom Bogue
/s/ Councilmember Steve Bird
— Solano County Registrar of Voters
Arguments AGAINST
ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE N
Measure N is a bait-and-switch. It promises to fund "construction of ... the Parkway Boulevard overcrossing," but the City can't afford the overcrossing.
Measure N's proposed sales tax is projected to generate $1.4 million/year for 10 years. That's $14 million. The overcrossing is estimated to cost $19 million.
That means the City must break one of its promises. Either the promised overcrossing won't be built (and the City will keep the money), or the tax won't sunset after the promised 10 years.
No surprise. The City promised to build this overcrossing by 2007 with fees it exacted from developers of the Valley Glen and Parklane subdivisions. Why wasn't it built then? And where did that money go?
Even the promise of "citizen oversight" is hollow. This oversight committee will be picked by the City.
Sales tax increases hurt local merchants who are struggling to compete with Internet sellers and neighboring cities. Local merchants provide jobs, and they already pay taxes.
The more we raise local sales taxes, the more shoppers choose to buy online, robbing sales from local merchants. Another tax increase could be the last straw that drives some out of business.
California currently has the highest gasoline taxes in the nation. Forty-four percent (44%) of the excise tax on gasoline goes to local government. Why isn't Dixon using that money to build its overcrossing and fix our roads?
Measure N promises won't be kept, and its unnecessary tax increase will only hurt local businesses and kill jobs.
Vote NO on Measure N!
Signed:
Michael Edward Marsh, President
Dixon Chapter - Solano County Taxpayers Association
Ourania Riddle, Secretary
Solano County Taxpayers Association
— Solano County Registrar of Voters
Replies to Arguments FOR
REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE N
Are we tired of Dixon's deteriorating streets and potholes, or are we more tired of giving our tax dollars to the City to waste on management salaries, projects like the Pardi market site, Jack hole, the train station, million dollar lawyers and consultants to do work top staff should do.
Over the years, sales taxes climbed from under 4 percent to 8 percent or more. Just like other taxes and fees. They always argue "it is just a small increase", but they never have enough.
Measure "N" proponents argue it will fund maintenance and construction of the City's roads. How about the money they receive from gasoline taxes and other sources?
Despite repeated requests, the City has not explained where the money, already paid for the Parkway Boulevard overcrossing, has gone.
They claim more of your tax money makes them "more competitive" for grants. More free money? Where do they think "grants" come from? Grants come with strings and end up costing more and wasting money.
We should be proud Dixon's sales tax rate is lower than other Solano Cities - giving Dixon businesses a competitive advantage over other cities.
DON'T TRUST politicians who repeatedly provide misinformation, ignore cost saving technologies, waste YOUR money and can't account for it.
If N passes, the City will funnel more to staff, consultants, and attorneys - their top priorities - while projects benefitting all citizens sit on the back burner.
Vote No on Measure N. Tell them to start spending OUR money wisely.
/s/ Michael Edward Marsh, President Dixon Chapter
Solano County Taxpayers Association
/s/ Solano County Taxpayers Association
Ourania Riddle
/s/ David J. Scholl
— Solano County Registrar of Voters
Replies to Arguments AGAINST
[No official rebuttal to the argument against Measure N was submitted to the City of Dixon City Clerk.]
— Solano County Registrar of Voters
Read the proposed legislation
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